<p>Islamists detained in the United Arab Emirates have confessed to forming a secret organisation that includes a military wing aimed at establishing an Islamist state, a newspaper reported on Thursday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Members of the banned Al-Islah, or Reform, association, said they planned to topple the United Arab Emirates (UAE) regime, a federation of seven hereditary sheikhdoms, Alkhaleej daily said, citing unnamed sources close to the investigation.<br /><br />“Investigations have revealed that the structure of the organisation included committees and local branches in every emirate, as well as consultative and executive councils and a military wing,” said Alkhaleej.<br /><br />The group admitted a plot aimed at “seizing power and establishing a religious state or a Caliphate” -- the political system improvised by early Muslims after the death of Prophet Mohammed in the 7th century.<br /><br />The organisation had also been acting “in high-level coordination with the organisations of the Muslim Brotherhood in three other Gulf states,” said the report.<br /><br />“The Muslim Brotherhood in the UAE recently received $2.72 million from its counterparts in the Gulf, because it is currently going through a tough time,” it added.<br /><br />Other United Arab Emirates newspapers reported matching statements also attributed to sources close to the investigation.<br /><br />Lawyers of the detained could not be immediately contacted for confirming the reports on funding and the military arm. Al-Islah has traditionally been associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Those who made the reported confession are among 60 detained Islamists, including Sheikh Sultan bin Kayed Al-Qassimi, a member of the ruling family of the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah.<br /><br />On July 15, the UAE announced it had dismantled a group it said was plotting against state security and challenging the constitution but did not identify their affiliation or give the number of arrests.<br /><br />Amnesty International has urged authorities to release the activists or provide them with fair trials.<br /><br />The UAE has not seen the kind of pro-reform protests that have swept other Arab countries, including Gulf neighbours Bahrain and Oman, since last year.But the Abu Dhabi government has stepped up a crackdown on voices of dissent and calls for democratic reforms.</p>
<p>Islamists detained in the United Arab Emirates have confessed to forming a secret organisation that includes a military wing aimed at establishing an Islamist state, a newspaper reported on Thursday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Members of the banned Al-Islah, or Reform, association, said they planned to topple the United Arab Emirates (UAE) regime, a federation of seven hereditary sheikhdoms, Alkhaleej daily said, citing unnamed sources close to the investigation.<br /><br />“Investigations have revealed that the structure of the organisation included committees and local branches in every emirate, as well as consultative and executive councils and a military wing,” said Alkhaleej.<br /><br />The group admitted a plot aimed at “seizing power and establishing a religious state or a Caliphate” -- the political system improvised by early Muslims after the death of Prophet Mohammed in the 7th century.<br /><br />The organisation had also been acting “in high-level coordination with the organisations of the Muslim Brotherhood in three other Gulf states,” said the report.<br /><br />“The Muslim Brotherhood in the UAE recently received $2.72 million from its counterparts in the Gulf, because it is currently going through a tough time,” it added.<br /><br />Other United Arab Emirates newspapers reported matching statements also attributed to sources close to the investigation.<br /><br />Lawyers of the detained could not be immediately contacted for confirming the reports on funding and the military arm. Al-Islah has traditionally been associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Those who made the reported confession are among 60 detained Islamists, including Sheikh Sultan bin Kayed Al-Qassimi, a member of the ruling family of the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah.<br /><br />On July 15, the UAE announced it had dismantled a group it said was plotting against state security and challenging the constitution but did not identify their affiliation or give the number of arrests.<br /><br />Amnesty International has urged authorities to release the activists or provide them with fair trials.<br /><br />The UAE has not seen the kind of pro-reform protests that have swept other Arab countries, including Gulf neighbours Bahrain and Oman, since last year.But the Abu Dhabi government has stepped up a crackdown on voices of dissent and calls for democratic reforms.</p>