US Muslim Rights Groups Seeks Exit from UAE Terrorism List

Dubai: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said today it has sought to be removed from a list in the United Arab Emirates that designates it as a terrorist organisation along with dozens of other groups.

The Emirati Cabinet on Sunday announced an appeals process that designated groups can follow to seek to be removed from the terrorism list.

CAIR civil rights litigation director Jenifer Wicks said details of a 2014 Emirati law that the designation was based on were made available online this week. She said CAIR has not yet received details of the appeals process.

"Therefore we asked that the submission sent this week be considered an appeal of the designation," Wicks said by email. She said CAIR has yet to receive a response from the UAE Embassy in Washington or the Emirati Ministry of Justice, which handles the first step of the appeals process.

Washington-based CAIR describes itself as America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organisation. It has called the terrorism designation "shocking and bizarre" and has been in contact with American government officials about the matter.

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The Emirates included CAIR on a list of 83 groups it considers terrorist organisations made public on November 15. The list included the Islamic State organisation, a number of al-Qaida linked groups, as well as the Muslim Brotherhood and several Western-based Islamic organizations.

The Emirates is a seven-state federation that includes the oil-rich capital, Abu Dhabi, and the Middle Eastern commercial hub of Dubai. It has taken a tough stance against radical militants such as the Islamic State group, which it is helping to bomb as part of US-led airstrikes in Syria, as well Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood - particularly in the wake of the Arab Spring.

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The Emirates accuses Islamist groups of trying to topple its Western-backed ruling system, and has emerged as a strong supporter of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who was elected earlier this year after leading the military overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.