Prosecution outlines evidence against 15 men accused of joining Al Qaeda-linked group

Prosecutors want maximum sentences for 15 suspects charged with being members of and funding two militant groups in Syria.

ABU DHABI // Public prosecutors have called for the maximum punishment for 15 men accused of joining and funding the Al Nusra Front and the Ahrar Al Sham Brigade militant groups in Syria.

On Sunday the Federal Supreme Court, headed by Judge Mohammed Al Tunaiji, heard the evidence against the defendants – four of whom are being tried in their absence – who allegedly supported the Al Qaeda-linked organisations.

The prosecutor began his presentation by saying Islam strongly condemns terrorism, and the defendants had therefore committed a criminal act.

“Islam is against those who kill, destroy and terrorise, and these groups have committed crimes against Arabs and Muslims alike in the hopes of taking power,” he said.

“These groups have fought and participated in terrorist acts and convinced others to do so. They have collected alms while knowing the purpose would be to finance the acts. Others have created bombs and weapons to harm people.”

He said there was a raft of evidence that proved the defendants’ guilt.

He said four of the men had set up a secret organisation in this country called Al Nasr Al Qadem – Arabic for Impending Victory – to communicate with the groups in Syria.

During interrogation, the prosecutor said the defendants had admitted their involvement in the group, although they later retracted their confessions.

The prosecutor said Syrian M E, 36, had been the first to join Ahrar Al Sham in Syria and later became the military coordinator for the group in the UAE.

He was then joined by another Syrian, S A, 39, who aided him by creating an online communication platform, which M E later used.

The two men then collected money, devices, cameras and telescopes to transport to Syria.

The prosecutor said evidence showed they sent Dh20,000 via another defendant, M B, 24, from the Comoros Islands. M B also sent an additional Dh16,000 with one of his cousins, H H, 26, an Emirati, who went to fight in Syria along with three others.

The prosecutor said the group had successfully created bombs using gunpowder from fireworks, which they tested seven times in the Al Helio and Al Talah areas of Ajman. S A also sent 14 car engines to Syria.

Another of the defendants, A B, 28, who holds a Comoros Islands passport, also had an unlicensed gun, which he bought illegally in Al Buraimi on the border with Oman.

He said members of the group also convinced others to join the groups in Syria. The fighters were then sent to Syria and received military training from members of the ISIL organisation.

The prosecutor also presented the court with documents found on M E’s laptop that revealed the structure of Al Nasr Al Qadem and the managerial roles they all had.

He also showed reports revealing information about the group, including requirements of joining. He said they have found chat histories on Skype between group members in the UAE and Syria.

The court was also presented with pictures of M E writing the words Ahrar Al Sham into sand, as well as pictures of various weapons.

“We have narrated the evidence which is logical and condemns the group,” the prosecutor said.

He also said such groups had caused great pain to families across the Arab World “through their inhumane and un-Islamic acts”.

He asked the court to empathise with the families who had lost greatly, and requested the maximum penalty to be imposed.

He also requested the confiscation of all the evidence found.

The case was adjourned to October 21.

Under antiterror laws, convicted terrorists face capital punishment, life imprisonment or fines up to Dh100 million.