The United Arab Emirates has ordered more than 100 alleged members of a criminal gang to stand trial, state media said Friday, following an increase in mass convictions in the Gulf state.
The suspects are accused of 鈥榝orming, managing, and joining a criminal organisation known as the 鈥楤ahloul鈥� gang,鈥� the official WAM news agency reported.
The group is accused of illegal activities including money laundering and extortion, it said.
The defendants will be tried for 鈥榯hreatening the state鈥檚 security, public order, and societal peace,鈥� WAM added.
The report did not specify their nationalities or provide details on the gang鈥檚 activities.
There has been a rise in mass convictions in the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms that touts itself as one of the world鈥檚 safest countries.
Last month, an Abu Dhabi court sentenced three Bangladeshis to life imprisonment and 54 others to jail terms of 10 to 11 years for taking part in protests against their government on UAE soil where demonstrations are banned.
It came weeks after UAE authorities handed life sentences to 43 Emiratis for 鈥榯errorist鈥� links after a mass trial heavily criticised by United Nations experts and rights groups.
Ten others were jailed for 10 to 15 years on similar charges.
Government critics and human rights activists were among the defendants, most of whom have been in jail since a similar trial of 94 people in 2013, according to rights groups.
