UAE convicts 30 men for Muslim Brotherhood ties

A court in the United Arab Emirates has convicted 30 men on charges of setting up a Muslim Brotherhood branch in the country and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from three months to five years.

Tuesday’s verdict is part of a broader crackdown on Islamist opposition groups in Arab Gulf countries.

Defense lawyers and rights groups say the 20 Egyptians and 10 Emiratis have denied the charges against them during the trial.

The Emirati suspects were previously convicted of sedition in a separate trial over the summer.

The 30 were also accused of trying to obtain security data and collecting donations without permission.

The UAE’s official National newspaper says the country’s top court also ordered the seizure of all funds and properties belonging to the men.