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U.A.E. convicts group over spoof documentary – World – CBC News
U.A.E. convicts group over spoof documentary – World – CBC News.

A court in the United Arab Emirates sentenced eight people, including an unidentified Canadian, to up to a year in prison Monday after being convicted in connection to a satirical video about youth culture in Dubai.
The video they produced and uploaded to the internet — a spoof documentary of would-be “gangsta” youth in the Gulf Arab city-state.called Ultimate Combat System: The Deadly Satwa Gs — is set in the Satwa district of Dubai. It pokes fun at Dubai youth who styled themselves “gangstas” but are not particularly thuggish, and shows fictional “combat” training that includes throwing a sandal and using a mobile phone to call for help.
It opens with text saying the video is fictional and is not meant to offend.
The state-owned daily The National said they were accused of “defaming the image of United Arab Emirates society abroad.”
Supporters of the defendants reported that they were charged under a 2012 cyber-crimes law that tightened penalties for challenging authorities.
Shezanne Cassim, 29, from Woodbury, Minn., became the public face of the defendants after his family launched an effort to publicize his months-long incarceration following his arrest in April. Cassim, who was born in Sri Lanka and moved to Dubai for work after graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2006, was sentenced Monday to a year in prison followed by deportation and received a 10,000 dirham ($2,725 US) fine, according to family spokeswoman Jennifer Gore.
Cassim’s brother, Shervon, called the ruling “painful and unfair.”
“Shez is coming up on nine months incarceration for making a parody. This isn’t justice,” he said in a statement.
Canadian only identified by initials
Two Indian defendants received similar sentences, while two Emirati brothers were sentenced to eight months behind bars and received 5,000 dirham fines, according to The National. A third brother was pardoned.
Three other defendants — a Canadian, a Briton and an American — were convicted and sentenced in absentia to the penalties given to the other foreigners. They have never been detained by authorities and so are unlikely to serve their sentences. The paper identified the defendants only by their initials, which is common in the Emirati media.
Gulf Arab authorities have been cracking down on social media use over the past two years, with dozens of people arrested across the region for Twitter posts deemed offensive to leaders or for social media campaigns urging more political openness.
Saudi Arabia Passes Anti-Terror Law, Banning Defamation
Saudi Arabia Passes Anti-Terror Law
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet approved on Monday a new anti-terrorism draft law that criminalizes acts that disturb public order, defame the reputation of the state or threaten the kingdom’s unity, raising concerns by activists it could be used to quash political dissent.
WHO sounds warning on coronavirus strain – Europe – Al Jazeera English
WHO sounds warning on coronavirus strain – Europe – Al Jazeera English.
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- Two more people die of novel coronavirus in Saudi Arabia (uk.reuters.com)
- Two more die from coronavirus in Saudi Arabia (gulfnews.com)
Coronavirus suspected cases hospitalized in France – Health – CBC News
Coronavirus suspected cases hospitalized in France – Health – CBC News.
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- Case of Coronavirus Identified in France (hngn.com)
- France Reports Three New Possible Cases of SARS-Like Coronavirus (counselheal.com)
- France probes 3 suspected cases of SARS-related virus (theglobeandmail.com)
- New Coronavirus Suspected In France, Two More Hit In Saudi Arabia (medicaldaily.com)
- Suspected new MERS case in France, Saudis report two more (crofsblogs.typepad.com)
- France confirms 1st case of new SARS-like virus (vitals.nbcnews.com)
- France Confirms 1st Case of New SARS-related Virus (world.time.com)