Indian in UAE jailed for ‘blasphemous’ Facebook status

A 41-year-old Indian national has been sentenced to one year in jail after which he will be deported from the UAE for posting a ‘blasphemous’ status on a social networking site. The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted him of blasphemy for a Facebook status he posted last July after reading a news bulletin about the Iraq war, according to a media report.

The accused, who was not named, had pleaded not guilty. Presiding judge Ezzat Abdul Lat said the defendant will be deported after serving his jail term, Gulf News reported. The ruling can be appealed in a higher court within 15 days.