The State Security Division of the Federal Supreme Court today reserved the verdict in a case involving 23 people from various Arab nationalities accused of joining 'Al-Qaeda in Yemen', a terrorist organisation outside the country, and for their presence in the UAE thereafter, in addition to other charges, including forging an official document with the intent of evading the regulations of the law of entry and residence of foreigners.

The verdict will be announced at the next session on 30th May.

During the session today, the Federal Supreme Court heard defence arguments from lawyers who maintained their clients' innocence.

In previous hearings the court heard arguments from the public prosecutor who demanded that the accused be punished for the charges, while the defendants denied all the charges.

The public prosecutor has made several charges against the defendants which included being in the country after joining a terrorist organisation outside of the state, and falsifying official documents related to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in an effort to distort their intent and evade the provisions of the law of entry and residence of foreigners.

The court this morning also reviewed a number of other cases related to national security in the presence of a number of media representatives and members of civil society organisations in the country.
Source:WAM