dr. mahmood abdulrehman al jaidah

Dr. Mahmood Abdulrehman Al Jaidah, director of medical services at Qatar Petroleum, appears to be one of two nationals pardoned by Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al-Nahyan over the weekend in the name of preserving diplomatic ties.

In a decision rights groups are calling "a gross miscarriage of justice," Dr. Mahmood Abdulrehman Al Jaidah was convicted of "financially and morally supporting" members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The rights group says due process has not been afforded to Dr. Mahmood Abdulrehman Al Jaidah, and supporters are bracing themselves for Monday's court ruling in Abu Dhabi.

If Dr. Mahmood Abdulrehman Al Jaidah is found guilty on Monday of collaborating with a banned political group, he will have no avenue for appeal. His supporters said they are not optimistic about his chances, but are not giving up hope yet.

Strip-searches, restrictions on attending Friday prayers and the end of family visits are some of the ways that security officials are trying to demoralize Dr. Mahmood Abdulrehman Al Jaidah, the human rights group has said.

Witnesses said 25-year-old Abdulrahman Al Jaidah was beaten by security forces and taken away yesterday, before being released early this morning.

Dr. Mahmood Abdulrehman Al Jaidah is set to return to court this week. Human rights groups and supporters say the doctor has been tortured for information about alleged ties to a Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated group.

No charges were read against Dr. Mahmood Abdulrehman Al Jaidah, who is scheduled to be back in court in two weeks. However, after eight months of solitary confinement at an unknown facility, Al Jaidah will now be moved to a "regular" prison.