Three “traumatized” survivors of an Iranian drone strike in Dubai have been arrested after sending photos to their loved ones — an act that violates local security laws in the authoritarian Gulf city.
The residents of the expat enclave of Creek Harbour said they were only trying to reassure relatives after being caught up in last Wednesday’s strike, which damaged their apartment building.
“Instead of receiving victim support, they were locked up by Dubai police,” Radha Stirling, CEO of the group Detained in Dubai — an organization that helps expats who have been arrested in the city — wrote on X.
People who share footage or content from the war risk being slapped with severe penalties under Dubai’s strict cyber crime laws.
Violators could be fined $54,000 and face a minimum of two years in prison.
Last week, a 60-year-old British tourist was arrested for allegedly filming Iranian missiles flying over Dubai, according to CNN.
The tourist was among 21 people detained by the authorities on allegations of using an “information technology tool to broadcast, publish, republish or circulate false news, rumors of provocative propaganda to incite public opinion or disturb public security.”
Even those who repost content can end up being charged, Stirling warned.
“In times of regional tension, authorities can become hypersensitive, and innocent mistakes can quickly escalate into extremely serious and dangerous situations for foreigners,” she posted on her Detained in Dubai blog.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the United States’ airstrikes on Iran:
- Follow live updates on the US and Israel’s war with Iran
- Iran’s missiles ‘down 90%,’ drone attacks down 95%, Hegseth says
- Iran’s new impotent supreme leader is wounded and ‘likely disfigured,’ as Hegseth dares him to appear on camera
- All 6 crew members killed as US Air Force refueling plane crashes in Iraq, military says
- Trump says Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is ‘probably alive’ but may be ‘damaged’
Stirling claimed suspects can be held in criminal investigation department facilities known for human rights abuses.
Officials in the United Arab Emirates have released the mugshots of 35 people accused of committing cyber crimes, according to Gulf News.
Law enforcement released the mugshots of a group of 10 people Saturday accused of sharing misleading content, including that of missiles being intercepted.
Dubai authorities announced 25 arrests on Sunday, with 12 accused of sharing war footage.
Six people have been accused of championing a hostile state, while seven people allegedly shared AI-generated material.
