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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| UAE Islamists convicted for plotting government coup | UAE Islamists convicted for plotting government coup |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sixty-eight Islamists in the United Arab Emirates have been jailed over allegations of a plot to overthrow the government. | Sixty-eight Islamists in the United Arab Emirates have been jailed over allegations of a plot to overthrow the government. |
| Many of those convicted were imprisoned for at least seven years. Another 26, including 13 women, were acquitted. | Many of those convicted were imprisoned for at least seven years. Another 26, including 13 women, 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 defendants included human rights lawyers, university lecturers and students. | The defendants included human rights lawyers, university lecturers and students. |
| A majority of those convicted were given jail sentences between seven and 10 years, reports said. | A majority of those convicted were given jail sentences between seven and 10 years, reports said. |
| Eight defendants no longer in the country were sentenced to 15 years. | Eight defendants no longer in the country were sentenced to 15 years. |
| No foreign media | No foreign media |
| The Federal Supreme Court jailed two prominent human rights lawyers to 10 years in prison each, the Emirates Centre for Human Rights said. | The Federal Supreme Court jailed two prominent human rights lawyers to 10 years in prison each, the Emirates Centre for Human Rights said. |
| The verdict was reported on local state-run TV. | The verdict was reported on local state-run TV. |
| Roads outside the court were blocked and reporters kept away from the site ahead of the verdict, Reuters news agency said. | Roads outside the court were blocked and reporters kept away from the site ahead of the verdict, Reuters news agency said. |
| Foreign observers and international media have not been allowed access to the hearings. | Foreign observers and 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. | 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". | They were accused of setting up an organisation "seeking to oppose the basic principles of the UAE system of governance and to seize power". |
| Political parties and demonstrations are banned in the UAE, which comprises seven sheikdoms run by ruling families. | Political parties and demonstrations are banned in the UAE, which comprises seven sheikdoms run by ruling families. |
| The trial which began in March has been strongly criticised by global human rights advocates, who have said the proceedings were in "flagrant disregard of fair trial guarantees". | |
| Most of the defendants were arrested in July and August 2012. Their families were denied visitation rights during pre-trial detention. | Most of the defendants were arrested in July and August 2012. Their families were denied visitation rights during pre-trial detention. |
| Human rights groups also alleged that some of the inmates were tortured during their detention. | Human rights groups also alleged that some of the inmates were tortured during their detention. |
| But the UAE attorney general has rejected the claims, saying the prisoners were being "dealt with according to the law". | But the UAE attorney general has rejected the claims, saying the prisoners were being "dealt with according to the law". |
| The 68 who were convicted have no right of appeal. | |
| The UAE like other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has cracked down hard on dissidents and social media activists. | |
| Two more were arrested on Monday night for tweeting in support of the 94, including the brother of a prominent detainee, a local activist told the BBC. He said they were being held in an unknown location. | |
| The activist described the detainees as "singing Islamic songs and chanting God is great" when the verdicts were announced in court. |