Ukraine models who posed for naked photos on Dubai balcony face jail. At least 40 women are facing six months in jail after being locked up for posing naked in a “lewd” shoot on a balcony in broad daylight in Dubai.
A group of at least 40 models, who were arrested after posing naked on a balcony in Dubai, could spend the next six months in jail.
The women were reportedly arrested for appearing in “an indecent video” and have been locked up since after footage and photos emerged on social media showing a large group of people posing completely naked on Saturday evening.
Of those detained, 11 are Ukrainian, the BBC reports. A Russian man was also detained and named as the organizer of the “lewd” shoot, according to Russian
It has also been reported there were “some 40” models caught up in the scandal, believed to be aged from 18 to early-20s, according to Mail Online.
There has been wide speculation that the women were capturing content for an adult website.
New photos have emerged showing some of the women in the opulent city before their arrest as well as inside the apartment as the photoshoot took place.
Those detained face up to six months in prison and a fine of around $1800 for violating public decency laws in the United Arab Emirates, which includes nudity and other lewd behavior.
The sharing of pornographic material is also punishable with prison time and hefty fines under the country’s laws, The Sun reports.
At the time of the women’s arrests, it was reported the risqué shoot was a publicity stunt by the state-linked newspaper The National.
It came as a shock in the United Arab Emirates where tamer behavior, like kissing in public or drinking alcohol without a license, has landed people in jail.
Dubai police said those arrested over the indecent video have been referred to public prosecutors.
While liberal in many regards compared to its Middle Eastern neighbors, the UAE has strict laws governing expression and social media.
People have been jailed for their comments and videos online.
The country’s majority of state-owned telecom companies block access to major pornographic websites.
Dubai also has strict social media laws that make it an offense to insult others or even use language where people feel insulted.
The laws also forbid anything “defamatory” against the UAE and this can even include the reporting of a news article.
