Radio Islam News | 15 November 2017

The UAE Federal National Council has passed a new draft law imposing fines and jail terms on anyone holding Islamic lectures and lessons or memorisation of the Holy Quran gatherings without approval.

The new draft law to the effect was passed on Tuesday.

According to Emirati media, prison sentences and/or fines will be handed to anyone in the UAE who holds religious lectures and lessons, religious social gatherings or memorisation of the Holy Quran, without governmental approval.

The new law reportedly also prohibits anyone from appointing a person to work, starting religious libraries and collecting donations or aid, without prior approval from the General Authority of the Islamic Affairs and Endowments.

It further bans the public posting of any material, providing Quran copies or furniture or holding Ramadan iftar banquets without permission.

Those who do not abide by the new law, will face up to three months in prison or face a fine of up to 5000 dirhams(Approximately R20 000).

Tuesday’s legislative session focused heavily on the rules and regulations for UAE mosques.

Committee members stressed that only ‘qualified’ employees must work in mosques, and its draft bill prohibits any employees from working in mosques, who belongs to Islamic groups or organisations deemed to be problematic by authorities, preaching without a license or approval and issuing fatwas or teaching the Holy Quran outside masaajid.

There is a fine between Dh20,000-Dh50,000 (+-R80 000 – R197 000) and/or a minimum of three months prison sentence for whoever breaches the security and sanctity of the mosque.

A fine of up to 5000 dirhams and/or three months prison sentence was also announced for whoever begs at mosques, or interferes with the Imam while he is calling for prayer or preaching.

The draft law requires the final approval of UAE President and Emir of Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, before it is enforced.

‘Moderate’ Fatawa

According to Gulf News, the federal council also discussed, at the same meeting, how to regulate Islamic verdicts on social media.

To combat what it deems controversial and hardline fatwas that are spread on the internet, the UAE has set up its own ifta governing council, purportedly to bring Islamic rulings under a single body and ensure ‘reasoned and moderate’ judgements.

Dr Mohammad Mattar Salem Al Kaabi, chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf in the UAE, was quoted saying the Council for Fatwa was a proactive step towards eliminating sources from which ‘extreme’ religious teachings could evolve.

According to the publication, the fatwa council oversees the seven emirates and will be able to educate people on the ‘reality’ of the ad-hoc fatwas they come across.

“The UAE Council for Fatwa issues Islamic rulings on various issues on the request of government entities, institutions, or the general public, resorting to a defined mechanism to issue, announce and archive rulings.

“In addition, it regulates the right to exercise the issuance of fatwa and ensure compliance to required licensing and training, with the aim of eradicating all extremism and ill-motivated practices.”

The Middle East Monitor (MEMO) recently revealed how leaked emails sent by UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al-Otaiba demonstrated the Gulf nation’s attempts to influence the narrative on Islam in the West.

Several emails between Al-Otaiba and his associates in America indicated that the UAE is promoting what it considers to be “moderate” Islam, whilst simultaneously directing US officials towards individuals who have endorsed the banning of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The correspondence further reveals how the UAE worked with right wing thinktanks, vetted scholars who attended its events based on their political views, and promoted the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group.