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Acquittal of 2 in terror case proof of fair trial: EHRA

Judiciary not influenced by the international pressure but runs and discharges its duty according to the law, says rights body.

The Emirates Human Rights Association (EHRA) said in a statement on Wednesday that it “closely followed” the trial of the nine Arabs accused of forming an Al Qaeda linked terror cell in the UAE.

Jameela Al Hamili, secretary-general of the association, said the court summoned a doctor to examine whether the suspects were tortured. “The doctor said there were no signs of torture.”

The doctor said in his testimony that he had prescribed medicines to the suspect, but the latter did not complete the course.

Responding to the claims of a foreign organisation, which criticised the trial, Jameela said the media, the suspects’ relatives and their respective embassies attended the trial. “I had met the families of some of the suspects, but they were reserved. I conveyed to them that the association was ready to receive all their complaints.”

She said she had seen the suspects in the courtroom, and tried to meet them, but they refused.

Jameela denied that the suspects resorting to “international entities” had affected the trial. “The judiciary (in the UAE) is not influenced by international pressure. It runs and discharges its duty according to the law; according to the charges pressed against the suspects and the evidence submitted. In this context, two of the nine suspects were acquitted, which is an evidence to fair trial.”

Ali Al Qeeshi, member of the board of directors and head of the prisoners committee at the association, said the suspects’ human rights were respected during the course of the trial.

“The suspects were in good health when she (Jameela) saw them in the first hearing ... The family members of the suspects were allowed to say hello to them, and they were not handcuffed,” he said.

The prisoners are allowed to make phone calls at any time, he explained. Al Qeeshi said the prisoners were not allowed to get food from outside after drugs were discovered in meals prepared from outside.

malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com