Tearing UAE dirham or posting videos of misuse invites fine of up to Dh500,000

  DUBAI – The UAE Public Prosecution on Saturday (June 13) reminded the public not to misuse the UAE dirham or risk getting fined and jailed. "The national currency carries the name and emblem of the UAE; hence the moral value is greater than its material value, and any behavior that is deemed an insult to the currency is a crime punishable by the UAE law," the Public Prosecution said. In a video clip published on social media, the Public Prosecution said anyone who publicly and intentionally mutilates, destroys or tears up currency, shall be punished by a fine not less than Dh1,000 and ten times the value of the damaged currency. This comes after the Public Prosecution noticed video clips on social media filming the national currency in abusive manner. Many reports about such videos were also received through the My Safe Society app. The Public Prosecution also urged social media user to be responsible in publishing materials and videos on their accounts. "The UAE laws and legislations have criminalized all practices and acts that violate public morals or underestimate the emblem of the state along with its national currency. According to Article 176 of the Penal Code Federal, anyone who insults, mocks, harms the reputation, prestige or statute of the state, its flag, its emblem, its symbols or any of its institutions shall be punished with a minimum period of 10 years and a maximum of 25 years and a fine of no less than Dh500,000," the Public Prosecution clarified. Any inappropriate footage can also be considered a crime under the UAE anti-cybercrime law, which punishes anyone who publishes information, statements or rumors online that can damage the reputation of the UAE, its officials and symbols. The penalty for this is jail time and a fine of up to Dh1 million. In May, a TikTok user was arrested in Dubai after he posted a video of himself blowing his nose on a Dh500 note. He was charged with insulting the national currency and his case has been referred to the Public Prosecution for legal action. Last year, an Asian man was also arrested after he posted a video of himself throwing dirhams in the air. ICA/Expat Media
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