Amnesty: Two Siblings Sentenced to 5 and 7 Years in Prison
On 31 October, the Supreme Federal Court in the United Arab Emirates issued its verdict against Amina ‘Abdouli and her brother Mos’ab ‘Abdouli, sentencing them to five and seven years in prison respectively. The verdicts are final and cannot be appealed.
On 31 October, siblings Amina ‘Abdouli and Mos’ab ‘Abdouli appeared before the State Security Chamber of the Supreme Federal Court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to hear their verdict. Amina ‘Abdouli was sentenced to a five-year prison sentence and a 500,000 dirham fine (about US$ 136,000).
She was convicted of creating and running two Twitter accounts and publishing information with the aim of inciting hatred against the State and disturbing public order; mocking and damaging the reputation of State institutions; publishing false information about Saudi Arabia and making derogatory remarks about an Egyptian official with the aim of endangering the State’s relations with Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Her brother, Mos’ab ‘Abdouli, was convicted of joining the non-state armed group Ahrar al-Sham in Syria prior to June 2013 and receiving military training, charges he denies. He has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
No judgements from the State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court can be appealed, denying the right to an effective remedy and to have the conviction and sentence reviewed. Amina and Mos’ab ‘Abdouli were arrested on 19 November 2015 at their home in the north eastern Emirate of Fujairah, by State Security members along with their younger sister Moza ‘Abdouli and taken to an unknown location.
On 29 November, their older brother Waleed ‘Abdouli was also arrested after speaking out against the arrest of his siblings. All four were held in detention in a secret location. Waleed was released without charge on 14 March 2016.
Moza ‘Abdouli was acquitted on 30 May by the State Security Chamber of the Supreme Federal Court of the charge of insulting the UAE, its leaders and its institutions in tweets she posted in March 2013, and released. The trial of Amina and Mos’ab ‘Abdouli before the same court began on 27 June, followed by two more hearings on 19 September and 10 October.
