ABU DHABI // A man who used social media to defame the UAE and promote terrorist ideals was sentenced to 10 years in prison at the Federal Supreme Court on Monday.
Emirati Ahmed Abdulla Al Wahedi, 29, defamed the UAE by calling it “cartoonish”, “cursed” and “an apostatical state” on social media.
He also created an personal account on an extremist propaganda website called Shabakat Al Fidaa Al Islamiya — translated to ‘The Islamic Redemption Network’, which published information supporting jihad.
On this site, Al Wahedi posted information that aimed to disturb the peace of the country and stir discord.
He is also convicted of sending money to terrorist organisations ISIL and Jabhat Al Nusra. However, the amount he donated was not disclosed in court.
Al Wahedi continued to deny the charges in court.
His lawyer, Ali Al Mannaei, previously argued there was not enough proof to convict his client. He said his client’s crimes were motivated by a “social isolation issue”, and that he had used the website as a way vent his frustrations.
He also said no actual acts of terrorism were committed after Al Wahedi sent the money.
Judge Falah Al Hajeri asked for the confiscation of the devices used in the crime and the closure of all online accounts associated to the crime.
aalkhoori@thenational.ae
