The State Security Division of the Federal Supreme Court has issued sentences on a number of defendants in the case known as the Shabab Al Manara, ('The Minaret's Youth') case.

The Court, presided over by Judge Mohammed al-Jarrah Al Tunaiji, sentenced 11 defendants to life imprisonment, two of them in absentia. Two other defendants were sentenced to 15 years in prison, 13 to ten years, six to three years and two to five years. Four other defendants were sentenced to six months in prison for the possession of non-explosive weapons.

Four of the defendants were ordered to be deported after serving their sentences.

Seven other defendants were acquitted.

The court also ordered the dissolution of the Shabab Al Manara group, the closure of its areas of activity, the confiscation of the group's weapons, ammunition, firearms and materials used in making explosives. It also ordered the confiscation of the group's IT equipment, non-explosive devices, detonators, electronic devices used in information technology crimes, and the closure of the defendants' websites.

The court also ruled on a separate defamation case, sentencing an Emirati defendant to five years in prison and a AED1 m fine.

Source:WAM