Emirati convicted for second time of insulting country and leaders

An Emirati has been convicted of insulting the UAE and its leaders following a trial at the State Security Court.

Ahmed Mansoor Al Shehhi, 48, was jailed for 10 years by a judge in Abu Dhabi. He was also fined Dh1 million.

The court ordered putting him under surveillance for three years on his release.

He was found to have insulted the 'status and prestige of the UAE and its symbols', including its leaders.

He was also convicted of seeking to damage the relationship of the UAE with its neighbours by publishing false reports and information on social media.

The court cleared him of conspiring with a terrorist organisation.

His court-appointed lawyer Tariq Al Shamsi told the court at a hearing earlier this month that he should be cleared of all charges.

Court officials will confiscate his electronic devices. He also been ordered to pay all judicial costs.

Mansoor was detained in March 2017 and accused of publishing false information and rumours online and "inciting hatred and defaming the country online", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said at the time.

A State Security Court ruling can be appealed through the Federal Supreme Court following a recent change in the law.

Mansoor was previously accused in a high profile State Security Court case that became known as the 'UAE five' in 2011.

He and four others - Nasser bin Ghaith, Fahad Salim Dalk, Hassan Ali Al Khamis and Ahmed Abdul Khaleq were accused and convicted of insulting the UAE and its leaders.

At the time, Mansoor was sentenced to three years in prison. However, a presidential pardoning for him and the other four followed soon after.

Since his release, he actively criticised the UAE and neighbouring countries.

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From the archives: Five Emiratis arrested for threatening UAE security

Emirati convicted for second time of insulting country and leaders

Court sentences 48-year-old to 10 years in prison and Dh1 million fine