UAE | Crime
Suicide punishable under UAE law
Individuals who attempt to kill themselves are treated as suspects
- By Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:00 May 17, 2011
Dubai: UAE law prohibits suicide and suicide attempts. Individuals who attempt to kill themselves are treated as suspects and adjudicated before the Court of Misdemeanours.
Shoaib Ali Ahli, senior prosecutor at Dubai Public Prosecution, said attempted suicide is an offence. "A suicide attempt is treated as an offence and a suspect is referred to the Court of Misdemeanours. The law prohibits a person from trying to put an end to his or her life. A person who attempts to commit suicide but fails to do so for any reason will be prosecuted," Ahli told Gulf News.
Being an accomplice to suicide is also a criminal act in the UAE, and any person who incites or encourages another person to commit suicide is also punishable, Ahli added.
Lawyer Eisa Bin Haidar said judges frequently slap fines on those who attempt suicide. Under Article 335 of the UAE Federal Penal Law, a suspect who attempted suicide faces a maximum of six months in prison and/or a maximum fine of Dh5,000.
"Generally, the Misdemeanours court treats suspects who attempted suicide with leniency and only imposes fines… because those suspects are already in some sort of anguish. Punishment against suspects who attempt suicide is derived from Sharia that prohibits such behaviour," Bin Haider said.
Community Reports
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
-
Supporting the needy with food supplies
Group of families engaged in serving isolated labour community hopes to motivate more people to help underprivileged and hungry
-
Leukaemia boy granted wish to meet footballer
Emirati meets hero Al Qahtani, Al Ain team
Latest news
- In Mind
- At times, I think of committing suicide
- Designer of a creative haven
- Fund to help Dubai taxi drivers' families
- New life-saving fleet of vehicles
- Friends of Syria share their vision of a nation
- Saud hails progress achieved by the nation
- Dubai Film and TV Commission set up
- Two women jailed for seven years for smuggling
- Clerk stabbed while trying to break up fight
- Beefed up imports welcomed across UAE
- Readers’ issues addressed
- Maid sentenced to death for murders
- Twitter assault defendants fined Dh5,000 each
- Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
