Spoof video defendants await verdict



ABU DHABI // A verdict is expected next Monday in the trial of five men accused of harming the public image of the UAE’s culture around the world through a spoof documentary.

S C, an American originally from Sri Lanka, two Indians A and R, and two Emirati brothers, S D and S D, all of whom are from Dubai, appeared at the State Security Court in Abu Dhabi yesterday for the latest hearing.

The men were arrested in April this year for the video they produced and posted on YouTube in October last year.

The 19-minute film, called Satwa Comedy School, is set in a garage in Al Satwa area of Dubai.

In it, the characters practise martial arts to protect themselves from the gangs of youths they claim live in their neighbourhood.

Some of the weapons they wield are pieces of Emirati national dress including the agal, the black rope worn around the headdress, and the naal, the leather slippers.

In Monday’s hearing, prosecutors presented a report on the content of the video after it had been translated from English to Arabic as requested by the court.

The contents of the report were not revealed in court, but it was mentioned that the video starts with a disclaimer saying: “The following events are fictional and no offence was intended to the people of Satwa and UAE.”

It also mentioned that the naal and agal were used in the film.

Defence lawyers stressed that their clients never had intended to ridicule the UAE’s culture or damage its reputation elsewhere in the world. They insisted that the video was just a parody made for comedy.

One of the Emirati brothers pleaded with the court to be granted bail.

“I’ve spent eight months in prison already,” he said.

The defence also presented a report that included samples of other films and videos that featured Emirati culture, yet never resulted in prosecution.

They included ones called Two Locals Fighting at the Cinema and Fight at Dubai Creek. They also mentioned the 2009 Dubai-based feature film City of Life.

S C, 29, worked as a business consultant in Dubai and was a stand-up comic on the side.

S D, 32, worked in media and marketing and was a rap musician. His brother, SD, 23, is a student and part-time worker for an airline.

Another sibling, A D, was charged with being aware of the offence but not reporting it. His case was dropped before it reached court.

There were nine defendants when the trial started but only five of them appeared in court on Monday.

It was unclear if the remaining had their cases dropped or are still on trial.

hdajani@thenational.ae

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Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

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ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
 

The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.

Meydan race card

6pm Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m 

6.35Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
1,800m 

7.10pm Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m ,400m 

7.45pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB)  $180,000  (T) 1,800m 

8.20pm Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m 

8.55pm Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m 

9.30pm Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m  


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