UAE court acquits two men accused of links to Libyan militia groups

The two men were accused of ties to Libyan Dawn and February 17 Martyrs Brigade, two militia groups in Libya.

ABU DHABI // Two men have been acquitted of terror charges linking them to militia groups in Libya.

Moath Al Hashemi, 27, was acquitted of charges of joining Libyan Dawn, a militia that is backed by Muslim Brotherhood, and Ansar Al Sharia which the UAE considers as terrorist organisations.

Adel Nassif, 44, was aquitted of financially supporting militia groups that included both the February 17th Martyrs Brigade and Libyan Dawn.

The defendants’ lawyers told the court during the trial that Libyan Dawn and the February 17 Martyrs Brigade were not designated as terrorist organisations by the UAE, and that there were no extradition requests from the Libyan government where the crimes had allegedly taken place.