Approach Police if Anyone Harassing you in UAE

Social media harassment and Rumors is where people blackmail each other by spreading someone secrets or rumors in-order to get the wanted things.

Let us clear that as per UAE Law, cyber-crime and defamation (insult) are criminal offences in UAE and are prosecuted by reference to the Federal Law No. 3 of 1987 related to issuance of Penal Code and Federal Decree-Law No. (5) of 2012 on combating cyber-crimes.

Chapter IV of Federal Law 3 of 1987 (as amended) ('the Penal Code') outlines the law governing offences of defamation in the UAE and is set out as below,

Law about Publishing Someone Secrets in UAE:

According to Article 378 "Whosoever publishes news, pictures or comments related to the secrets of private or family life of persons even if they are true, shall be punished by detention for a period not exceeding 1 year and by a fine not exceeding 10,000 AED, or by one of these two penalties."

As per Article Article 372: "Whoever attributes to another person, by any means of publicity, an incident which makes him liable to punishment or contempt (disrespect), shall be punished by detention for a period not exceeding 2 years or by a fine not exceeding 20,000 AED.

Punishment by detention and a fine or by either of these two penalties shall be applied if the libel is committed against a public official or one who is in charge of a public service, during performance of the duties or public services assigned to him, or if the defamation affects the honor or injures the reputation of families, or if it is observed that it is intended to achieve an illegal purpose.

If libel is committed by means of a publication in any of the newspapers or other printed media, it shall be considered an aggravating circumstance."

Article 373:

"Detention for a period not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding 10,000 AED shall be imposed on anyone who, by any means of publicity, disgraces the honor or the modesty of another person without attributing any particular act to the defamed party.

Detention for a period not exceeding two years and a fine not exceeding 20,000 AED or either of these two penalties shall apply if a public official or one who is in charge of a public service has been abused during performance of his duty or public service; or if the abuse affects the honor or injures the reputation of families, or if it is noticed that the abuse is intended to achieve an illegal purpose.

However, if the abuse is published in any newspaper or printed media, it shall be considered an aggravated case."

What to do if someone Harassing you in UAE?

If someone is harassing you through social media channels, you may file a criminal complaint with the police by submission of the printed harassment messages (it is better if you can translate messages into Arabic) sent by the sender and by submitting the device (mobile/tablet/laptop) where such messages and audio/video clippings are received/saved and chronology of occurrence of the aforesaid events.

Steps after Investigation of Police:

Upon investigation, if your complaint has merit to prosecute the offender, the police may open a case against the offender and the same will be referred to the public prosecutor for charges as under the applicable Penal Law and Cyber law of the UAE.

Detention for a period not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding 10,000 AED shall be imposed on anyone who, by any means of publicity, disgraces the honor or the modesty of another person without attributing any act to the defamed party.