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U.S. businessmen acquitted of supporting militants in United Arab Emirates

Despite the verdict, the father and son were taken back to prison rather than released.

By Stephen Feller

WASHINGTON, May 30 (UPI) -- Two U.S. businessmen imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates were acquitted of charges they supported militants in Libya, but were not released from prison after the verdict.

Kamal Elderat and his son, Mohamed Elderat, were acquitted of charges they were involved with a civil war in Libya, escaping up to 15 years in prison in the UAE, The Washington Post reported.

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Although charges they'd provided financial and material support to terrorist groups had been dropped last year, the two still stood trial for accusations they'd assisted groups in the country. Despite their acquittal, the Elderats were taken back to prison after the verdict was read.

"After the verdict, my dad and bother were taken back to prison," Amal Eldarat, Mohamed's sister, said in a conference call, according to CNN. "We are disappointed that state security did not go with the judge's decision to let them go back to their homes."

The Elderats were held for 21 months by the government in the UAE, with their family saying they were beaten, waterboarded and subjected to electric shock leading to their confession for various crimes.

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Although the UAE is among the United States' allies in the coalition fighting the Islamic State, the nation restricted the Elderat's access to lawyers and U.S. officials as diplomats raised issues with the treatment of the father and son, who have lived in the Middle East for more than two decades.

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