Muslim Brotherhood 'Cell' on Trial in UAE

The United Arab Emirates' state security court on Tuesday began the trial of 30 Emiratis and Egyptians charged with setting up an illegal branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The conservative monarchies of the Gulf have long viewed the Brotherhood -- a grass-roots movement founded in Egypt more than 80 years ago -- as a threat because of its political activism and advocacy for Islamic governance.

A total of 24 defendants attended the hearing in Abu Dhabi, along with family members, civil society representatives and the media, the WAM state news agency reported.

The so-called "Muslim Brotherhood cell" comprises 10 Emiratis and 20 Egyptians, including six who remain at large.

The judge appointed a three-member medical committee to perform check-ups on some defendants before adjourning the proceedings until November 12 to allow more time for lawyers to call in witnesses.

Prosecutor Ahmed al-Dhanhani accused the group of having "established and managed a branch for ... the international organization of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, without a permit."

The accused set up an administrative structure aimed at recruiting members for the Muslim Brotherhood, strengthening its presence in the UAE and maintaining allegiance to the main party in Egypt, he said.

The group also "raised money through donations, Zakat (Islamic alms), and membership fees to support" the Brotherhood, he added.

The Egyptian defendants, including doctors, engineers and university professors, were arrested between November 2012 and January 2013, according to Human Rights Watch.

The Gulf states have grown increasingly concerned about the Brotherhood following its prominent role in the Arab Spring uprisings sweeping the region.

The group is banned in much of the region, and the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia pledged billions of dollars in aid to Egypt after the military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi, who hails from the Brotherhood, and launched a brutal crackdown on his supporters.

Ties between the UAE, where all political movements are banned, and Egypt were severely strained during Morsi's year in power, with the Gulf state arresting a number of Egyptian residents.

The UAE has not seen any of the widespread pro-reform protests that have swept other Arab states. However, authorities have cracked down hard on dissent and calls for democratic reform.

The top UAE court in July jailed 69 Emirati Islamists for up to 15 years each on charges of plotting to overthrow the government, at the end of a mass trial criticized by rights groups.

They were part of a group of 94 defendants, including 13 women.

Prosecutors said the accused were linked to Al-Islah, a group with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Human Rights Watch said Monday that the "injustice" demonstrated in the earlier trial "raises serious concerns" about the new case.

"The court's judgment exposes the rank injustice of the convictions," said Joe Stork, HRW's deputy Middle East director.

"Aside from one apparently coerced confession, the judgment describes a political society advocating social justice through peaceful political reform," he said.