Latest UAE Law: DH20 Million Fine for Discrimination
- President Sheikh Khalifa issued the decree on Anti-Discriminatory Law earlier this year, July 20.
- Up to 10 years of imprisonment
- Latest UAE Law Declares DH2 million dirhams as maximum compensation
- Posting on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter about your opinion can put you to jail
- Printing anything that will have negative impact on others belief is a criminal act
- fighting other individual or group on basis of religious belief is considered illegal
- You will be imprisoned if you provoke people because of their color and race
- Organizing a conference and meeting or receiving financial support for activities with purpose of discriminating other religion is punishable by law.
The Anti-Discriminatory Law was enacted last July 20, 2015 and was issued followed the proclamation by President Sheikh Khalifa. Any form of discrimination against people and religion will be considered an act of violation against the state rules.
Having said this, Al Sherooq H&P – one of the best among UAE law firms would like to advice UAE citizens and Expats to be responsible and sensitive when giving their opinion towards the issue of religion, caste creed, doctrine, race, color, or ethnic origin.
The elements of violating the law includes speech and written word, books, pamphlets, or even online media such as blogs, social media posts, website articles and even online comments.
Anti-Discriminatory Law included terms for penalizing anyone for hating and labeling other religions groups or individuals as infidels or unbelievers. The law is believed to be an act of strengthening UAE as a country that thrives on progressive and equal society.
UAE aims for a society free from discrimination. A prosperous place for open-minded people and safeguard them their origin, belief or race, from any harm directed to their well being and religious belief.
The state won’t tolerate any form of discrimination and penalties for violation in accordance of law include jail terms ranging from 6 months to more than 10 years. Fines will range from DH50 thousand to DH2 million.
The law criminalizes acts considered as insulting God, his prophets or apostles or holy books or houses of worship of graveyards. Provisions included anti-discrimination advocate for unnecessary fights on basis of religion, caste doctrine, race, colour or ethnic origin.
The law deplored violence such as hate of speech and promotion of discrimination in all media platforms such as prints, online, and visual media. Any form of hate expression in speech and published media will not be tolerated.
According to Wam Report:
“The law prohibits any entity or group established specifically to provoke religious hatred and recommends stringent punishments for groups or supporters of any organizations or individuals that are associated with hate crimes.”
“It also bars any kind of events such as conferences and meetings within the UAE organized with the sole purpose of sowing seeds of discrimination, discord or hatred against individuals or groups on the basis of faith, origin or race. Receiving financial support for such activities is also punishable under the new law.”
“The law encourages anyone involved in any activity that violates the law to voluntarily submit themselves before the authorities and has provisions allowing the courts to waive penalties in such cases.”
“The new law does not contradict with any other existing laws meant to protect specially privileged groups in the society such as women, children and individuals with disabilities or others.”