UAE convicts Egyptians, Emiratis in Brotherhood cell case

The federal supreme court of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) convicted 20 Egyptians and 10 Emiratis of setting up and operating a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, a religious group outlawed in the Gulf Arab state, the UAE daily The National reported here on Tuesday. According to the report, the defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three months to five years. The court also ordered the confiscation of all funds and properties belonging to the group. The 10 Emiratis were already convicted of sedition in July 2013. The Muslim brotherhood is outlawed in the UAE and is accused of attempting to destabilize the Gulf state and planning to overthrow the government. On July 2, 2013, the UAE federal supreme court convicted 68 out of 94 suspects in a mass terror trial. Sixty-five of the convicted received jail terms of 15 years