AFP

ABU DHABI A FEDERAL court adjourned on Wednesday a case filed by seven Islamists against the United Arab Emirates interior ministry for revoking their nationalities over alleged terror links, state media said.

The seven are all naturalised decades ago. They have been behind bars since April 9 after refusing to obtain new nationalities or face jail.

“They have filed a case against the interior ministry for revoking their citizenship,” said WAM news agency.

The case was adjourned to May 16, following a request by the ministry “to present documents and respond,” WAM said.

In a rarer move, the UAE revoked the Islamists’ citizenship in December for allegedly threatening the Gulf state’s security and safety.

The UAE said they were being stripped of their nationality because they “had perpetrated ... acts threatening the national security of the UAE through their connection with suspicious regional and international organisations and personalities.” Some of the organisations were linked to entities mentioned in UN lists to combat terrorist financing.

The men had were naturalised between 1976 and 1986.