Influencer fined for defaming woman

Court orders twomonth shutdown of social media accounts belonging to accused

Aprominent social media influencer in Abu Dhabi was fined more than Dh300,000 by the Abu Dhabi Court of Misdemeanours for using abusive language online against an Emirati fashionista, popularly known as Kashoona.

The court also ordered him to pay Dh21,000 as temporary civil compensation to Kashoona, along with court fees, delete all video clips and shut down his social media accounts for two months.

Foul language

The accused had posted a video on his Instagram account, where he said an Emirati woman had become the first woman to drive in a sister GCC country [Saudi Arabia] after the country permitted females to drive. But he also mocked her and hurled abuses at her, while telling his followers that the video was real and that he had recorded it himself.

The woman targeted in his video then filed a complaint against him. Later, the police verified the authenticity of the video, finding it on his mobile phone and social media account.

Abeer Al Dahmani, lawyer of the complainant, was in court on Wednesday when the judge pronounced its decision. She presented documents and claimed that the accused’s abusive behaviour damaged her client’s reputation and standing, causing her physical and financial loses.

“My client is a well-known personality and circulating abusive videos badly hampered her name and honour,” she said.

Court documents showed that the accused posted the video on his Instagram account on June 26. After Saudi Arabia announced its decision allowing women to drive, Kashoona participated in celebrations as the first Emirati woman to drive a car in Saudi Arabia.

Dh 300,000

fine imposed on social media influencer apart from Dh21,000 as temporary civil compensation