A man is on trial for trying to flee the UAE after allegedly insulting Islam on social media.
(Representational image)
The 31-year-old Indian electric welder is accused of posting messages - insulting Islam and disrespecting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) - on Facebook on November 6, 2016, the Court of First Instance was told on Sunday.
Even though he deleted all the posts and details on his account shortly after, copies of the messages were obtained, translated and used as evidence by the Dubai public prosecution.
The complaint was filed on November 7 at Al Rashidiyah police station.
The accused was arrested two days later while trying to leave the country through Dubai International Airport. His mobile phone, allegedly used to post the messages, was seized.
He has been charged with disrespecting the Prophet (PBUH) online.
According to the General Directorate of Criminal Evidence, the defendant's Facebook account was accessed from his own mobile phone.
The last time he logged out was on November 7, according to initial investigations.
No hacking was suspected.
It was not yet clear whether his account was accessed by another party through another device.
The trial has been adjourned to March 21.