Dubai — Jordan’s security forces handed over Khalaf Abdulrahman Al-Rumaithi, a wanted man with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. The arrest is part of a wider crackdown on extremist groups in the country, which has been praised by many as a necessary step towards ensuring national security.
Al-Rumaithi was received by the UAE authorities from Jordan, according to a report published on Wednesday by the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM).
According to the WAM report, he is accused in the UAE of “founding a secret organisation affiliated with the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood that seeks to oppose the fundamental principles of the UAE government”.
Al-Rumaithi reportedly had an arrest warrant issued against him, and the handover was completed with the legal and judicial support of the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council, which is in charge of prosecuting offenders who skip out on local court appearances.
Al-Rumaithi will face the same allegations in a second trial, in accordance with UAE criminal legislation.
He was given a 15-year prison term in absentia by a court decision in 2013. According to reports from the time, al-Rumaithi was one of roughly 100 Emirati nationals accused of sedition – a plot to overthrow the government.
The Muslim Brotherhood is a political movement that has been active in the Middle East for several decades. It was founded in Egypt in 1928 and has since spread to other countries in the region, including Jordan. The group’s ideology is based on a combination of Islamic principles and political activism, and it has been involved in a number of political and social movements throughout the region.
However, in recent years the Muslim Brotherhood has been accused of involvement in terrorist activities, and many countries in the region have banned the group.
“The UAE reiterates maintaining its sovereignty and stability, as well as the safety and security of its citizens and residents, and that it will not hesitate to go after those wanted for justice and prosecute them in a fair judicial process,” according to the most recent WAM report.
