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| In United Arab Emirates, Satirical Video Lands Five Men in Jail | In United Arab Emirates, Satirical Video Lands Five Men in Jail |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| BEIRUT, Lebanon — The video was undeniably silly: a 20-minute mocumentary about a fictional martial arts school in Dubai, where grandmaster “Saloom Snake” trains combatants to throw sandals, strike with the thin ropes of an Arab headdress and summon help on Twitter for fights that never actually occur. | BEIRUT, Lebanon — The video was undeniably silly: a 20-minute mocumentary about a fictional martial arts school in Dubai, where grandmaster “Saloom Snake” trains combatants to throw sandals, strike with the thin ropes of an Arab headdress and summon help on Twitter for fights that never actually occur. |
| In October 2012, the martial arts mocumentary was posted online, in which a portly “grand master” in a striped robe explains the U.A.E.'s key weapons: the sandal, the rope from an Arab headdress and “the Twitter.” | In October 2012, the martial arts mocumentary was posted online, in which a portly “grand master” in a striped robe explains the U.A.E.'s key weapons: the sandal, the rope from an Arab headdress and “the Twitter.” |
| In April, after the video had logged thousands of views, the police detained Mr. Cassim and four others who appear in the video. They were later put on trial for national security violations that include endangering public order. | In April, after the video had logged thousands of views, the police detained Mr. Cassim and four others who appear in the video. They were later put on trial for national security violations that include endangering public order. |
| Emirati commentators, none of whom wanted to be named in connection with a national security case, guessed that the authorities objected to the video’s stereotyping of Emiratis or thought it implied that the country had gangs. One suggested that the police cracked down to prevent a “snowball effect” of similar videos in the future. | Emirati commentators, none of whom wanted to be named in connection with a national security case, guessed that the authorities objected to the video’s stereotyping of Emiratis or thought it implied that the country had gangs. One suggested that the police cracked down to prevent a “snowball effect” of similar videos in the future. |
| The case recalls the fate of the Sudanese rapper Dangour, who was arrested in the Emirates in June 2011 and jailed for two years after he posted a video of himself rapping about drugs and violence. | The case recalls the fate of the Sudanese rapper Dangour, who was arrested in the Emirates in June 2011 and jailed for two years after he posted a video of himself rapping about drugs and violence. |
| But not all such indiscretions are punished. One month before Dangour’s arrest, the Emirates welcomed the American rapper Snoop Dogg, who greeted the audience in a white robe and Arab headdress to deliver an expletive-filled show. | But not all such indiscretions are punished. One month before Dangour’s arrest, the Emirates welcomed the American rapper Snoop Dogg, who greeted the audience in a white robe and Arab headdress to deliver an expletive-filled show. |
| The verdict in Mr. Cassim’s case was expected in September, but it has been delayed numerous times. His family said that he is being held in a desert prison outside Abu Dhabi with the other four defendants and that he has not been allowed to meet privately with his defense lawyer. | The verdict in Mr. Cassim’s case was expected in September, but it has been delayed numerous times. His family said that he is being held in a desert prison outside Abu Dhabi with the other four defendants and that he has not been allowed to meet privately with his defense lawyer. |
| A State Department official said that the United States was “troubled by the prolonged incarceration” of Mr. Cassim and that American diplomats were working with their counterparts in the U.A.E. to “to urge a fair and expedient trial and judgment.” | |
| Mr. Cassim’s next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 16. | Mr. Cassim’s next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 16. |