The UAE Public Prosecution has recently uncovered the formation of a new “secret organization” outside the country by former members of the UAE Muslim Brotherhood, a terror organization that was dissolved in 2013. The main goal of this new group is to revive the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood, as per the ongoing investigation. One member has been arrested and confessed, providing details on the group’s operations, including leading hate speech and smear campaigns against the UAE. The Public Prosecution and the State Security Service are conducting intensive investigations to verify the information provided by the arrested member and uncover more details about this terrorist organization.
The authorities have been monitoring fugitives who were sentenced in absentia in 2013, leading to the discovery that two groups of the terror organization had met abroad. With new recruits joining them, they formed the new secret organization to revive the UAE Muslim Brotherhood’s activities. Funding for this group was found to come from sources within the UAE and other terrorist groups outside the country. The arrested member’s confession shed light on the structure and activities of the organization, which included smear campaigns questioning the UAE’s achievements and targeting the country on human rights issues with the aim to weaken confidence in the UAE Government.
The secret organization collaborated with other terror groups across various sectors to secure funding and maintain its presence. In one particular country, the group was associated with several fronts posing as charitable or intellectual organizations and television channels, with one of the most notable being the Cordoba Foundation (TCF). TCF, classified as a terrorist organization since 2014, presents itself as a Middle Eastern “think-tank” institution and is led by Anas Altikriti, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood residing abroad who played a significant role in organizing demonstrations in front of UAE embassies and international organizations. The fugitive members communicated through online meetings and occasional visits to each other.
The activities of this secret organization included engaging with international human rights groups to provide false information about UAE authorities, fueling negative reports to be published against the country. They also operated fake online pages and propaganda accounts to manipulate public opinion. Through their actions, their goal was to stir up public opinion and weaken confidence in the UAE Government. The Public Prosecution and the State Security Service are expected to release more details about the crimes of this terrorist organization once the investigations are completed. These revelations shed light on the ongoing threats posed by extremist groups and the efforts undertaken by the authorities to ensure the safety and security of the UAE and its citizens.