The police in Dubai arrested several people on charges of public scandal, authorities said Sunday, due to a viral video of naked women posing on a city balcony.

Violating the law of public decency in United Arab Emirates, which affects nudism and other “lewd behavior,” carries penalties of up to six months in prison and fines of up to Dh5,000 (about $ 1,360). Sharing pornographic material can also carry prison sentences and fines, in a legal system based on Islamic Sharia law.

Videos and photos showing a dozen naked women lined up on a balcony in Dubai’s upscale Marina neighborhood in broad daylight were released on social media Saturday night. It was a shock in the federation of seven Arab kingdoms, where less conspicuous behavior like kissing in public or drinking alcohol without a license has sent people to jail. State-related daily The National said it appeared to be a “publicity stunt,” without going into details.

Those arrested for the “indecent” video were referred for prosecution, police said.

“These unacceptable behaviors (…) do not reflect the values ​​and ethics of Emirati society,” the police statement said.

Although in many respects the UAE is more progressive than its Middle Eastern neighbors, it has strict laws regulating freedom of expression. There have been jail sentences for comments and videos shared on the internet. The country’s telecommunications companies, majority-owned by the state, block access to major pornography websites.

Categorized in:

World

Tagged in:

, , ,