This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23142248
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UAE Islamists convicted for plotting government overthrow | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sixty-four Islamists in the United Arab Emirates have been jailed over allegations of a plot to overthrow the government, local TV reports. | |
| Many of those convicted were imprisoned for at least seven years, it was reported. At least 25 were acquitted. | Many of those convicted were imprisoned for at least seven years, it was reported. At least 25 were acquitted. |
| The 94 defendants were accused of trying to seize power in the Emirates. | The 94 defendants were accused of trying to seize power in the Emirates. |
| The verdict ended a trial criticised by human rights groups, which said the judge failed to investigate "credible" allegations of torture of defendants. | The verdict ended a trial criticised by human rights groups, which said the judge failed to investigate "credible" allegations of torture of defendants. |
| The Federal Supreme Court jailed 56 of the 94 for between seven and 10 years, reports said. | |
| Eight defendants no longer in the country were sentenced to 15 years. | |
| Roads outside the court were blocked and reporters kept away from the site ahead of the verdict, Reuters news agency said. | |
| The verdict was reported on local state-run TV. | |
| International media have not been allowed access to the hearings. | |
| The defendants are said to be members of al-Islah, an Emirati-based Islamist group linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. | |
| They were accused of setting up an organisation "seeking to oppose the basic principles of the UAE system of governance and to seize power". | |
| The long-running trial has been strongly criticised by global human rights advocates. | |
| In March a coalition of groups issued a report saying the proceedings were in "flagrant disregard of fair trial guarantees". |