Cameras sent to Iraqi terrorist group land two UAE students in prison

ABU DHABI // Two Ajman medical students who sent pen-sized cameras to a terrorist-tied group in Iraq were sentenced today to three years in prison.

AK and AA, both 18 and Iraqis, argued in previous hearings at the State Security Court that they had met members of the group online and became friends. Then the group asked them to send them several pens with concealed cameras, which they did out of friendship.

The name of the organisation in Iraq was not disclosed. AK and AA were arrested after an investigation by cyber-crime police specialists.

As AK and AA left court, one of their fathers broke into tears and started slapping himself, saying over and over, "They are only students".

He was advised by a lawyer to seek pardoning from the Ruler's Court of Abu Dhabi, as Security Court verdicts cannot be appealed.

hdajani@thenational.ae