Dubai: British tourist facing up to two years in prison over footage of missiles
· Yahoo NewsA 60-year-old British tourist is among 21 people charged under the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) cybercrime laws in connection with videos and social media posts about recent Iranian drone and missile strikes.
The man, who has not been named, said he deleted the video from his phone immediately when asked to and had no intention of doing anything wrong, according to the legal advocacy group Detained in Dubai.
Nonetheless, he has found himself caught up in a wider group of charges over social media posts in the UAE, some of which have attracted widespread attention.
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"The family is extremely worried," said Raphaella Stirling, a crisis manager at Detained in Dubai.
"It's a natural reflex to photograph your surroundings, but authorities are hypersensitive, and the real danger may not be Iran's missiles overhead, but the Emirati authorities' reaction to what people post online."
Watch: One example of footage of drone and missile strikes that have been widely circulated on social media
Detained in Dubai says it is continuing to monitor the cases and working to establish the full details of the allegations and the nationalities of the other individuals charged.
The statement comes as the conflict in the Middle East continues, with Dubai being one of the countries in the firing line.
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In his first statement since becoming Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said the regime will continue to target Gulf Arab neighbours.
According to the official case summary, referenced by Detained in Dubai, those accused are alleged of having used an information network or information technology tool to broadcast, publish, republish, or circulate false news, rumours, or provocative propaganda that may incite public opinion or disturb public security.
"The charges sound extremely vague but serious on paper,” said Detained in Dubai CEO Radha Stirling.
"In reality, the alleged conduct could be something as simple as sharing or commenting on a video that is already circulating online.
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"Under UAE cybercrime laws, the person who originally posts content can be charged, but so can anyone who reshapes, reposts or comments on it. One video can quickly lead to dozens of people facing criminal charges."
Penalties in such cases can include up to two years in prison, fines ranging from AED 20,000 (around £4,000) to AED 200,000 (around £40,000), or both, and foreign nationals will also face deportation.
Why are we seeing less footage from some countries during Iran war?
Dubai residents say city is safe as UAE warns against posting online
Ms Sterling noted that journalists have travelled to Dubai specifically to film missile interceptions, sending footage to editors abroad who then publish it from outside the country.
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"Once that material appears online, residents and visitors inside the UAE who share or comment on it could suddenly find themselves accused of spreading rumours or damaging public security.
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"Foreigners need to understand that what may seem like normal social media behaviour elsewhere can lead to arrest in the UAE," she said.
She added that in some cases, people are treated as national security suspects before the facts are clarified, meaning they can be taken into specialist facilities known for human rights abuses and held for extended periods.
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She pointed to similar enforcement across the Gulf, including in Qatar, which has already charged more than 200 people under comparable laws during the current regional tensions.
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