A Sharjah-based Arab man is currently on trial in a misdemeanor court for repetitively asking a woman for her phone number in an elevator, Khaleej Times reported.
The defendant in the case - which dates back to Oct. 20 - is being charged for harassment. Speaking in court, the complainant shared details of her ordeal, accusing the man of scaring and harassing her. In her statement, the woman said the defendant entered the elevator she was in and repeatedly asked for her phone number.
He kept insisting she share it with him, even after telling him she was married. She also added that the man touched her shoulder as she later rushed out of the lift.
In court, the man denied touching the complainant
During his hearing, the defendant admitted he took the elevator with the woman and asked for her phone number.
However, he explained that he only requested her number once and stopped pursuing it after she told him she was married. The man also denied touching the woman as she left the elevator.
Towards the end of the court session, the complainant said she didn't want to pursue her complaint any further and the man's lawyer asked the court to acquit his client claiming he is innocent.
No verdict has been reached in the case and a next court hearing has been scheduled on Jan. 9.
Harassment laws in the UAE
Though there are no specific laws or regulations that protect victims of sexual harassment in the UAE, the country's Penal Code still incriminates incidents of assault.
The code criminalizes any "scandalous and disgraceful act" which includes those involving sexual abuse and harassment.
Articles 358 and 359 of the penal code provide more specific and clear-cut legislations when it comes to such incidents.
Article 358: "Whoever openly commits an indecent and disgraceful act shall be punished by detention for a period of at least six months. Whoever commits a disgraceful act with a girl or boy who has not completed fifteen years of age even if it is not committed openly, shall be punished by detention for at least a period of one year."
Article 359: "Whoever attempts to disgrace a female by words or by deeds in a public street or frequented place, shall be punished by detention for a period not exceeding one year and by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dirhams or by either of these two penalties. The same penalty shall apply to any man who disguises himself in a woman's clothing and enters a place the entry into which is reserved for women. If a man in such a case commits a crime, it shall be considered an aggravating circumstance."