Up to 70 Britons detained in UAE over Iran attack footage, campaign group warns

As galore arsenic 70 UK citizens person been detained successful nan United Arab Emirates (UAE) for taking photos aliases videos of Iran’s attacks, a run group has claimed.

Detained successful Dubai main executive Radha Stirling has said she estimates dozens of Brits person been arrested successful nan UAE nether nan country’s “draconian” cybercrime laws.

She told Sky News: "We're talking approaching 50 to 70 was my estimate and perchance moreover more. I deliberation by nan extremity of this we'll spot a batch more, perchance 100, possibly 150.”

It comes weeks aft a British man, 60, was detained successful Dubai aft he allegedly filmed missiles successful nan city, contempt deleting nan video instantly erstwhile asked to, Ms Stirling told The Independent at nan time.

The United Arab Emirates has faced a dependable barrage of Iranian missiles and drones since conflict collapsed retired successful nan Middle East astatine nan extremity of February. More than 2,300 drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles person been fired astatine nan Gulf authorities by Iran, according to nan country’s Ministry of Defence.

Ms Stirling warned successful a blogpost that nan UAE has implemented “an extended cybercrime enforcement campaign” since nan outbreak of nan Iran warfare successful nan Gulf, targeting group who filmed, shared aliases discussed events linked to rocket and drone activity successful nan country.

“More concerning is nan expanding classification of these cases nether nationalist information frameworks, exposing individuals to terrible penalties, prolonged detention, and importantly reduced entree to owed process,” she wrote.

The Dubai Media Office issued a informing early connected successful nan conflict arsenic a crackdown connected what they called “outdated” and “misleading” videos and images of past occurrence incidents successful nan city.

“The nationalist and media are urged to trust solely connected charismatic sources for meticulous accusation and refrain from sharing unverified material. Legal action will beryllium taken against those who people aliases republish specified contented successful usurpation of UAE law,” nan connection said.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has said they are providing consular assistance to “a mini number” of British nationals detained successful nan UAE.

It is understood that British nationals are not obliged to pass nan FCDO erstwhile they are detained, though unit stay connected manus to support Brits overseas 24/7.

Five British nationals are presently receiving consular assistance having been detained connected charges relating to taking images of Iranian attacks, while immoderate others person already been released, The Independent understands.

An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are providing consular assistance to a mini number of British nationals detained successful nan UAE successful relationship pinch this issue, and our Ambassador is engaging pinch nan Emirati authorities astir their cases."