an indian salesman is facing seven years in prison and a fine of up to one million dirham   around £186,000   for allegedly cursing islam and the prophet mohammad on facebook the 41 year old man   identified only by his initials sg   is said to have posted a 'blasphemous' status on his facebook page after watching a news bulletin about the war in iraq on television last july if found guilty, the suspect could face up to seven years in jail, a fine of between dh250,000 to dh1 million, or both the indian salesman faces imprisonment after he allegedly shared a 'blasphemous' status on his facebook page he told police he was sent the image over whatsapp, but allegedly then admitted to posting the status  the 41 year old is accused by the prosecution of posting the derogatory statements about islam and the prophet mohammad after watching a news item about the iraq war, pictured, in july last year  lawyers for the prosecution said the man abused the social media network   namely facebook   and the telephone communication system by cursing the prophet and islam, according to gulf news they are now looking for the toughest punishment possible under the country's cyber crime laws islam is the official religion of the united arab emirates, and committing blasphemy is considered deeply offensive authorities in the country routinely censor newspapers and books that they consider contain blasphemous statements or anything critical of islam in the latest case, the accused salesman claimed he received the offending image over whatsapp while he was at home  he then complained to police that he had receiving the image   but is reported to have later admitted to prosecutors that he was the one who posted the status on facebook the indian employee, known only by his initials sg, failed to attend the hearing at the dubai court of first instance on monday the united arab emirates treats blasphemy as a serious criminal offence  the defendant apparently told prosecutors that he wrote the 'blasphemous' curses after watching video footage about the way in iraq his iphone was seized and sent to a laboratory for forensic examination, and lawyers said the mobile was registered to the indian man's name the accused failed to attend the dubat court of first instance on monday, and presiding judge abdul lat adjourned the case until the next hearing on april 27 in 2011 british tourist andrew graham ended up in court in dubai after he called the islamic prophet mohammad a 'terrorist' during an argument in a shopping centre
indian 41 islamic allegedly iraq war up to seven years
indian man, 41, accused of posting insulting status about islamic prophet . allegedly told police he wrote the status after watching footage of iraq war . if found guilty he faces up to seven years in prison, a huge fine, or both 