May 20, (THEWILL) — An Abu Dhabi court has sentenced an Emirati man, Saif Salem Saif Ali Al Maqbali, to three years’ imprisonment and imposed a fine of Dh5 million ($1.3 million) for publishing an online video that promoted marriage to underage girls from Morocco.
The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal delivered the judgment on Wednesday after convicting Al Maqbali of using social media platforms to disseminate content deemed offensive, inflammatory, and harmful to relations between the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.
According to court findings, Al Maqbali falsely claimed in the video that Moroccan laws permitted marriage to minors, remarks prosecutors said amounted to incitement and the spread of misleading information capable of fuelling social discrimination and hatred.
Authorities said the case was treated with urgency due to the sensitive nature of the comments and their potential diplomatic implications.
Prosecutors subsequently referred the defendant to trial before the Federal Court of Appeal in Abu Dhabi.
In its ruling, the court ordered the deletion of the controversial video and directed that all social media accounts linked to Al Maqbali be shut down.
The court also ordered the confiscation of the mobile phone used in publishing the material.
Investigators told the court that the defendant employed rhetoric that violated the values, laws, and social principles of the UAE while also offending Morocco and undermining relations between both countries.
The ruling underscores the UAE’s increasingly strict stance on online content considered harmful to public order, social harmony, or international relations.
Emirati authorities have in recent years intensified monitoring of digital platforms and imposed stiff penalties on individuals found guilty of hate speech, misinformation, or content capable of inciting discrimination.
The judgment has also drawn attention to broader regional concerns over child protection and the misuse of social media to promote harmful narratives involving minors.
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