UAE convicts American for 'crimes' outside

The Federal Supreme Court in the United Arab Emirates has convicted an American for carrying out 'terrorist activities' outside the Persian Gulf country.

Naji Hamdan, 43, an American of Lebanese origin, was sentenced on Monday to 18 months in prison by the highest judicial body in the UAE.

Hamdan, who was tried over three terrorism-related charges including links with al-Qaeda in Iraq, denies the charges against him and insists he was, under torture, forced to sign a confession "to whatever they wanted to hear."

The American citizen was first questioned by the FBI in 1999 over alleged ties with terrorist groups. After moving to the Middle East, he was arrested in the UAE in August 2008 and was charged with supporting terrorism, collaborating with terrorist groups, and being a member of a terrorist organization.

UAE officials have admitted that Hamdan's alleged activities were carried out outside the sheikhdom.

''I'm disappointed because I was not acquitted,'' Hamdan told The Associated Press after hearing his sentence.

Rights groups say his trial in the UAE was masterminded by US officials who failed to prosecute him in the United States due to lack of conclusive evidence.

During his detention, the American citizen wrote a letter to the US embassy and asked for help, claiming he had been subjected to torture in Emirati custody.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=108493§ionid=351020205.