Respect Mourning: Avoid Sharing Deceased Images

Honor Grief: Heavy Consequences Await in UAE for Sharing Images of the Deceased

In the United Arab Emirates, increasing attention is being drawn to a phenomenon that raises ethical, emotional, and legal questions: sharing photos and videos related to deaths online—especially on social media platforms—without the consent of the affected family members. Although many believe that such posts express sympathy or help preserve the memory of the deceased, in reality, they can constitute serious violations, cause significant emotional trauma, and result in fines of up to hundreds of thousands of dirhams.

More and more families complain about online sharing

In recent years, several cases have emerged where grieving family members were deeply hurt by photos and videos of their deceased loved ones—often under traumatic circumstances—appearing on WhatsApp or social media. These materials sometimes depicted blood traces, injuries, wrecked vehicles, or the dying individual themselves, often spreading before all family members were officially informed of the tragedy.

One mother was completely devastated when images of her child's accident flooded the internet, feeling that no one cared about the family's pain. Seeing the images repeatedly forced her to relive the trauma of the loss, making it harder for her to process her grief.

The law firmly intervenes: fines of up to half a million dirhams can be imposed

The UAE's Federal Cybercrime Law (Article 34 of the 2021 law) explicitly prohibits posting images of individuals without their consent. This also applies to the deceased: since they cannot protect their own dignity and privacy, the law protects the rights of their relatives. Without their consent, all such image postings are illegal.

According to the law, offenders can face fines of at least 150,000 dirhams and up to 500,000 dirhams, as well as imprisonment. If the offender is a foreign citizen, authorities can initiate deportation if the post seriously infringes public order or social stability.

Legal experts emphasize: good intentions do not exempt individuals. Even if someone wishes to express a prayer or condolences through a post, legally, this does not entitle them to share unsolicited images of the scene of death, the hospital emergency ward, or a funeral.

Processing grief is much more difficult under such circumstances

The issue also has serious psychological implications. Emotional wounds are often deeper than initially thought. According to the head of a Dubai psychological center, it is harder for relatives, especially children, to process the death when they continuously encounter images documenting the tragedy.

The visual memories of trauma are strong, and the repeated sight of photos can lead to insomnia, recurring nightmares, anxiety, and emotional withdrawal. In children, this can manifest as regressive behavior, such as eating disorders or attention problems.

Moreover, adult behavior impacts children's emotional stability: if parents live in constant stress, children cannot find peace either.

Violation of privacy, disregard for cultural values

In Islamic culture and Emirati social norms, death-related processes are treated with particular respect. A funeral, an accident scene, or moments of hospital care do not belong in the public domain—especially not as a result of someone else's decision.

Federal Law Article 431 explicitly prohibits the violation of privacy, while Article 43 of the Copyright Act requires advance permission for any photographic creation and publication. Article 52 provides for harsher penalties if the post contains misleading information or disrupts official investigations.

In practice, this means that a photograph of a funeral, which someone shares with their acquaintances with the best intentions, can be clearly illegal without the family’s consent.

How can one act legally?

Experts advise always seeking permission from close relatives before publicly sharing any photos or information. Even if one intends to post only among friends, one must consider the mental state, religious beliefs, cultural values, and personal wishes of the affected family.

If someone encounters content online that contains illegal or sensitive images, they can report it to authorities or directly to the social media platform. According to the UAE's new media law adopted in 2023 (Federal Decree Law No. 55 of 2023), platforms can be compelled to remove the content and can even face sanctions for not acting in time.

Social responsibility and empathy

Presence on social media does not entitle anyone to violate others' mourning or exacerbate their pain. Chasing online popularity, likes, or shares cannot be more important than a family’s mourning, privacy, or peace of mind.

The laws of the UAE are clear, providing not only a legal framework but also an ethical guide to every member of society: the time of mourning is sacred and respecting it is paramount. Ignoring this not only breaks the law but also undermines the social trust and empathy upon which our communities are built.

(Source of the article based on Article 44 (4) of the Federal Law No. 34 of 2021 decree.)