Dubai: A man who took a video of an Emirati man allegedly assaulting an Indian driver and then posted it on YouTube was arrested on Wednesday, a senior police official said.
Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Acting Chief of Dubai Police, told Gulf News that an Asian man was arrested on charges of taking a video clip of a UAE government official while he was allegedly beating an Indian driver over a minor traffic accident. The incident happened on July 13.
Major General Al Mazeina said the Asian man who posted the clip was arrested after the Emirati official’s son lodged a defamation complaint at Al Ghusais Police Station.
“We only arrested the man who took the video because of a complaint lodged by the family of the Emirati official,” said Major General Al Mazeina.
He said that no one had the right to take pictures or film anyone without permission and acknowledgment from the person who is pictured.
“The man who took the video was supposed to take the video to the police or to the concerned authority to report the incident and then the police for sure would take action but instead of that the man posted the video on YouTube,” said Major General Al Mazeina.
The son told police that the video had been seen by hundred of thousands of people worldwide, which had damaged the reputation of his father and the whole family.
Major General Al Mazeina said the Asian man admitted to police that he took the video and posted it on YouTube and that he also sent it to some of his friends. He said the Asian man happened to be passing by at the time the incident took place.
The driver, who works for a private company in Dubai, clipped the official’s car and drove off. The official followed him and stopped him to shout at him. The video shows the man beating him using his igal, a traditional Emirati head ornament. The Indian man does not defend himself. A passer-by then intervenes to plead with the official to leave the man alone.
Major General Al Mazeina said the case will be transferred to the public prosecutor. He said the Emirati official has been arrested over beating up an Indian man in the middle of the road in clear view of other road users.
Meanwhile, the Emirates Human Rights Association (EHRA) has praised Dubai Police’s quick response in arresting a Dubai Government employee for assaulting an Asian man due to a minor accident.
The EHRA added that the response proves that UAE law applies to all segments of society, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or social standing. It added that the act does not reflect the forgiving nature of the Emirati people, who respect and abide by the law, and appreciate the country’s guests and residents, a fact that is emphasised by the wise leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The association’s statement added that the official’s behaviour contradicts the principles of Islam, which is a religion of forgiveness that always encourages us to cooperate, forgive and love one another, particularly during Ramadan. It encourages helping the needy, not violence and violating human rights.
