IPS-English UAE: Journalists acquitted of libel charge
 
Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:48:38 -0800

 

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Emirates News Agency (WAM)

DUBAI, Nov. 9 (WAM) - Two United Arab Emirates (UAE) journalists were found
innocent yesterday by the Dubai Court of Appeals of libel charge, after a
lower court gave each one of them a three month sentence.

The Public Prosecution had pressed charges against Muhsin Rashid, a
reporter at the English language daily ‘Khaleej Times’, accusing him of
defamation. His colleague Shimba Kassiril was accused of aiding in the
defamation case.

   On June 28, ‘Khaleej Times’ published a report by Muhisn Rashid about a
woman identified by the court as S.H. who discovered that the cheque given
to her by her husband had bounced. The reporter quoted the husband as
saying that he issued her the cheque "to get rid of her nagging." Mohammed
Yousif, Chairman of the Journalists Association, hailed the appeal court's
decision and expressed confidence in the UAE's judiciary.

   "We were optimistic that the appeal would help repeal the verdict
passed by the court of first instances", he said.

   Yousif called for carefully studying complaints against journalists
before submitting them to court, especially after Sheikh Mohammed's
instructions.

   Last month, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President,
Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai, issued instructions not to imprison
journalists for reasons related to their work. (WAM)
                    (WAM)