A penalty of imprisonment for a period not less than one year and a fine not less than (100,000) one hundred thousand AED shall be imposed on anyone who broadcasts or publishes false or tendentious news, statements or rumours, or circulates inflammatory propaganda that would: 1. Disturb the public security or cause panic among people. 2. Inflict harm to the public interest. 3. Incite or antagonize the public opinion. The penalty shall be imprisonment for a period not less than (2) two years and a fine not exceeding (200,000) two hundred thousand AED, if any of the acts mentioned in the first paragraph result in inciting or antagonizing the public opinion against one of the state authorities or institutions. The same penalty stipulated in the first paragraph of this Article shall be imposed on whoever personally or through an intermediary, possesses or acquires documents, printed materials, or records, whatever is their kind, comprising any of the things listed in the first paragraph, if they are prepared for distribution or for access by third parties, and whoever possesses or acquires any method of printing, recording or publicizing used or prepared for use, even temporarily, for printing, recording or broadcasting any of the foregoing. The penalty shall be temporary imprisonment if the perpetrator is a member of the Armed Forces, Ministry of Interior or security bodies, or if the acts mentioned in the preceding two paragraphs take place in worship venues or places pertaining to the Armed Forces, Ministry of Interior or security bodies.
Interpretation and application must be checked against the official text and current version.