kangaroo court. >> reporter: the judge who ordered him to prison, hadn't even watched the video. >> they were very callous in the way they approached our trial. physically, yes, there was no abuse. we were pretty much in a cage for nine months. >> reporter: last year they were sentenced to a year in prison for damaging the uae's image under newly enacted cyber crime laws. >> they wanted to send a message to the uae public to say look what we do to people that do a silly you tube video. imagine if you do something that's actually critical of the government. so it's a warning message and we're scapegoats. >> reporter: while he was in prison, the effort to free him included support around the country including comedians like