UAE Court Sentences Emirati Over Social Media Posts Promoting Child Marriage

An United Arab Emirates court has sentenced an Emirati man to three years in prison and fined him Dh5 million for using social media platforms to promote and incite child marriages in Morocco.

According to authorities, the ruling was issued by the State Security Chamber of the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeals against Emirati national Saif Salem Saif Ali Al Maqbali.

The court also ordered the removal of the offensive video, the closure of the defendant’s social media accounts, and the confiscation of the mobile phone used in the offence.

Investigations by the UAE Attorney-General found that the defendant had published a video encouraging marriage to underage girls in Morocco while falsely claiming such practices were permitted under Moroccan law.

Authorities said the content included rhetoric capable of inciting hatred, social division and discrimination, while also harming relations between the Emirati and Moroccan peoples.

Officials described the actions as a serious violation of UAE laws and societal values.