Criminals are advertising "miracle cures" for the Covid-19 on the dark web. Courtesy: Getty
Criminals are advertising "miracle cures" for the Covid-19 on the dark web. Courtesy: Getty
Criminals are advertising "miracle cures" for the Covid-19 on the dark web. Courtesy: Getty
Criminals are advertising "miracle cures" for the Covid-19 on the dark web. Courtesy: Getty

UAE media figure arrested over racist comments in online video


  • English
  • Arabic

An Emirati media figure has been arrested over racist comments made in a video posted online.

The man - referred to only as TM - is currently being detained on the orders of the UAE Federal Public Prosecutions.

Officials said the footage was an "affront to the UAE" and sought to undermine the country's values of equality and tolerance.

Prosecutors said the recording aimed to create divisions based on ethnicity and was particularly offensive to one community living in the Emirates.

“It was found to be an affront to the UAE and its efforts to disseminate the values of tolerance, besides violating the UAE’s foundational principles of justice and equality,” said the prosecutors office in a statement carried by state news agency, Wam.

A spokesperson for the Federal Public Prosecution said that the incident remained under investigation.

Residents were warned to adhere to the UAE's laws and values when using social media.

The spokesman asked people not to sow seeds of division among people in the name of ethnicity, religion, language or gender.

"These are our fundamentals and no infringement on them will be tolerated," he said.

A hefty fine of between Dh500,000 and Dh1 million can be imposed on anyone who owns or runs a website or publishes information online with the aim to incite hatred, according to the latest UAE Cybercrimes Law amendment issued in 2018.

Past winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)

2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)

2014 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)

2013 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)

2012 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)

2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)

2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)

2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)

 

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets