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WORLD NEWS Monday 9 noveMber 2020

UAE announces relaxing of Islamic laws for personal freedoms

By ISABEL DEBRE The government decrees said Emirati filmmaker Ab-
Associated Press behind the changes were dallah Al Kaabi, whose art
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- outlined extensively in has tackled taboo topics
ates (AP) — The United state-linked newspaper The like homosexual love and
Arab Emirates announced National, which did not cite gender identity.
on Saturday a major over- its source. The move fol- "2020 has been a tough
haul of the country's Islamic lows a historic U.S.-brokered and transformative year for
personal laws, allowing un- deal to normalize relations the UAE," he added.
married couples to cohabi- between the UAE and Is- Changes include scrap-
tate, loosening alcohol re- rael, which is expected ping penalties for alcohol
strictions and criminalizing to bring an influx of Israeli consumption, sales and
so-called "honor killings." tourists and investment. It possession for those 21 and
The broadening of per- also comes as skyscraper- over. Although liquor and
sonal freedoms reflects the studded Dubai gets ready beer is widely available in
changing profile of a coun- to host the World Expo. bars and clubs in the UAE's In this Oct. 7, 2016 file photo, people watch the sunset over the
try that has sought to bill The high-stakes event, ex- luxuriant coastal cities, indi- skyline, with Burj Khalifa at right, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
itself as a Westernized des- pected to bring a flurry of viduals needed a govern- Associated Press
tination for tourists, fortune- commercial activity and ment-issued license to pur- other way when it came to dishonoring a family. The
seekers and businesses de- some 25 million visitors to chase, transport or have foreigners, but the threat punishment for a crime
spite its Islamic legal code the country, was set for Oc- alcohol in their homes. The of punishment still lingered. committed to eradicate a
that has previously trig- tober but pushed back a new rule would allow Mus- Attempted suicide, forbid- woman's "shame," for pro-
gered court cases against year because of the coro- lims who have been barred den in Islamic law, would miscuity or disobeying reli-
foreigners and outrage in navirus pandemic. from obtaining licenses to also be decriminalized, The gious and cultural strictures,
their home countries. The changes, which The drink alcoholic beverages National reported. will now be the same for
The reforms aim to boost National said would take freely. In a move to better "pro- any other kind of assault.
the country's economic immediate effect, also re- Another amendment al- tect women's rights," the In a country where expa-
and social standing and flect the efforts of the Emir- lows for "cohabitation of government said it would triates outnumber citizens
"consolidate the UAE's prin- ates' rulers to keep pace unmarried couples," which get rid of laws defending nearly nine to one, the
ciples of tolerance," said with a rapidly changing so- has long been a crime in "honor crimes," a widely amendments will permit
state-run WAM news agen- ciety at home. the UAE. Authorities, es- criticized tribal custom in foreigners to avoid Islamic
cy, which offered only mini- "I could not be happier for pecially in the more free- which a male relative may Shariah courts on issues like
mal details in the surprise these new laws that are wheeling financial hub of evade prosecution for as- marriage, divorce and in-
weekend announcement. progressive and proactive," Dubai, often looked the saulting a woman seen as heritance. q