UAE authorities arrest 375 people over filming Iranian strikes or sharing 'misleading information'; attorney general ordered expedited trials in March
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Abu Dhabi Police announced on 8 April 2026 that 375 people had been arrested for filming incidents tied to Iranian attacks and sharing misleading information online, after an earlier announcement of 109 arrests on 20 March; it is unclear whether the 375 figure includes the 109. In March, Attorney General Hamad Al Shamsi ordered the arrest and expedited trial of 35 people accused of sharing video content, saying such acts are punishable by at least one year in jail and fines starting at Dh100,000. Amnesty International, which counted at least 375 arrests between 3 March and 8 April, says filming strike sites and sharing information about a conflict is generally protected expression. The summary reflects the authorities' announcements; the sources reviewed do not describe any court outcomes.
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