UAE law lays down penalties a journalist may face for publication offences.
Article 86 of the penal code includes jail sentences of between one month and two years, and a minimum fine of Dh1,000 and a maximum of Dh10,000, or both.
Offences include breaching the federal law regarding publication, infringement of publication bans, dissemination of false or misleading news, use of equipment without a licence and broadcasting false information to unsettle public opinion.
The court might also order suspension of a newspaper or shutdown of a theatre for a maximum of two months.
A publication or a newspaper may be seized if the print, publication or circulation has been in breach of any of the provisions of this law.
The case would be referred to court to rule on the confiscation of the seized items.
If a breach of any provision of the articles occurs, the court may order the confiscation of the seized items.
In some instances, the Cabinet might, at the behest of the Minister of Information and Culture, issue a decision to suspend the publication of a newspaper for a period of one year or less.
And the decision to suspend or cancel a licence should not result in prejudice to the right of criminally prosecuting those responsible and claiming civil damages.
If absolutely necessary, and in the cases referred to in the preceding section, a newspaper may be suspended for two weeks or less by virtue of a decision by the minister after informing the Cabinet.
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