Hundreds Detained Across Gulf for Filming Iranian Attacks on Tourist Hotspots
Security agents have arrested hundreds of individuals, including as many as 70 UK nationals, in the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries for filming Iranian drone and missile strikes. Officials claim these videos breach cybercrime laws designed to protect the idyllic reputations of these nations, leading to widespread detentions and interrogations.
Foreign Nationals Share Harrowing Experiences of Arrest and Interrogation
Metro has obtained testimonies from two foreign nationals, shared by Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, who were tracked down and arrested after innocently recording explosions in different Gulf states. One individual described being stopped by plainclothes security agents about an hour after filming a 12-second video of smoke clouds in the sky. He was forced to unlock his phone, which was confiscated, and taken into overcrowded detention cells for hours.
During interrogation, he was accused of filming sensitive locations, spreading rumors, and assisting the enemy. Despite explaining he had not shared the video publicly, he was threatened with a long jail sentence and heavy fines. After 48 hours, he was released but forced to sign a document admitting to violating the law and pledging not to disclose the incident to media or human rights groups, with warnings of deportation if he broke the agreement.
Widespread Arrests Under Vaguely Worded Cybercrime Laws
Since the start of the Iran war, local authorities in the UAE report 189 arrests for alleged violations of cybercrime laws. In Qatar, over 313 foreign nationals have been detained for similar videos and pictures. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain noted at least 10 foreign nationals arrested in cases linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran, while SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights reported 204 Bahraini citizens arrested for various reasons since the conflict began.
Another foreign national recounted being arrested in mid-March after recording a 20-second video of explosions from his apartment balcony and sending it to family via WhatsApp. Security personnel confiscated his phone and laptop, blindfolded him, and held him in solitary confinement for six days without embassy contact. Upon release, he was forced to sign documents promising silence about the ordeal.
Human Rights Groups Condemn Systematic Information Suppression
Dr. Ramy Abdu, Chairman of Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, criticized states for using vaguely worded laws to impose strict censorship. He stated, "We recognize the right of states to safeguard their national security; however, invoking security imperatives does not grant authorities a blank check to carry out mass arrests devoid of due process." He added that criminalizing spontaneous documentation exposes a pattern of systematic information suppression by these governments.
British tourists, expats, and cabin crew among the detained face up to ten years in jail for breaching laws protecting national security and stability. Campaign groups report the legal system is overwhelmed, with some detainees denied sleep, food, and medicine. The situation highlights ongoing tensions in the region and raises concerns about human rights and freedom of expression in the Gulf.
