Death sentence for Emiratis found guilty of fighting with ISIL

Abdulaziz Saud Al Najjar, 25, Moath Abdulrahman Al Harethi, 22, Saud Abdulaziz Al Menhali, 18, and Ahmed Ali Al Naqbi, 29, were sentenced to death in absentia for traveling to the war torn country and fighting alongside the terrorist organization. All four were tried in absentia.

ABU DHABI // The Federal Supreme Court has sentenced four Emiratis to death for travelling to Syria to fight for ISIL.

Abdulaziz Saud Al Najjar, 25, Moath Abdulrahman Al Harethi, 22, Saud Abdulaziz Al Menhali, 18, and Ahmed Ali Al Naqbi, 29, were all sentenced in absentia.

Three other Emiratis, a Bahraini, a Syrian and a Mauritanian received prison sentences of five to 10 years for their links to the terrorist organisation. One Emirati was acquitted.

Emirati Fares Mohammed Al Ketbi, 19, was given five years for joining the terrorist group. He was 17 when he travelled to Syria and told the court that he regretted his decision and surrendered himself voluntarily.

Mauritanian Omar Weld Salem Weld Omar, 22, was jailed for 10 years. He provided financial aid to an ISIL member Abu Dujana in Syria and also helped Al Ketbi, Al Harethi and Al Menhali travel to Syria. He showed them how to leave the country and introduced them to someone in Turkey who smuggled them into Syria. He promoted the ideals of ISIL and the Jabhat Al Nusra group, an affiliate of Al Qaeda.

Emirati Abdulrahman Hasan Al Mansoori, 22, was sentenced to 10 years. He helped smuggle the four Emirati ISIL fighters out of the country and into Oman by land where they travelled to Syria. He also provided funds to Al Najjar after he left for Syria.

Al Mansoori was found guilty of creating a Twitter account under the alias Abu Nooh, which he used to publish information about ISIL and promote its ideology. He also has used the social media network to insult the UAE’s leadership.

Syrian Muawiyah Ali Al Ahmad, 34, was sentenced to 10 years for transferring Dh8,000 to two ISIL members.

Bahraini Abdullah Ali Al Ali, 25, received five years for providing Al Najjar with food supplements and hormones to help him fight in Syria.

Mohammed Ali Al Saeri, 24 was jailed three years for aiding and abetting. He and his brother allegedly knew about Omar Weld Salem Weld Omar and Moath Al Harethi’s crimes and intentions and did not report it. His brother, Ahmed Ali Al Saeri, 22 was acquitted.

The judge ordered that the non-Emiratis be deported after completing their sentences.