Eleven given life sentences by UAE court after being found guilty of establishing terrorist organisation


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ABU DHABI // The founder of a terrorist group that planned to bomb malls and hotels has been sent to jail for life, along with 10 other members.

Khalid Abdulla Kalantar considered himself a caliph and preached extremist ideology at Al Manara Mosque in Dubai.

Kalantar focused on young social outcasts with criminal records, to recruit them to his group, Shabab Al Manara.

The group had an arsenal including Kalashnikov assault rifles, hand grenades and landmines hidden in the desert.

Kalantar was one of 41 men on trial at the Federal Supreme Court for involvement in the group. They included four of his sons – Abdullah and Othman who were given life sentences, and Abdulrahman and Mohammed who were given 10 years.

Fifty-seven family members attended the sentencing in the capital on Sunday amid tight security. A wife of one of the men jailed for life collapsed and had to be helped by paramedics.

During interrogation, the members said they were influenced by watching films and lectures by the late Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Prosecutors said all confessed to joining Shabab Al Manara and intending to use terrorism to oust the Government, but only two pleaded guilty in court.

In sentencing, Judge Mohammed Al Jarrah Al Tunaiji said: “Terrorism is one of the gravest of crimes. It uses religion as a pretext to achieve its goals.

“It doesn’t believe in national or human values and does not abide by laws or agreements. Countries are working collectively to eradicate terror through laws and agreements.

“This case is one of the most important that the Federal Supreme Court has dealt with and it has taken months, but the court was able to establish who founded, who joined and who participated in the group.”

Judge Al Tunaiji ordered that the weapons be destroyed.

The other eight jailed for life: Mohammed Al Bloushi, Kalantar’s Emirati second in command; Ahmed Yousuf, who holds a Comoros Islands passport; Iranian Abdulaziz Ahmed Ismail; and Emiratis Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Abdulrahman Hussain Al Marzouqi and Mohamed Abdullatif Al Zaraooni. Emiratis Mansour Ali Al Shahari and Mohamed Abdullatif Al Zarooni were sentenced in their absence.

The whereabouts of the two is unknown.

Jailed for 10 years, along with Kalantar’s sons, were Emiratis Jassim Al Bulooshi, Ibrahim Belshalat, Mohammed Al Raeesi, Khalil Al Shemaili, Hassan Bellaith, Saeed Sumbakh, Naser Al Afifi, Ahmed Al Hammadi and Ali Al Bloushi, and Iranian Khalid Qashmi and Ezz Al Dein Makhlouta from Syria.

Emiratis Ghanim Al Marri and Assem Al Naqbi were given 15-year jail sentences for fighting in international terrorist organisations.

Mohamed Ahli, Nayef Al Mulla, Eissa Al Bloushi, Ahmed Al Ahmed, Ali Al Bloushi and Mansour Al Naqbi, all Emiratis, were jailed for three years.

Their compatriots Abed Al Shaer and Omar Al Janahi were jailed for five years.

Ahmed Al Bloushi, Abdulrahman Belshalat, Ali Al Bloushi, Jumaa Al Bloushi, Suhail Al Bloushi, Abdullatif Al Ahmed and Saleh Al Bloushi, all Emiratis, were acquitted of all charges.

The UAE established its anti-terror laws in 2004.

nalremeithi@thenational.ae

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Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:

• Dubai Marina

The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739 
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960 
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104

• Downtown

Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure.  “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154

• City Walk

The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena.  “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
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Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052 
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210 

• Jumeirah Lake Towers

Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629 
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818 
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941

• Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770 
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002 
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152 

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Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district

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Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates

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5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (Turf) 1,200m
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6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (T) 1,400m
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7pm: Flood Zone
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Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.

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On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

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These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.

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Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19

Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27

If you go...

Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.

Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50

The biog

Name: Fareed Lafta

Age: 40

From: Baghdad, Iraq

Mission: Promote world peace

Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi

Role models: His parents 

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BeIN Sports currently has the rights to show

- Champions League

- English Premier League

- Spanish Primera Liga 

- Italian, French and Scottish leagues

- Wimbledon and other tennis majors

- Formula One

- Rugby Union - Six Nations and European Cups

 

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

Company name: Play:Date

Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day

Founder: Shamim Kassibawi

Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US

Sector: Tech 

Size: 20 employees

Stage of funding: Seed

Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund

India cancels school-leaving examinations
Fixtures
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SPECS
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US Team
Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth
Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger
Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler
Kevin Kisner, Patrick Reed
Matt Kuchar, Kevin Chappell
Charley Hoffman*, Phil Mickelson*

International Team
Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day 
Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen
Marc Leishman, Charl Schwartzel
Branden Grace, Si Woo Kim
Jhonattan Vegas, Adam Hadwin
Emiliano Grillo*, Anirban Lahiri*

denotes captain's picks

 

 

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Spring break will be from March 8 - 19

Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm

Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19

Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning

Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5

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Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.

Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born. 

UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.

A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.

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