Dubai resident fined Dh500,000 for insulting religion

The Lebanese man insulted religion when he had an altercation with two sisters at a nightclub in Al Barsha.

A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to three months in jail and ordered to pay Dh500,000 as fine after a Dubai court convicted him of blasphemy.
Public prosecution records show the Lebanese man insulted religion when he had an altercation with two sisters at a nightclub in Al Barsha on April 5, 2017.
He was initially charged with blasphemy, consuming alcohol without a licence, verbal abuse and physical assault, but the Court of First Instance sentenced him on the blasphemy charge only and ordered his deportation after completing his jail term.
It referred him to the Court of Misdemeanors on the alcohol charge and dropped the insult and assault charges following a waiver filed by the complainant.
He had earlier admitted in court to the charge of drinking alcohol without a licence and claimed he only stepped in to break a fight the two sisters were having with other people.
The complainant's 34-year-old sister said they were at a nightclub when they had a brawl with a woman sitting at the next table. "I was surprised when the defendant walked to our table and slapped me on my hands. As I pushed him away, he tried to hit me. But people around us took him away from me.
"At that very moment, he verbally abused me and used bad language while talking about God. He said other bad words which I cannot recall now," one of the sisters told the prosecutor.
They filed a complaint around 7am at the Bur Dubai police station.
The 31-year-old Lebanese complainant, a housewife, said the incident took place at 3am. "We were with a friend when the accused came to our table. He pushed my sister and verbally abused us and insulted religion. The security guards then came and took him away from our table."
The defendant was arrested on July 6, 2017. A police corporal said the accused did not answer their calls.
"We tried to call him as soon as we received the complaint, but in vain. We arrested him later in Downtown Dubai. He said he just stepped in to break a fight between the sisters and other people," the officer said, adding that the accused claimed the two sisters then talked disrespectfully to him, which prompted him to respond accordingly. 
The defendant may appeal the verdict within 15 days.
mary@khaleejtimes.com
 
 

• Dubai