Egyptians to stand trial in UAE in December

A case involving 20 Egyptians accused of forming a Muslim Brotherhood cell in the UAE has been adjourned until December 10. The detainees are suspected of sending funds to the Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo.

The State Security Court in Abu Dhabi adjourned the case on Tuesday and set the new trial date for the second week of December. The Egyptians were arrested in June, along with 10 Emiratis.

The prosecution has accused the men of setting up offices for the Brotherhood in the UAE, creating investment companies, and opening bank accounts to collect money in support of the Brotherhood in Egypt. The men are alleged to have raised US$2 million for the now-banned organization.

Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have long sought to prevent supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood from establishing a foothold, fearing that the group could destabilize their regimes.

Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan, chief of the Dubai Police Force, was an outspoken critic of former President Mohamed Morsi and his Brotherhood-led government during its one year in office.

Following Morsi’s removal in July, Gulf states signaled their support for Egypt by announcing a massive infusion of aid. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait have jointly provided some US$12 billion. In October, the UAE announced a further $4 billion for Egyptian infrastructure projects.

In addition to providing much-needed financial aid, Saudi Arabia and the UAE launched a diplomatic campaign in support of the Egyptian military and the July 3 removal of Morsi. The campaign included high-level meetings with officials of several European countries and the US.

Observers note that the removal of Morsi and Egypt’s banning of the Brotherhood have restored the historic foreign policy and security alliance between Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.