ABU DHABI // A 21-year-old man has been sentenced by the Federal Supreme Court to 10 years in prison for fighting for a terrorist group in Yemen.
Emirati M K A was found guilty of joining the Abu Al Fidaa Front, a terrorist group affiliated with Al Qaeda in Yemen.
M K A told the court during the trial he was only “fighting Houthis who besieged him” adding he was in Yemen to study Sharia law. He said he was attacked by Houthi rebels and had to fight to defend himself.
He was also found guilty of receiving training in the use of weapons and military tactics with the intention of committing terrorist acts.
M K A said he had only received basic training in self defence.
“I was defending myself in Dammaj against Houthis — the same Houthis that the country are now sending troops against,” M K A said in a court hearing last October.
“I have had no hand in terrorism but I will not back down on Islam. I am a knowledge seeker, I was in Yemen to learn about Sharia,” he said.
“I only fought against the Houthis to defend myself. I deny participating with Al Qaeda because I had met them and advised them [against their ideals] and when they would not take our advice we left.”
During the trial, M K A’s lawyers told the court the prosecution did not prove the Emirati had fought in battles.
M K A was arrested two years after returning to the UAE from Yemen.
nalremeithi@thenational.ae
Correction: A previous version of this story stated MKA had been acquitted.
