Jail for Westerner over mosque insults

Abu Dhabi Court of Appeals upheld the verdict of the Abu Dhabi Misdemeanour Court which awarded a one-month jail term to a British engineer after he was found guilty of insulting religious sentiments.

According to an 'Al Ittihad' report, the accused was inspecting construction work at a mosque along with others from his work department. They allegedly heard him use abusive language when referring to the mosque and filed a complaint.

The defendant was sentenced to a month in jail by the Misdemeanour Court. He later moved the Abu Dhabi Court of Appeals that upheld the verdict.

Meanwhile, he stressed that what he uttered - "finish this building, this mosque..." - was not against the mosque. He clarified that he was referring to the delay in work undertaken at the mosque and added that he completely respected Islam and the beliefs of the nation.

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