UAE | Crime

Dubai court gets first Facebook libel case

This is believed to be the first court hearing, which involves suspects abusing Facebook for unlawful acts, to be highlighted in the media.

By Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter, Gulf News
Published: 00:00 November 18, 2009

Image Credit: Supplied
The 26-year-old Syrian partner admitted that he uploaded several pictures on Facebook of the Lebanese claimant and posted libellous comments below them.

Dubai: A business partner has admitted cursing and defaming his former employee on Facebook during the first-of-its-kind trial involving the worldwide electronic social networking tool.

This is believed to be the first court hearing, which involves suspects abusing Facebook for unlawful acts, to be highlighted in the media.

The 26-year-old Syrian partner admitted before the Dubai Misdemeanours Court yesterday that he uploaded several pictures on Facebook of the Lebanese claimant and posted under each of them a libellous comment.

Provoked

"I am guilty and I did defame him because he provoked me," the partner, A.A. admitted, when he defended himself before Presiding Judge Ebrahim Khalil Abu Shamma in courtroom seven.

Prosecutors charged the defendant with cursing and dishonouring the claimant, A.R., on Facebook by posting slanderous comments under his pictures. When the judge confronted the suspect with the charges, the defendant said: "Your Honour, please let me explain what happened. I had a partnership with his brother in a restaurant … later I discovered that he was stealing the money from the cashier. He also used to inform customers that the restaurant had been sold and that I had nothing to do with the restaurant anymore. His behaviour provoked me and that's why I posted the comments on Facebook …"

Comments (29)

Added 23:32 November 18, 2009

don't blame facebook, blame these social psychopaths if they enjoy wrecking other peoples lives. but what if some comments are true? then we don't have the right to be upset, after all we are all responsible of our own actions. i am a victim of cyber bullying and i was devastated because i lost a person that meant so much to me and changed my life completely.

joy, dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 22:35 November 18, 2009

I think a small amount of fine and an apology on Facebook would be pretty much enough of punishment...but no more

Glasszone, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Added 19:30 November 18, 2009

this has nothin to do with facebook...cuz facebook does not write all this.its the peoplewho do all this stuff...

Nehan, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Added 18:18 November 18, 2009

Facebook is not the problem. If someone wants to cause harm to another, he will find a way. Libel, slander, etc. all existed before Facebook and it will continue whether Facebook exists or not.

Anna, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 18:01 November 18, 2009

it was rreally very sad to read about the abuse of facebook. facebook is the site where we can connect to our friends and relatives and share our pictures and videos to minimize the distance barrier between our loved ones.there are certain group of people who really take advantage of every good facility and we cannot stop them. the best thing we can do is make ur profile strictly private and accessible to only our close ones. so that such cases can be over come. Thanks God such kind of acts has never done with me or my known ones till yet .

Benish Yasir, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 16:52 November 18, 2009

This is totally nonsense there nothing abusing on face book. It the place where you can express your views argument may pass from both side they can be harsh but that doesnt mean its abusing. Is some one remebering any aurgument when you wake up next day...? I disagree with this whole issue....

Tauseef, Lahore, Pakistan

Added 16:22 November 18, 2009

Absolutely ridiculous what I am hearing! If you don't like social networking sites then simply DON'T USE THEM. Why ban them for everyone else to enjoy using them? There are many advantages to social networking sites (facebook, linkedin, ASW, etc.) as you are able connect with people from all over the world who share similar interests as you---not only for broadening your relationships but also for promoting business and finding jobs. Those of us who are far away from our homes are able to better keep in touch with are friends and family and keep in touch with what is happening in their lives. Also, there are actually privacy controls which allow you to show as little or as much as you wish to the Worldwide internet. You can also choose to ignore or block certain individuals who continue to add you as friends whom you don't know. I think something else that needs to be brought up is the fact that if someone chooses to upload photos or post comments about somebody on their facebook and it isn't shown to the whole world---only to their select group of friends---it shouldn't be considered slander in public because it isn't meant for the public, only their select group of friends.

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 15:04 November 18, 2009

Facebook, even though it is a personal networking site, is open to millions of people. Whatever you put on the Internet would somehow be read by people as they get passed from one person to another quickly. A person should always think twice on what to put on Facebook. As an advice, never put anything that is work-related or anything that would insult somebody. Yes, we are entitled to our own opinions, but many cultures and people are not open to criticisms, jokes and sharing of personal views.

Quay, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 14:59 November 18, 2009

All these incidents wouldnt have taken place if the person blocked the other one from his account while seeing such comments on pictures. The whole act would have stopped there itself. There are networking sites which are not privacy protected, where the whole contact of a user can be seen to the public, but facebook is quiet protected & advanced when compared to other networking sites.

Sanish Cherian, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 14:37 November 18, 2009

Facebook is not the problem. If someone wants to cause harm to another, he will find a way. Libel, slander, etc. all existed before Facebook and it will continue whether Facebook exist or not.

Anna, Dubai, United Arab Emirates