Sharjah: Nine people charged in connection with a dirty dancing video — including a top sport celebrity in the UAE — will be jailed for one year following a court verdict on Thursday.
The video which was recorded in March at a wedding, depicted the defendants dancing in a manner some considered indecent.
In addition to a jail term of one year, the defendants were fined between Dh3,000 and Dh10,000 on a charge of beautifying the sin by the Court of Misdemeanours.
Sport personality Khalid Hurriyah, a Sharjah businessman and former chairman of the UAE Fans Association football team will serve a one year imprisonment.
Two women (sisters) have already been sentenced to six months in jail, one of whom remains at large and was sentenced in absentia.
Meanwhile, the man who dressed like a woman and danced with UAE sport celebrity has been sent to a juvenile facility in Sharjah.
In court today, the ruling ordered that following the serving of their jail terms, all non-Emaratis will be deported.
Three suspects attended the court hearing presided over by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Zarouni, while lawyers and other suspects did not attend.
The case opened at Khor Fakkan Court on April 2. The second hearing was held in close session at Khor Fakkan court.
The suspects denied all charges against them.
Public prosecution ruled that the owner of the house where the incident took place, denied knowledge of the incident, and that the presence of the dancers and the whole wedding was entrusted to one of his sons.
The homeowner said he was not aware of the video that included scenes of inappropriate behaviour.
The video, which went viral on social media in mid-March depicts dozens of men dancing with a group of women in a questionable way during a wedding party of a family member of a famous television broadcaster in Khor Fakkan.
