Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates ( CNN ) -- Intense security marked the start of court proceedings against 94 detainees in the United Arab Emirates ' capital of Abu Dhabi . The detainees are accused of trying to overthrow the government . They are also accused of being political activists connected with Egypt 's Muslim Brotherhood , which is banned in the UAE . `` They launched , established and ran an organisation seeking to oppose the basic principles of the UAE system of governance and to seize power , '' Attorney General Salem Saeed Kubaish said in a January statement published by state media . Their trials started Monday amid widespread scrutiny of how the UAE would handle the proceedings . Only local media were allowed inside the court , where only two members from each detainee 's family were allowed in . Others had to wait outside . Asma Al-Siddiq , 26 , said both her husband and her father were among the 94 detainees accused . `` The proceedings taken by the court today are not fair , '' she said . `` The women were forced to remove their niqab ( face cover ) . My sister had to remove her niqab to get in . My brother Ibrahim Al-Siddiq was arrested today while in his car ... for having a badge with a picture of the detainees on it . '' `` My brother 's arrest today is a complete act of oppression towards us , '' she added . Mohammed Al-Naimi 's brother is also facing the charges . `` They kept extending his detention with no reason , '' Al-Naimi said . The trial began the same day John Kerry arrived in Abu Dhabi on his first visit to the Middle East in his new role as U.S. secretary of state . Human Rights Watch released a statement calling for Kerry to address the plight of the 94 detainees , claiming 64 had been held at undisclosed locations for up to a year and denied access to lawyers until the last two weeks . The group claims the detainees include two prominent human rights lawyers , Mohammed al-Roken and Mohammed al-Mansoori , as well as judges , teachers and student leaders . `` Emirati citizens have a lot to fear when their government can detain them without charge for months and then deny them due process in trials that ca n't be appealed , '' said Sarah Leah Whitson , Middle East director at Human Rights Watch . `` Secretary Kerry should urge UAE authorities to end these shameful practices and ensure a fair trial for these activists . '' Of the 94 defendants , 10 are still at large and are being tried in absentia , the state news agency WAM reported . The court adjourned Monday to consider the pleas entered so far , WAM said . Another hearing is set for March 11 . Many believe UAE authorities are clamping down on freedom of expression since the Arab Spring swept across the Middle East staring in early 2011 . Unelected ruling families in oil-rich Gulf countries such as Barhrain , Qatar , Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have sought to prevent popular uprisings . But countries such as Bahrain have also received criticism for their heavy-handed use of force . While there has been little protest in the majority Sunni and hugely wealthy UAE , authorities are taking no chances . Political parties and demonstrations are banned in the UAE , and last week an academic from the London School of Economics and Political Science was barred entry to the country . The academic was set to speak at a conference on the political situation in Bahrain .
The 94 detainees are accused of trying to overthrow the government . Family members say their relatives have been oppressed or detained for no reason . Human Rights Watch : Most of the accused were denied access to justice until recently . State media : The next trial is scheduled for March 4th .