Libyans on trial in UAE charged

Four Libyan citizens who have been held in detention by the Emirati authorities have been charged by the UAE courts during their trial on Monday 18 January 2016. The four defendants, include Salim al Aradi. They have been charged with supporting Libyan organisations which support the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Emirati authorities have banned the Muslim Brotherhood in the UAE and any organisations affiliated to it. In the UAE this has included the al Islah organisation and the Libyan organisations Libyan Dawn and 17th February Martyrs Brigade. The detainees denied all the charges brought against them.

Al Aradi’s case has caught international attention  due to the campaigning of his daughter Marwa and his case was brought before the United Nations and the European Union. The Libyan detainees have been held by the UAE authorities with limited access to their families and lawyers. It has also been reported that they have faced ill treatment whilst in detention.

The cases have now been adjourned until February 15 2015. There are still calls from the international community that the defendants be released by the UAE authorities.