The majority of the group of people allegedly involved in an indecent video shoot that occurred earlier in the month in Dubai Marina have been deported from the UAE.
Press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko told UNIAN that 11 Ukrainian citizens had been ejected from the country for violating public morality laws.
“On the evening of April 12, the UAE authorities deported 11 Ukrainian citizens who had previously been detained in Dubai for participating in a naked photo shoot. Another Ukrainian woman diagnosed with COVID-19 will be deported upon recovery,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko told UNIAN, a Ukranian News Agency.
According to the report, one of the accused, also a Ukranian national, tested positive for COVID-19, and would be ejected from the country once they recovered.
The report also suggested that the group faced fines and six months in jail but received the minimum possible punishment. The Ukranian Consulate in Dubai reportedly came to the aid of the accused.
Ramadan began in the UAE on April 13.
Ahead of Ramadan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minster of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, ordered the release of 553 prisoners of different nationalities from Dubai’s correctional facilities, according to a statement from the Dubai Media Office.
Essam Issa Al Humaidan, the Attorney General of Dubai, announced last Tuesday evening that Dubai’s public prosecution office has finalized its investigation into the matter.
“The Public Prosecution office has completed investigations on a recently publicized photo shoot which contravened UAE law,” said Al Humaidan.
“The individuals involved will be deported from the United Arab Emirates,” he continued.
He added: “No further comment shall be made on the matter.”
10 days ago, Dubai Police arrested a group of people following an incident on the balcony of a Dubai Marina apartment, after an indecent video had been shared online.
More than a dozen people, all women, were allegedly visible in the footage, which appeared to be a publicity stunt.
According to the Dubai Police, a criminal case has been registered against the arrested, and they have been referred to the Public Prosecution for further legal action.
The Dubai Police cited two articles of the UAE’s Federal Penal Code: 361 and 17.
Article 361 of the Federal Penal Code states: “whoever publicly appears, sings, or engages in lewd speech, and whoever seduces others publicly into debauchery in any manner whatsoever, shall be punished by detention for at most six months and by a fine not exceeding AED 5,000, or by either of those two penalties.”
Furthermore, Article 17 of the UAE cybercrime punishes anyone who produces, transmits, publishes, and exploits through an electronic site gambling and/or pornographic material or any other material that may prejudice public morals. Any person who establishes, operators or supervises an electronic site and/or transmits, sends, or publishes through an electronic site; gambling and/or pornographic materials shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine of not less than AED 250,000 and not exceeding AED 500,000.
Dubai Police also issued a warning against such unacceptable behaviours which do not reflect the values and ethics of the Emirati society.
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