Men accused of insulting UAE fail to appear in court

ABU DHABI // A group of men who are accused of insulting the symbols of the country failed to appear in court, the State Security Court heard.

The court heard that the five men, who are from a Gulf nation, used social media accounts online where they published images ridiculing and insulting the country, harming the reputation of the country.

No further detail was given in court regarding the posts.

Only one defendant, H H, 33, was present in court on Monday. He requested the court to allow him to contact his family in order to hire a lawyer.

He also requested to move to a public prison, since he was staying in a solitary one of which he did not know the location.

Judge Falah Al Hajeri provided more time for the public prosecution to inform the defendants’ embassies that they were wanted by the court.

He also approved of H H’s requests and ordered the prosecution to allow him to speak to his parents and move to another prison.

The case was adjourned to March 30.