3 sports journalists in Abu Dhabi convicted of slander

Three journalists who appeared on a Dubai television sports channel and criticised the network's Abu Dhabi competitor have received three-month suspended prison sentences for slander, state-backed media reported.
The state-run WAM news agency cited the office of Abu Dhabi's public prosecutor in a report last night about the convictions. Neither it nor The National newspaper of Abu Dhabi, owned by the state-run Abu Dhabi Media company that also owns the criticised sports channel, named those charged.
The journalists, appearing on Dubai Sports, criticised Abu Dhabi Sports for monopolising the broadcast of the Arabian Gulf Cup soccer tournament and encoding the channel, according to an online report published today by The National.

The verdict by an Abu Dhabi misdemeanor court can be appealed, though prosecutors said a lawsuit against the journalists seeking 201,000 dirhams (USD 55,000) in damages would go on.
WAM reported that the journalists maintain their innocence, saying their comments touched on public opinion and did not include swear words. The Dubai Media Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai are each separately ruled sheikhdoms in the United Arab Emirates, a federation of seven emirates.
While liberal compared to other Mideast countries, the UAE has harsh laws governing expression and conduct on social media.