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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!
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
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.
/. isn't about breaking news it's more about the discussion and community. If you want breaking headlines then go to Drudge or Google News or some other hard news aggregator, not /.
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've complained about my house first. I just can't do anything about it. So I'm not allowed to criticize anyone doing wrong until the rest of the US wakes up and joins me in criticizing the USA? You sound like an anti-speech censor, not a voice of reason and moderation.
Learn to love Alaska
That's like going to jail over making 'Howard the Duck'.
They were sentenced on Monday. Pretty sure Monday morning in Dubai was about a day and a half ago. They were first arrested "several weeks ago", yes but the actual disposition of the case is significant news. I guess you're the sort of reality TV viewer who gets all stirred up by some barely newsworthy event then just as quickly gets distracted by whatever the new outrage of the day is and forgets all about what he was upset about the day before. I wouldn't be proud of that if I were you, but rather ashamed.
Of course, Slashdot isn't really supposed to be about breaking news anyway, it's supposed to be for thoughtful and intelligent discussion of the events. I guess we have people like you to thank for why it isn't anymore.
Take care of your own house first before you complain about the actions of your neighbors.
Why does each task need to be executed sequentially rather than concurrently? Is there a hidden dependency forbidding concurrent execution?
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.
Smells like "Buuut Mommmmy ... Jonny did it toooo"
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.
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.
They were sentenced on Monday. Pretty sure Monday morning in Dubai was about a day and a half ago. They were first arrested "several weeks ago", yes but the actual disposition of the case is significant news.
And the summary makes no mention whatsoever that they have now been sentenced.
I guess you're the sort of reality TV viewer who gets all stirred up by some barely newsworthy event then just as quickly gets distracted by whatever the new outrage of the day is and forgets all about what he was upset about the day before. I wouldn't be proud of that if I were you, but rather ashamed.
No, I'm the kind of busy person who expects a fucking decent summary that doesn't make me work to figure out what's the news it's trying to communicate ;-)
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.
And the summary makes no mention whatsoever that they have now been sentenced.
The phrase "has been imprisoned" implies such. For confirmation you could have clicked that phrase, which is a link, and seen that information in both the headline and the very first sentence. The summaries are often shitty, but that's not an excuse for ignorance on anyone else's part.
No, I'm the kind of busy person who expects a fucking decent summary that doesn't make me work to figure out what's the news it's trying to communicate ;-)
You're such a "busy person" that you have plenty of time to whine about it though? This is a discussion forum, not a news aggregator. If you don't have time to read and understand the topic before you post, then go away. This forum isn't for you. Maybe some Duck Dynasty reruns are on.
Not so. Monday morning in Dubai was two hundred years ago. That is, however, still several centuries ahead of Saudi.
"Your house?" The second person pronoun suggests you are not an American. By your own logic, you shouldn't complain about our ways and focus on your own problems.
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.
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.
The phrase "has been imprisoned" implies such.
No, it most certainly does not. One can be imprisoned for years, decades even, while awaiting trial...
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.