DUBAI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued a new law toughening penalties for cyber crimes to include jail terms for anyone who calls for regime change or mocks its rulers, newspapers reported Tuesday.



Under the new law, which annuls one issued in 2006, the spreading of any material that calls for “toppling, changing the regime or seizing power” is punishable by a prison sentence, Emarat Alyoum reported, citing the text.



The law gives the judicial authorities the same powers to punish “calls to disobey the principles of the political system” in the Gulf country.



Also under the new law, anyone convicted of “creating or running websites that deride or damage the reputation or stature of the country and its rulers will face a minimum jail sentence of three years,” said The National, an English-Language daily.



This includes the president, the vice president, rulers and deputy rulers of the emirates and crown princes.



Anyone using electronic sites “to call for disobeying the laws and regulations of the state, as well as to call for demonstrations, marches and similar activities without obtaining a license, also faces imprisonment,” it added. – AFP