Teenager charged with attempting to join ISIL acquitted

Saif Yousef Al Awadhi, 19, an Emirati, who had been accused of travelling to Jordan so he could go to Syria to join ISIL has been acquitted.

ABU DHABI // A teenager charged with attempting to join ISIL was acquitted by the Federal Supreme Court on Monday.

Saif Al Awadhi, a 19-year-old Emirati, had been accused of travelling to Jordan with the intention of travelling to Syria to join the terrorist group.

In June he travelled from Dubai to Amman, then on to Al Aqabah on the Jordanian coast.

Mr Al Awadhi had failed to inform his parents, who are separated and live in different emirates, of his whereabouts.

His parents reported his disappearance to the police.

In a previous hearing, his mother said it was “impossible” that her son would attempt to join a terrorist group.

His lawyer, Yousef Al Ali, also said there was no evidence to convict him.

In a separate case at the Federal Supreme Court on Monday, A A B, a 31-year-old Emirati, was accused of using the internet to spread ISIL propaganda.

He was also accused of using graffiti to show his support for the terrorist group.

The court heard that he created and managed several online accounts where he published ideas that created havoc, spread hate and harmed the unity of the country.

A A B used the accounts to publish information on ISIL with the aim of motivating people to accept its beliefs.

He also used the accounts to publish jokes that aimed to ridicule the UAE.

The court heard that he spray-painted ISIL’s logo on a wall in Sweihan, followed by the words “it will remain”, which he then photographed and posted on Twitter under the username @monasiraldawlah.

It was also alleged he provided financial aid to ISIL, although the amount was not stated in court.

When questioned, A A B said he knew nothing about ISIL and denied the charges. The case was adjourned to October 12.