Three men who were brainwashed by extremist ideology will undergo counter-radicalisation counselling, the Federal Supreme Court has ordered.

Powered by automated translation

ABU DHABI // Three men who were brainwashed by extremist ideology will undergo counter-radicalisation counselling, the Federal Supreme Court has ordered.

The three, an Emirati and two citizens of the Comoros Islands, were arrested because they showed signs of being radicalised and could pose a threat to society by committing acts of terror, prosecutors said.

The court was told that the 27-year-old Emirati civil servant had adopted Al Qaeda’s ideology after becoming friends with a Saudi Arabian at a college in Sharjah.

The Emirati often visited Saudi Arabia where he met other extremists and showed interest in travelling to Afghanistan to join Al Qaeda. He watched the group’s videos online and listened to their propaganda.

His Saudi friend encouraged him to travel to Iraq to join Al Qaeda, but the two later fell out, although the Emirati kept in contact with extremists from Yemen and Pakistan. Prosecutors said the Emirati had the will and the social network to commit acts of terror.

They recommended that he receive counselling, in accord with the UAE’s Terrorism Law No. 7 of 2014.

In an attempt to combat extremism, the UAE set up centres to provide intensive religious and welfare counselling to residents with extremist views.

The two Comoros Islanders, a 21-year-old and a 25-year-old who are both jobless, were introduced to ISIL’s ideology by a friend. The older of the two tried to propagate radical beliefs among his friends, including glorifying ISIL and its atrocities.

The court will receive regular updates from counsellors on the three men and determine in the future whether they pose a threat to society.

The court did not say how long the three men would undergo counselling at the centres.

They were also banned from leaving the country for six months.

nalremeithi@thenational.ae