UAE President Pardons 5 Jailed Internet Activists

Five Emirati Internet activists, jailed for up to three years on charges including insulting the Gulf state's leaders, have been pardoned, their lawyer said on Monday.

"An official has informed me that a presidential pardon has been issued to release them," Mohammed al-Roken told Agence France Presse a day after the five activists were sentenced by the Federal Supreme Court.

"The order has been delivered to Al-Wathba prison and it is being processed to release them," he said, adding that he hoped they would be freed by the end of the day.

The top court in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday handed blogger Ahmed Mansoor a three-year prison sentence, while four others received two years each.

Mansoor was convicted along with Nasser bin Gaith, who lectures at the Abu Dhabi branch of the Sorbonne University, and activists Fahid Salim Dalk, Hassan Ali Khamis and Ahmed Abdul Khaleq.

The five, who were arrested in April, were accused of using the Internet to insult UAE leaders, of calling for a boycott of September's Federal National Council elections and over anti-government demonstrations.

Their trial was criticized earlier this month as "grossly unfair" by a coalition of seven rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which called for the five to be freed.

But the Supreme Court pressed ahead in announcing its verdict.

The five defendants, described by sympathizers as reformists, refused to show up in court on Sunday, saying in a message delivered by a police officer that the court "did not enable them to defend themselves."

The defendants were said on Sunday to be still on a hunger strike they began earlier this month.

The pardon coincides with the UAE's celebration of its 40th National Day which falls on December 2.

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who is also the ruler of oil-rich emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the rulers of the six other emirates usually issue clemency to prisoners on national and religious feasts.

A relative of bin Ghaith sounded jubilant, saying he hoped the five will be free within hours.

"The pardon has been issued -- hopefully they will be out today," Khalifa al-Nuaimi told Agence France Presse.

Human Rights Watch UAE researcher Samer Muscati said the decision to pardon the activists was a "positive step and a wise move."

But he warned that it remains to be seen if the decision merely commuted the sentences and kept a criminal record for the activists, which would complicate their lives.

He also lamented that the trial had a "chilling effect on free speech" in the federation of hereditary sheikhdoms. "People are less likely to speak out ... That can't be undone," he said.

Muscati also warned that the safety of the five will be at risk once they are released amid a smear campaign and threats.

"Their security is still an issue because of a smear campaign on blogs and Facebook. No one was investigated over the threats," he said, pointing out that 15 cases were reported to police.

"No action to prosecute was taken," he added.

Dozens of UAE nationals gathered outside the federal court for Sunday's verdict, rejoicing over the jail sentences and vowing the allegiance of their tribes to the leaders of the desert state.

The UAE has so far escaped the wave of democracy protests and uprisings aimed at regime change that have hit many Arab countries.

The wealthy nation, which in September held limited polls to elect half the members of its toothless Federal National Council, does not face strong calls for political change.

It provides cradle-to-grave care to its small population of nationals, who represent just over 10 percent of the expat-dominated society.