Britons should not take photos of strikes in UAE, embassy warns
Baku, March 13, AZERTAC
The British Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has warned Britons in the region against breaking the country's laws by taking pictures or sharing images of the impact of Iranian missiles, according to BBC.
It comes after a 60-year-old British man was charged under cyber-crime laws in Dubai after allegedly filming Iranian missiles over the city.
The tourist was detained under a law in the UAE that prohibits publishing or sharing material that could disturb public security, after he was found to have a video of a strike on his phone, according to Detained in Dubai CEO Radha Stirling.
"British nationals are subject to UAE laws, violations may lead to fines, imprisonment, or deportation," the embassy said in a statement on X.
The statement added: "UAE authorities warn against photographing, posting, or sharing images of incident sites or projectile damage as well as government buildings and diplomatic missions."
Stirling said 21 people had been "charged together under the UAE's cyber-crime laws in connection with videos and social media posts relating to the recent missile strikes".
She added that she believed the UAE was cracking down on people filming missiles in order to "maintain the facade that it is safe for tourists".
Criticism of the government is illegal in the UAE. The government exercises strict control over the flow of information in the country.
Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE's minister of state to the EU, told the BBC "the basis of the legislation" around controlling the sharing of information in the UAE was put in place "in order for everyone to feel safe".
For years, Dubai has cultivated a reputation as a glamorous and attractive destination for expats pursuing business opportunities and travel, but the country has been impacted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Other news in this section
