UAE court hands out 11 life sentences for 'terrorism'

A court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday sentenced 11 people convicted on terrorism charges to life in prison.

The 11 defendants were accused of creating a “terrorist cell” with a view to overthrowing the country’s ruling regime, according to the UAE’s official WAM news agency.

The court slapped 23 other defendants in the same case with jail terms ranging from five to 15 years on similar charges, while acquitting seven others.

The news agency did not provide the nationalities of the individuals sentenced, merely saying that two of them were UAE nationals.

In August of last year, a total of 41 individuals were similarly charged with establishing a “terrorist cell” in the UAE with the aim of overthrowing the government.