Wearing a Qatar-sponsored Barcelona jersey in the UAE could result in 15-year jail term
Qatar Sports Investment signed a deal with Barcelona FC in 2011 to put their logo on the jersey, a historic deal as the club had not put a sponsor’s logo on their shirts in 111 years.
UAE public prosecutor: Expressing sympathy with Qatar on social media is a crime punishable by law https://t.co/q1fEU27fmg
— İyad el-Baghdadi (@iyad_elbaghdadi) June 6, 2017
The Spanish Barcelona FC is popular in the Gulf, and the arbitrary move by the UAE sparked outrage on social media.
Although the sponsorship with Qatar Airways ends June 30, UAE officials announced that social media posts sympathetic to Qatar are punishable by three to 15 years in jail or fines of at least $135,000.
A photo posted by a Qatari blogger showed the hostility toward Qatar and anti-Qatar censorship in the region.
في إحدى دول الجوار تم طمس حتى اسم #قطر
من لبسة لاعبي برشلونة فأي فجور في الخصومة هذا؟#برشلونة منا ونحن من برشلونة?#قطع_العلاقات_مع_قطر pic.twitter.com/gzCOxCw1L3— Ræd Al-Emadi (@Ra_ed) June 8, 2017
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, Jordan and the UAE suspended diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar earlier this week.
Article source: http://www.suchtv.pk/sports/item/55253-wearing-a-qatar-sponsored-barcelona-jersey-in-the-uae-could-result-in-15-year-jail-term.html