VZCZCXRO3185
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHAD #1445 2411349
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291349Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9607
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001445 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL AE
SUBJECT: BLOGGER JAILED FOR DEFAMATION OF LOCAL OFFICIAL 
 
Sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect accordingly. 
 
¶1.  (U) An AFP story dated August 22 noted that an Arab human rights 
group (Cairo-based Arabic Network for Human Rights Information -- 
HRInfo) was decrying the one-year sentence against a website owner 
in the UAE, Mohammed Rashed al-Shehhi, on defamation charges, adding 
that al-Shehhi was also fined approximately 19,000 dollars and had 
his web-site (majan.net) shut down.  The case in the emirate of Ras 
al-Khaimah (RAK) stems from a suit filed by an RAK official.  What 
HRInfo characterized as simple "political criticism" of a civil 
servant (and that by a contributor over whom the website manager 
likely has no control), earned al-Shehhi a stiff penalty. 
 
¶2.  (U) The local Arabic daily Al-Khaleej had published an August 11 
article noting the "controversial" closing of the blog, citing 
opposing opinions gleaned in interviews without clearly espousing a 
particular point of view.  The writer, without mentioning the 
content of the alleged defamatory statements, cited an elected 
Federal National Council member noting the important role of the 
website while also cautioning against its misuse, an RAK official 
cautioning against unregulated expression which infringed on 
another's privacy, bloggers "shocked" by the decision to close the 
site and others emphasizing the need to develop the positive aspects 
of the Internet in the UAE's move towards participatory governance, 
and an RAK court official citing the laws violated and the 
punishments therein designated.  The AFP article some days later 
amplified the negative aspects of the case for an international 
audience. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Contacts familiar with the case at the RAK courts note the 
serious nature of remarks published on the site and cite the penalty 
as derived from Articles 16 and 24 of the UAE Communication and 
Internet law.  (Note:  Article 16 puts the penalty for "violating 
social principles and family values" as imprisonment of not less 
than one year and/or a fine of not less than fifty thousand Dirhams 
[approx. USD 13,600], while Article 24 calls for the confiscation of 
devices, programs and means used in committing such violations.  End 
note.)  According to RAK judicial officials, a web participant 
seriously insulted the Director of the RAK Health Department, 
accusing him of spying on his employees, hiring his relatives for 
key positions despite their lack of qualifications, and having 
intimate extra-marital affairs.  The offended party reportedly asked 
al-Shehhi to remove the offensive entry, and filed the suit when 
only a portion of the more libelous elements was deleted.  The case 
is pending appeal. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Comment:  Freedom of expression and an open press are 
widely recognized in the UAE as positive democratic values which 
will gain favor over the long term, yet local writers must take 
precautions to avoid official censure.  When one crosses a "red 
line" in defaming officialdom, the courts can be somewhat heavy 
handed, thus reinforcing the survival mechanism of self-censorship. 
Without more detail on this particular case, it is difficult to 
ascertain whether it is a legitimate case of libel or an example of 
a local blogger pushing the envelope just a little too far and 
paying the consequences.  End comment. 
 
QUINN