An Emirati girl aged 18, stood trial for online activism

M.A.S.A., an Emirati girl aged 18, stood trial on charges of setting up and administering an online portal website known as aljanan_7@ on Twitter.

According to the charges levelled against her by the UAE state security prosecution, the defendant had allegedly published on the site false information, which "may cause damage to the reputation of the country and its institutions."

"She also wrote abusive and defamatory posts on the UAE, its leaders, policy and official institutions," claimed the arraignment sheet. She was also accused of publishing information on the same web-site on Twitter, which "may cause damage to the name of the state security agency of the country."

In reply to a question by the judge, she said she had written this information unintentionally and without a purpose to affront any-one, nor any government institution or entity. The defence attorney, Hamdan Al Zayoudi, asked the court to postpone the hearing to view and examine the investigation files. The court adjourned the hearing to May 2, 2016.