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Upload a Spoof Video, Go To Jail (In Dubai)
Taco Cowboy writes with news, as reported by the BBC, that eight people have been imprisoned in Dubai for creating a spoof video about youth culture in that country, for which they were accused of acting "with the intent of inciting to actions, or publishing or disseminating any information, news, caricatures, or other images liable to endanger state security and its higher interests or infringe on the public order." "The video, posted to YouTube, was a gentle satire on young men in the Satwa residential suburb of Dubai who adopt a 'gangsta' pose despite living the sedate, prosperous lifestyle more usually associated with Dubai residents."
Arabs are some uptight people!
And they used to be the most progressive people on Earth - even after Islam!
should be the title of this 'story'
As an American, it's hard to criticize Dubai when kids in the US getting expelled from school and/or arrested over the content of their jokes or writing assignments.
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
These guys have to keep a paranoid, choking control on the people. Oil-filthy-rich nations in the region have to be praying that no organization whose initials are AQ would have the brilliant idea to take them over instead of wasting their time bombing malls and the streets outside embassies. I mean, how much effort would it take to overthrow Dubai? About as much as it would take to assume control of the Cleveland Rotary Club, maybe?
If Slashdot were chemistry it would look like this:Cadaverine
Weeks old. Yes, it's important. But sheesh, it was news several weeks ago, now it's just a really lame, stale, old dupe.
A state security court found them guilty of "defaming the UAE society's image abroad", according to the state-owned newspaper, The National.
Does anyone else find it funny that this arrest is "defaming the UAE society's image abroad" much more than the video ever would?
No where in the linked article or the summary post you are commenting on was hate speech brought into the conversation. The fact is the UAE is attempting to stifle conversation by arresting the eight people who made the video. But yes Lets listen to an anonymous coward spewing hate for jews who have nothing to do with this article, or the way the UAE is exerting their power over these individuals.
You are so ready to condemn left wingers and Jews that your hatred made you oblivious to what exactly you are being shown here. I'm sure somewhere in the twisted little caverns of your minds hatred you can contort this all into jew/left wing hate. That is irrational and a big part of the problem.
Take care of your own house first before you complain about the actions of your neighbors.
The USA has plenty to feel guilty about. Stories like this tend to emphasize injustices elsewhere in the world, and IGNORE that these same injustices may be happening at home, but are under-reported.
If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.
I just paid the nice telephone salesman $500 for a year of Satwa training!
You mean there's no freedom of speech or of the press in Dubai? Say it ain't so!
Is this what passes for news?
I would never have seen this video if they had not been tried in a kangaroo court. What makes Dubai a laughing stock, the video or the prison sentences ?
Dubai's reaction generated more bad press for themselves and significantly enhanced viewership of a YouTube video nobody should waste their time watching...
Keep up the good work Dubai.
I'm sure somewhere in the twisted little caverns of your minds hatred you can contort this all into jew/left wing hate.
Your dismissive attitude and utter disrespect toward the possessive apostrophe in "your minds hatred" outs you as a punctuation bigot. How is anyone ever supposed to take you seriously again after you've displayed such hate towards possessing something? And don't think it's lost on us that an apostrophe leans toward the right. Your true colors, sir, are showing.
They are throwing a bunch of things at a wall hoping that something will stick. If they were confident in their accusation they would use "and".
That's like going to jail over making 'Howard the Duck'.
Here's a paper towel for you.
No wonder Cheney moved Halliburton to Dubai. After 8 years in office, this is what he always wanted the US to be.
The only thing worse than a Democrat is a Republican.
Tha fjutjar.
We should all take notice of this but, Lonely Island, you should take special note. It the authorities in this country are not going to punish you for your crimes against good taste, we will find a way to get you to the UAE.
You're dismissive attitude and utter disrespect toward the possessive apostrophe in "your minds hatred" outs you as a punctuation bigot. How is anyone ever supposed to take you seriously again after you've displayed such hate towards possessing something? And don't think it's lost on us that an apostrophe leans toward the right. You're true colors, sir, are showing.
In the interests of reparations towards apostrophes, I have fixed your comment.
does Dubai understand the concept of parody? People in the United States of America and make fun of politicians without consequences. Saturday Night Live and other comedy shows poke fun at President Obama and the American culture.
Talk about a police state in Dubai without freedom of speech. Maybe I am missing something.
Don't ever confuse Dubai with an open and modern society. It's a monarchy that needs to hold onto power and does not toerate criticism or free speech of any kind. They walk a fine line between the glamour of business, yet holding onto traditional values and conservatism.
It's also illegal to kiss in public, even for a married couple. People have been arrested, imprisoned and deported for such indecency.
But a conservative or libertarian complaining of a liberal lying is hilarious.
RandGoldOwl indeed.
Making a video, as opposed to plotting to kills thousands of people...
No, Fuck YOU.
well played my friend
a gentle satire on young men in the Satwa residential suburb of Dubai who adopt a 'gangsta' pose despite living the sedate, prosperous lifestyle
This could apply to just about any Rap / Hip hop artist - or Miley Cyrus. Just sayin' ...
Maybe we need a new genre - Suburban Gangsta - with minivans and shit.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
for poor inner city kids in this country. Several states have enacted laws that more or less allow for arresting teens because they are deemed uncooperative by a teacher. google the school to prison pipeline and see for yourself.
signed,
a butthurt duck dynasty fan
Hilarious... Did you not notice how many times you typed the word "hatred"? LOL. After I spoke about so-called 'hate' speech.
I'M irrational? You're the idiot who defends the Jews who have taken over your banking system (do you actually know HOW money is created and by WHOM? Of course not), your media, and your government. You arrogant cretin.
Simple. Stay out if third world countries.
Dubai ranked better in human rights than the USA in 2013. We jail kids for making paper mÃché guns.
Does anyone else find it funny that this arrest is "defaming the UAE society's image abroad" much more than the video ever would?
That depends on the UAE's target audience.
In the Arab world, news of the conviction might play very, very well.
What a brilliant rebuttal. Very impressive.
For years now Dubai has made a concerted effort in their advertising, particularly in Western print media publications, to portray the Emirates as an exotic and permissive destination for rich foreigners, but really they're just blowing smoke and recent arrests of foreign tourists for what amounts to moral offenses proves it. This from a supposedly Muslim country that advertises it's official airline by showing unrelated men and women, without head covering, in mixed company drinking alcohol in the upstairs lounge of a plane. What a bunch of hypocrites! Dubai is the perfect of example of the disassociation of wealth from intelligence, culture and even good sense. They think that they're sophisticated and modern but in reality the old European money laughs at them behind their backs. They don't respect them and why should they? Their pretentious efforts to promote what they think of as culture only serve to demonstrate the monumentally stupid scale of their tackiness and poor taste.
Yes, but how many more people will think twice about making any kind of satire that makes fun of the kingdom when they see how even such a mild video gets you a jail sentence? That's what it's about.
Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.