DUBAI, July 2 (RAPSI, Margarita Kislova.) - The Federal Supreme Court of the United Arab Emirates has found the majority of the 94 Emiratis charged with plotting to overthrow the government guilty, Abu Dhabi television reported on Tuesday.

Of the 94 defendants, 56 were sentenced to between 7 and 10 years in prison and eight others, who were tried in absentia, to 15 years. Twenty-five defendants were acquitted.

Many of the 94 have been on trial since March 4 on charges of violating Article 180 of the UAE Penal Code, which prohibits founding, organizing or operating a group which aims to overthrow the countrys political system.

The group includes judges, lawyers, scientists, public figures and youth leaders. All of them are UAE nationals, among them 12 women. Around 60 are connected to the Reform and Social Guidance Association (al-Islah).

According to the investigators, the defendants created a subversive organization that is similar ideologically to the Muslim Brotherhood, an influential Islamic movement whose supporters have come to power in Egypt and strengthened their positions in several Arab Spring countries.

The Attorney General's Office claimed the organization operated under the cover of al-Islah. Its members met in private homes to evade detection by the security services and planned to incite dissent using the media and social networks.

The defendants have denied the charges.