Dubai hotel security officer stands trial for insulting Christianity

The security officer of a five-star hotel in Dubai has been accused of blasphemy and committing a publicly indecent act after he allegedly insulted Christianity last year.

The Emirati defendant reportedly made remarks mocking the religion after a Christmas party held at the hotel, local media reported.

However, the accused has denied the charges.

A policeman was quoted as telling the Dubai Criminal Court: “He told us that after the Christmas party was over, he was just having fun and stood behind the microphone saying, ‘Merry

Christmas and wishing you the best,’ before he said, ‘You are all doomed to hell, and evil is such a destination’. He then pointed at his private parts in a gesture of degradation.”

The incident came to light after the defendant reported that a video of him mocking Christianity went viral on social media.

He claimed he was defamed after a colleague shot the video of him without his consent and then circulated it.

The court has also accused his colleague – an Egyptian – of breaching the Emirati’s privacy and forwarding the clip to others on WhatsApp.

A third Sudanese suspect is also standing trial for having forwarded the clip further to his friends without the Emirati’s permission.

Both of them have also pleaded not guilty. The next hearing has been scheduled for March 27.

The United Arab Emirates has very strict laws governing social media usage in the country and many people have faced trial in recent months for breaching the rules.

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