At least three French arrested in Dubai for filming war

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A total of 13 missiles and 27 drones were intercepted in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, March 18. However, we only have three images. Those that escaped Emirates surveillance. The creators of these videos could be arrested, like the 60 people currently in custody in Dubai, according to our information. Among them, at least three French nationals, accused of threatening national security by filming Iranian attacks on the territory.

Dubai controls its image, even monitoring influencers closely. On the first day of the war, Maeva Ghennam, a French woman followed by millions of internet users, filmed herself, visibly panicked. Two days later, she was summoned by the Dubai police. “I didn’t say anything wrong, I was scared. I was very, very scared,” she recounted in a video. What was the reason for this summons? She did not respond to our requests, but other influencers testify to censorship. “I admit that I don’t really know what I can say, what I can’t say,” confesses a young woman in a video. “We’re not allowed to show what’s happening, at least we’re not allowed to show what’s falling from the sky,” explains another.

Disseminating content contradicting official announcements or causing panic is punishable by a fine of 200,000 dirhams, approximately 50,000 euros. Romain Astruc, a lawyer based in Dubai, explains: “Debris, damage, smoke, anything. It’s forbidden. What we can take pictures of, I guess, is our kids playing in the park, a beautiful sunset, going to the dunes. It’s a law that should protect us.”

The UAE cites security imperatives, the risk of revealing sensitive information to Iran. These restrictions also apply to journalists, such as the France Télévisions team in Doha. In Qatar, they were only allowed to film in certain places. It is also impossible to film sensitive sites, government buildings, or military sites.

But it is also a matter of not tarnishing the country’s reputation. According to “Odieux Boby,” a photojournalist arrested for several hours for photographing the Doha airport on the first day of the war: “As soon as someone tried to make a story or a video, there were police officers who came and asked to delete the images. There is a desire, at least, from Qatar to try to preserve this postcard image for which it spares no effort.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Wednesday evening that the cases of the French nationals are being monitored by the French Consulate General in Dubai and they are receiving consular protection.