Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeals on Wednesday adjourned hearings in four terror-related cases to February 7.
Seven men, who were charged with promoting the ideology of terrorist organisations including Daesh, had the hearing adjourned to February 7 to allow their lawyers to present their case.
The prosecution charged the first man of posting information, pictures and videos on social media to promote the ideology of Daesh and other terrorist groups.
The remaining six men were accused of failing to report the offences of their fellow despite their knowledge that he had violated the counter-terrorism and cybercrime laws.
The lawyer of the first accused, Ali Al Abbadi, requested the court to adjourn the hearing to allow him to prepare his defence arguments. The remaining defendants demanded that the court appoint lawyers for them because they cannot afford to hire them.
The court adjourned the hearing to allow Al Abbadi to present his arguments and to appoint lawyers for the remaining defendants.
The hearing in another case, in which 11 Syrian men have been charged with promoting terrorist ideology and harming the UAE’s ties with other Gulf countries, was adjourned to February 7, when witnesses will give their testimonies and the defence will present arguments.
The hearing in the third case, in which a 27-year-old Emirati petroleum engineer is accused of promoting terrorist ideology, the was also adjourned to February 7, when a verdict will be pronounced.
The defendant told the court he was not guilty, when asked to enter a plea to the charge against him.
The prosecutors demanded the man be sent to a counselling centre at the Ministry of Interior for posing a potential terror threat.
In the fourth case, a 24-year-old Emirati, accused of insulting UAE leaders through publishing material on social media, had his hearing adjourned to February 7 to look into a medical report about him.
The lawyer of the defendant demanded that he be examined by medical experts to determine whether he should be held fully criminally liable for his acts, as his mental functions were “diminished” or impaired under the influence of alcohol.
The judge adjourned the hearing to February 7 to allow his lawyer to prepare his arguments.
