Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have warned of stiff penalties, including a jail term of up to 25 years and a fine of Dh500,000 for anyone caught misusing or insulting the UAE flag in any way.
In a recent Twitter update, the UAE Public Prosecution explained that whoever insults the UAE flag publicly or at any public place or a location opened for the public will be subject to the above penalties.
Article (3) of the Federal Law No. 2 of 1971 on the Union Flag and its amendments states that anyone who drops, damages, or in any way insults the Union Flag will face a prison term of not less than 10 years and not more than 25 years.
The law also stipulates that in addition to a jail term, a minimum fine of Dh500,000 will also be imposed on the person found guilty of insulting the country’s flag.
According to the public prosecutors, the same punishment will be given to anyone who insults a flag of any member emirates in the Union, the flag of any GCC country or the flag of any other country.