March 14, 2026 | 02:57 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – A British tourist was detained after allegedly recording an Iranian missile hitting Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to the Daily Mail on Thursday, a 60-year-old London resident faces a two-year prison sentence under cybercrime laws.
He was detained Monday night despite deleting the recording when asked. He insisted he did not intend to break the law. Nevertheless, he was charged for the video and social media posts related to the recent Iranian missile attack in the UAE, according to the Detained in Dubai campaign group.
The UAE government admitted Friday that it arrested 45 people of various nationalities for recording and posting misinformation during the attacks, as reported by Anadolu. The UAE stated its air force engaged a wave of Iranian attacks on Friday, including 27 drones and seven ballistic missiles. According to the defense ministry, this brings the total to 1,567 drones and 285 ballistic missiles.
Harsh Penalty for Social Media Posts
The British tourist was held at the Bur Dubai police station, where British businessman Lee Brown died in 2011 after five days in custody. His family is reportedly "very worried," as reported by the Telegraph.
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said, "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."
"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," said Stirling.
She went on to say that residents can also be detained under national security laws, held indefinitely, denied access to their embassy, and be subject to human rights violations. At times of tension, caution is advised.
The UAE maintains strict laws against criticizing the government or causing "reputational damage," resulting in fines of up to AED 200,000, five-year prison terms, and deportation. Penalties can be more severe for property owners.
Read: US-Israel War on Iran Could End Middle East Tourism Boom
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