The United Arab Emirates has banned people from publishing expressions of sympathy towards Qatar and will punish offenders with a jail term of up to 15 years, the UAE-based newspaper Gulf News and pan-Arab channel Al-Arabiya reported on Wednesday.
The United Arab Emirates, along with several other powerful Arab states, severed diplomatic ties with fellow Gulf state Qatar on Monday over its alleged support for Islamist groups and Iran. Qatar denies the accusations.
Strict and firm action would be taken against anyone who shows sympathy or any form of bias towards Qatar or against anyone who objects to the position of the UAE whether it be through social media or any type of written, visual or verbal form.Hamad Saif al-Shamsi, UAE Attorney General
On top of a possible jail term, offenders would also be hit with a fine of at least 500,000 dirhams, the newspaper said, citing a statement to Arabic-language media.
A government official in Qatar said Doha was talking to Iran and Turkey about securing food and water supplies. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain severed relations with Qatar and closed their airspace to commercial flights on Monday, charging it with financing militant groups.
Turkish exporters are ready to meet demand for food and water from Qatar, the head of Turkey's main exporting trade siad on Wednesday, allowing the Gulf state to stave off possible shortages after its biggest suppliers cut ties.
Mehmet Buyukeksi, chairman of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), said that exporters stood ready to fill the gap after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia cut trade ties with Qatar.
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