An Abu Dhabi court has sentenced an Emirati man to three years in prison and imposed a hefty fine of Dh5 million (approximately $1.3 million) after he was found guilty of inciting marriages to underage girls from Morocco through an online video. The individual, identified as Saif Salem Saif Ali Al Maqbali, faced urgent trial proceedings initiated by prosecutors following his misleading assertions in the video, which falsely claimed that Moroccan laws permitted marriages to minors. This grave misrepresentation not only contravened established legal norms but also stirred significant public outrage.
On Wednesday, the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal mandated the removal of the offensive video and directed the closure of Al Maqbali's social media accounts, effectively curtailing his ability to disseminate such harmful content further. Additionally, the court ordered the confiscation of the mobile phone utilized for this criminal act, underscoring the judiciary's commitment to upholding societal values and legal standards.
Investigations into Al Maqbali's actions revealed that he employed language that incited social hatred and discrimination, which posed a serious violation of the United Arab Emirates' laws and cultural principles. His statements were deemed not only harmful to the moral fabric of the UAE but also detrimental to the diplomatic relations between the Emirates and Morocco, reflecting the broader implications of his incendiary rhetoric.
As reported by thenationalnews.com.
