Dr. Naser Bin Ghaith’s hearing postponed to May 23

A second hearing was held on the 2nd of May 2016 to decide over the charges filed against the leading Emirati academic Dr. Nasser Bin Ghaith who was brought to court on the 4th of April, 2016 for the first time since his forced disappearance on August 2015.

Dr. Nasser was charged of allegedly committing a hostile act against a foreign state (the bretherly Egypt Arab Republic) by verbally abusing its political leadership, figures and policies via the internet and the “@bin_ghaith” account on Twiter. 

He was also charged of posting false information about UAE leaders and their policies, in addition to communicating and cooperating with the banned Emirates Ummah Party, and delivering lectures that promote these groups.

During the hearing, Dr. Nasser stated that he is still in secret detention and that he was not allowed to meet his lawyer. The judge was sensitive of the term "secret detention", and replied to Dr. Naser "it is not a secret, you are detained for a case", Dr. Nasser replied "how come not secret, if neither I, nor my family or lawyer does not know where it is!

Every night I am transferred to a different confinement, he continued.

The lawyer, for his part, said he requested more than once to meet Dr. Naser, but no meeting was arranged. 

The judge ordered his transfer to legitimate jail and postponed the hearing to May 23.

During the hearing, Dr. Nasser appeared in a glass case surrounded by six security guards while wearing UAE traditional white cloth (Dishdasha).