Those infected with the new coronavirus (Covid-19) were not spared from socially bullied people. As the virus spread around the world and turned into an epidemic, they began to mock patients, and the frequency of bullying and contempt of the virus increased, and dealt with them as if they had deliberately infected themselves with them, and consequently Endangering their lives and those close to them.
«Emirates Today» monitored comments, posts and tweets on social media, finally, in which their owners bully the people infected with the virus, and their illustrated and written publications included verbal transgressions, jokes that ridicule them and mock them.
The situation reached some of them to demand the exile of those infected with the virus to remote places completely isolated, to face their fate alone.
Others suggested working with the theory of “herd immunity”, letting the virus spread among people, leaving those who are strong and leaving the weak to die.
The newspaper also monitored the spread and circulation of videos, pictures and comments on social networking sites and programs, especially "WhatsApp", making fun of the home quarantine or quarantine of people infected with the Corona virus, or of the preventive measures and measures taken by many countries to protect members of society from This virus.
On the other hand, the legal advisor, Dr. Youssef Al-Sharif, warned the social media users against being drawn into the comments of bullying and contempt for those with “Corona” virus (which are often from individuals outside the state), warning of the punishment of these practices. In Federal Decree Law No. 5/2012 on combating information technology crimes, which stipulates imprisonment and a fine of no less than 250,000 dirhams and not more than 500,000 dirhams, or one of the two penalties, whoever insults others, or assigns an incident that would Make it subject to punishment or contempt by others, using alum Of information or technical means »Information.
Al-Sharif stressed that «there is a strange situation in dealing with patients since the virus (Corona) began spreading in most of the countries of the world, some deal with them as if they are criminals, others disdain or bully them, as if their condition was a result of their will or of their own choosing, while The truth is that these patients are not guilty, and what happened to them is a serious disease that spreads infection. ”
He added, "It is true that they must be isolated, but we must not forget the human side afflicted with the disease, stand by them, and encourage them to be saved from the virus and return to their lives."
He also called to "stop sending jokes that make fun of their immunity, so that we are not the cause of their psychological suffering, which may be much worse than their physical suffering, because the patient sometimes needs psychological support more and much greater than the physical support."
Al-Sharif stressed the importance of social media users being aware that "those infected with the virus are not criminals or outcasts, they did not intentionally infect themselves, and we have to look at them as medical teams see them, that is, they are injured and need extreme care to restore their health."
He pointed out that "the owners of the abusive comments and publications did not realize that this virus knows no borders and can reach everyone, so let us show our sympathy and offer all the support we can for them. The first rule to combat the virus is that we work together, and we stand by each other in this ordeal, Especially if we follow the statements of our generous leadership and its continuous call for the necessity of protecting lives, especially the senior citizens. ”
He said: «The UAE has balanced between firmness in implementing measures and humanity in its motives and data inherent in the hearts, but has worked further than that by providing all forms of support to patients, whatever their nationalities or ethnic or religious origins, because this is a tribulation for humanity, and it is humanity to be fair And fair in our dealings with this emergency ».
Rights of people with communicable diseases
Federal Law No. 14/2014 in the matter of combating communicable diseases has established rights for patients with communicable diseases, as it prohibits the placing of any special restrictions or requirements on people with communicable diseases that prevent them from obtaining the rights prescribed to them in the legislation in force in the state, taking into account their health condition, and from Without prejudice to the measures necessary to reduce and prevent communicable diseases.
It gave the right to those afflicted with communicable diseases to receive the necessary health care and treatment in government health facilities, in accordance with the procedures established by the executive regulations of the law.
IT crimes
A Federal Law Decree, on combating information technology crimes, stipulates that “a penalty of imprisonment for a period of no less than one year and a fine of no less than 250,000 dirhams and no more than 500,000 dirhams, or one of the two penalties, shall be applied to whoever uses an electronic information system, or one of the means Information technology, to make any amendment or treatment to a recording, photo or scene, with the intention of defaming or offending another person, or assaulting or violating his privacy. ”
He also stipulated that “he shall be punished with temporary imprisonment and a fine of no less than 500,000 dirhams and not exceeding one million dirhams, whoever creates or runs a website or supervises it, or publishes information on an information network, or one of the information technology means, to promote or favor any Programs or ideas that can provoke sedition, hatred, racism or sectarianism, harm national unity, social peace, or disturb public order or public morals ».
Hackers demanded the exile of those infected with the virus to remote locations completely isolated.
Videos mocking the home quarantine procedure for people living with HIV.
Dr. Youssef Al-Sharif:
"We must not forget the human side afflicted with disease, and stand with them."
"Sometimes the patient needs psychological support, much more than physical support."