UAE Trial Adds to Controversy Over Press Freedom, Political Islam
Guilty verdicts in the trial of 94 people accused of plotting to overthrow the UAE government have raised new questions about both press freedom and the role of political Islam.
The trial of the 94 people accused of attempting to overthrow the government of the United Arab Emirates ended on July 2 with 69 guilty verdicts and made an impact on both political Islam and freedom of expression in the Emirates.
The 94 Emiratis were accused of being members of Al Islah, an Islamic group loosely affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. A security court convicted 69 of the accused of attempting to overthrow the government. The 10- to 15-year sentences cannot be appealed. The judge acquitted the other 25 accused, including all 13 women.
All of the accused declared their innocence and many insisted that they merely made suggestions for reforms in the UAE. Political parties are banned in the Arabian Gulf country that has not had any of the types of protests seen throughout the region.
Foreign journalists were barred from attending the trial, leaving heavily censored local journalists to cover the issue. The government made a point of strictly controlling information about the arrests and trial. In November 2012, the cybercrime law was updated to include several sections that criminalized criticism or disparagement of the rulers on social-media networks.
