An American, who was imprisoned for nine months in the UAE for posting a parody video online, has been released.
29-year-old Shezanne Cassim from Minnesota was in custody in the United Arab Emirates in connection with a video that satirized youth culture in Dubai.
According to news.com.au, he was arrested in April, and had been held at a maximum-security prison in Abu Dhabi since June.
In a brief news release, Jennifer Gore, a spokeswoman for Cassim's family in the US, said he would arrive at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Thursday afternoon, the report said.
A UAE-owned daily has said Cassim and his co-defendants were accused of defaming the country's image abroad, it added.
He and seven others were convicted in December. Cassim was sentenced to one year in prison, a fine and deportation.
Cassim was sentenced to one year in prison, a fine and deportation.
The US State Department said Cassim got credit for time served and was given time off for good behaviour, the report added.
