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UAE Needs More Transparency On Human Rights

A string of recent human rights abuses has placed the UAE under international scrutiny.
Labourers work near the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world, in Dubai May 9, 2013. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Tags: BUSINESS CONSTRUCTION) - RTXZFXJ

An Indian driver crashes into an Emirati driver in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — a common occurrence — the Emirati driver subsequently gets out of his car and starts to hit the Indian driver with his black circular ropelike headgear. That kind of attack is also relatively common and doesn't raise many eyebrows. However, it was filmed by a young Indian in a nearby car and posted on YouTube. The event soon circulated on social media and the Emirati driver, a public official, was arrested for attacking the other driver. The young Indian who filmed the attack was also arrested.

The case has now been amicably resolved and all charges against both parties have been dropped. It remains a significant case and highlights the shortcomings of UAE's legal system, as it slowly transforms to meet world expectations of human rights. What's evident here, however, is the young Indian's unfamiliarity with the recently enacted cyber law that incriminated him. The UAE has a vibrant expatriate "community," comprising approximately 90% of the UAE's population. Many are transient and do not encounter difficulty in going about their activities, and many others have firm roots and are well-acquainted with the particularities of life in the UAE. An unfortunate few find themselves at the crossroads of traditional and modern, the area where the law shifts from gray to black.

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