Abu Dhabi, UAE – The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal – State Security Circuit – sentenced an Emirati man to three years in prison and fined him five million dirhams. This followed his posting of content on social media that incited and encouraged marriage to minors in the Kingdom of Morocco. He also disseminated false information regarding Moroccan laws.
The court also ordered the closure of the defendant’s online accounts and the confiscation of the phone used to post the content in question. He was further obligated to delete the offensive material.
Public Prosecution investigations
The Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution referred the accused to an expedited trial after investigations revealed he had published a video containing content deemed inflammatory and illegal. The video also included statements likely to incite sedition, hatred, and social discrimination.
The investigations further revealed that the published content contained misleading information, thereby contributing to harming the fraternal relations between the Emirati and Moroccan peoples. The competent authorities considered this a serious violation of the laws in force in the country.
Strict penalties against offensive content
The Abu Dhabi court, in its ruling, affirmed that the defendant’s actions constituted a misuse of social media. Furthermore, they violated societal values and the laws regulating electronic publishing in the United Arab Emirates.
The court emphasized that such actions warrant legal deterrence due to their potential negative impact on the social fabric and international relations.
This ruling reflects the judiciary’s strict approach to dealing with cybercrimes and offensive content. It thus strengthens the regulation of digital platform use and safeguards social stability and the country’s international relations.
