Sharing footage of attacks can lead to a prison term, hefty fines or deportation under the Gulf state’s laws
Police in the UAE’s Abi Dhabi emirate have said that they have arrested 45 people of various nationalities for sharing videos of Iranian missile and drone strikes on the country.
Iran has extensively targeted American bases and other assets in the Gulf States since being attacked by the US and Israel in late February. Tehran says it feels “no hostility” towards its Arab neighbors, but insists that Washington’s facilities are “legitimate targets.”
The publication of videos of Iranian attacks could provoke public concern and lead to the spreading of rumors within the community, the police said on Saturday. Legal and administrative measures have been taken against those responsible, it added.
On Thursday, Detained in Dubai consultancy reported that 21 people, including a 60-year-old British national, have been charged in the UAE under the country’s cybercrime laws for filming the strikes.
Under the UAE’s laws, they could face up to two years in prison and fines ranging from around $5,500 to $54,500; foreigners risk deportation.
“The charges sound extremely vague, but serious on paper. In reality, the alleged conduct could be something as simple as sharing or commenting on a video that is already circulating online,” Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said.
She warned that “foreigners need to understand that what may seem like normal social media behavior elsewhere can lead to arrest in the UAE.”
On Monday, Qatar said that it had detained more than 300 people for filming Iranian strikes. A few days later, Bahrain announced the detention of six individuals on similar charges. The monarchy’s interior ministry urged the public “to refrain from circulating or re-posting unreliable videos or news to avoid legal accountability.”
“If governments [in the Gulf] begin arresting expatriates for sharing or discussing news during a conflict, it risks undermining the image they have tried to build as safe, modern international hubs,” Stirling stressed.
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Israel has also stepped up censorship during the conflict, which it initiated together with Washington, forbidding live broadcasts showing city skylines during Iranian missile attacks, images identifying locations of strikes, and other content deemed to be a security threat.
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