Table of Contents
The famous TikToker, Hamdan Al Rind, who refers to himself as the “Car Expert” online, posted a video on his social media. Shortly after the video went viral, he was arrested in Dubai and was held accused of ‘abusing the internet’ by posting ‘propaganda that stirs up the public opinion and harms the public interest’ in the UAE.
The viral TikTok video featured himself, wearing a kandura, the long white robe typically worn by Emirati men, sunglasses, and a surgical mask. The TikToker spoke in English but with a heavy Arabic accent, spouting satirical sentences at the showroom’s employees and his assistants hauling around a stretcher filled with stacks of cash.
His video was taken as an abuse of the internet to portray a wrong and disapproving satirical image of a brash Emirati citizen, spending a spree inside a luxury car showroom.
@car.expert #carexpert ♬ original sound – Car Expert
In the previous month, another UAE resident of Arab nationality was sentenced to five years in prison and a $136,000 fine for violating hate-speech laws through social media. She was accused of posting a video ranting against men and domestic workers.
Actions were taken and her arrest was ordered based on the accusation that she had stirred a buzz in the context and generated a false image of the UAE and Emirati culture by posting the offensive video.
Who is TikToker ‘Hamdan Al Rind’?
Hamdan Al Rind is a famous TikToker, and social media influencer, who calls himself an online car expert in Dubai. He is a UAE resident, with Asian nationality who is currently based in Dubai. He has over 2.5 million followers on his TikTok channel and his latest video attracted millions of views and was widely shared before it was taken down after he was arrested.
Since posting the satirical video on his channel, Mr. Al Rind has faced legal consequences and has been charged with disseminating content that fails to comply with media content standards in the UAE and for defaming Emirati society.
Hamdan Al Rind also operates his own car dealership in the UAE and has also posted satirical videos in the past like one in which he portrayed as a wealthy Emirati buying cars for his four wives, and another video buying gifts for his nephew, but apparently these videos didn’t get much air.
Where did the TikTok Influencer go wrong?
UAE’s Social media growth has made it simpler than ever for everyone, including famous people to leverage the platforms and, spread their messages across the globe. Brands and companies, in Dubai, have now utilized social media to inform and communicate with their consumers and followers in a relevant and real manner.
Whether it is Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok all have a significant beneficial impact but only if used wisely. Nevertheless, social media sites have another, far darker side. According to social media laws in the UAE, this is defined by defamation, trolling, cyberbullying, misinformation, and slander.
Read more about social media laws in the UAE.
Although the UAE is home to some of the world’s wealthiest individuals, the country could still be called conservative when it comes to dressing, and certain strict guidelines. Dubai is the most lenient considering the number of expats which is outrunning the locals and making things easy and comfortable for them.
But it still has a no-tolerance policy for slander through social media whether it is on women and children, Arab culture, their values, ethnicity, and UAE’s image. Here is where the TikToker went wrong.
The comedic script, in which the TikToker was seen speaking in an Arabic accent tossing stacks of bills at the showroom’s employees, and offering to buy the most expensive car, appears to be making fun of the lavish lifestyles and displaying a false image of locals in the city because he was wearing a local outfit.
The Federal Prosecution for Combating Rumors and Cybercrimes believes that it was his intention to defame and hurt the image of the UAE and local Emirati culture. The authority says he is accused of “abusing the internet” by posting “propaganda that stirs up the public opinion and harms the public interest.”
Concluding that the video produced by TikToker, which went viral along with some of his other videos, promotes a wrong and offensive mental image of Emirati citizens and ridicules them. Therefore, he was taken into custody and will face a trial soon.
Stay updated on all of the latest news by subscribing to the ITP Live newsletter below and by clicking the push notifications.