Indian editor in libel case gets bail

DUBAI: An Indian editor in UAE, who has been sentenced to two months of imprisonment in a libel case, has been released on bail.

UAE's Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has on Tuesday issued instructions that journalists in the country will not be jailed for doing their work.

The announcement was made by Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister and Chairman of the National Media Council (NMC).

Shaikh Abdullah said Shaikh Mohammad issued instructions that no journalist is to be jailed for reasons related to his work, adding that there are other measures that may be taken against journalists breaking the press and publication laws, but not jail.

Shaikh Mohammad's instructions comes close on the heels of a Dubai court ruling giving two Khaleej Times journalists two-month jail terms for libelling an Iranian woman on Sunday.

On Tuesday, the two senior Khaleej Times journalists were given bail after they appealed against the sentence.

The Indian S K Gangadharan, who was the then managing editor, and Egyptian senior reporter, Mohsen Rashid, turned themselves in to the Dubai court and were granted bail, media report said.