Current Version
| Region | United Arab Emirates |
| Issue | Censorship of LGBT issues |
| Status | Imprisonment as punishment |
| Start Date | Dec 8, 1987 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | In the United Arab Emirates, access to many websites discussing LGBTQ+ topics is blocked by ISPs. The 2012 Law on Combating Cybercrimes criminalises the "condoning, provoking, or promoting of sin through the computer network or any information technology means or a website". In 2016, an amendment to the Federal Penal Code punishes production, possession or display of any material "against public morals" with imprisonment. This is frequently used against the LGBTIQ+ community. Additionally, trans women are effectively criminalised in terms of gender expression due to the Federal Penal Code of 1987 containing Article 359 which punishes “any male disguised in a female apparel” entering a women-only space with up to one year in prison. |
| Sources | https://outrightinternational.org/sites/default/files/NoAccess_abridged_1.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20140801091538/http://ejustice.gov.ae/downloads/latest_laws/cybercrimes_5_2012_en.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20230603074146/https://elaws.moj.gov.ae/UAE-MOJ_LC-En/00_PENALTIES%20AND%20CRIMINAL%20MEASURES/UAE-LC-En_1987-12-08_00003_Kait.html?val=EL1 https://rakpp.rak.ae/en/Laws/Laws%2520of%2520the%2520United%2520Arab%2520Emirates/Laws/%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86%2520%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA%2520%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%85%25203%2520%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A9%25201987.pdf https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/united-arab-emirates/ |
Revision History (6)
edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Adding info on trans expression censorship.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | Aug 13, 2012 | Dec 8, 1987 |
| Description | In the United Arab Emirates access to many websites discussing LGBTQ+ topics is blocked by ISPs. The 2012 Law on Combating Cybercrimes criminalises the "condoning, provoking, or promoting of sin through the computer network or any information technology means or a website". In 2016, an amendment to the Federal Penal Code punishes production, possession or display of any material "against public morals" with imprisonment. This is frequently used against the LGBTIQ+ community. | In the United Arab Emirates, access to many websites discussing LGBTQ+ topics is blocked by ISPs. The 2012 Law on Combating Cybercrimes criminalises the "condoning, provoking, or promoting of sin through the computer network or any information technology means or a website". In 2016, an amendment to the Federal Penal Code punishes production, possession or display of any material "against public morals" with imprisonment. This is frequently used against the LGBTIQ+ community. Additionally, trans women are effectively criminalised in terms of gender expression due to the Federal Penal Code of 1987 containing Article 359 which punishes “any male disguised in a female apparel” entering a women-only space with up to one year in prison. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://outrightinternational.org/sites/default/files/NoAccess_abridged_1.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20140801091538/http://ejustice.gov.ae/downloads/latest_laws/cybercrimes_5_2012_en.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20230603074146/https://elaws.moj.gov.ae/UAE-MOJ_LC-En/00_PENALTIES%20AND%20CRIMINAL%20MEASURES/UAE-LC-En_1987-12-08_00003_Kait.html?val=EL1 | https://outrightinternational.org/sites/default/files/NoAccess_abridged_1.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20140801091538/http://ejustice.gov.ae/downloads/latest_laws/cybercrimes_5_2012_en.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20230603074146/https://elaws.moj.gov.ae/UAE-MOJ_LC-En/00_PENALTIES%20AND%20CRIMINAL%20MEASURES/UAE-LC-En_1987-12-08_00003_Kait.html?val=EL1 https://rakpp.rak.ae/en/Laws/Laws%2520of%2520the%2520United%2520Arab%2520Emirates/Laws/%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86%2520%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA%2520%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%85%25203%2520%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A9%25201987.pdf https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/united-arab-emirates/ |
Show Difference | ||
edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Adding more information.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | (unknown) | Aug 13, 2012 |
| Description | In United Arab Emirates access to many websites discussing LGBTQ+ topics is blocked by ISPs. | In the United Arab Emirates access to many websites discussing LGBTQ+ topics is blocked by ISPs. The 2012 Law on Combating Cybercrimes criminalises the "condoning, provoking, or promoting of sin through the computer network or any information technology means or a website". In 2016, an amendment to the Federal Penal Code punishes production, possession or display of any material "against public morals" with imprisonment. This is frequently used against the LGBTIQ+ community. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://outrightinternational.org/sites/default/files/NoAccess_abridged_1.pdf | https://outrightinternational.org/sites/default/files/NoAccess_abridged_1.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20140801091538/http://ejustice.gov.ae/downloads/latest_laws/cybercrimes_5_2012_en.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20230603074146/https://elaws.moj.gov.ae/UAE-MOJ_LC-En/00_PENALTIES%20AND%20CRIMINAL%20MEASURES/UAE-LC-En_1987-12-08_00003_Kait.html?val=EL1 |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | State-enforced | Imprisonment as punishment |
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | State-enforced |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | State-enforced |
| Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | No censorship | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | No censorship | Ambiguous |
| Description | In United Arab Emirates, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics. | In United Arab Emirates access to many websites discussing LGBTQ+ topics is blocked by ISPs. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://outrightinternational.org/sites/default/files/NoAccess_abridged_1.pdf | |
Reports (1)
- Status is not correct "Most websites not blocked by ISPS, Im checking this website right now"
| Original entry | |
|---|---|
| Status | No censorship |
| Start Date | (unknown) |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | In United Arab Emirates, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics. |
| Sources | (empty) |
Reports (1)
- Status is not correct "TRA/TRDA, which is the governing federal body overseeing telecom and cyber legislation, explicitly mentions homosexuality as a taboo and banned subject matter under its official English list of restrictions for websites in the UAE. While not further deliberation is made, the fact that homosexuality was listed explicitly may be taken alongside the Muslim law of the country to signify that, yes, in fact there is censorship of homosexuality in at least one scope (the internet)."