A woman in Sharjah was left with a broken thumb and bruises after a fight broke out over a selfie.

According to Sharjah Police, the recent incident occurred at a salon when three Arab women took a selfie.

The three women were attending a friend’s wedding later that night, and visited the salon to get their make-up done. The customers were so happy with the results that at the end, they took a selfie with the three of them in the picture.

However, little did they know that unwittingly, a GCC national woman had also been captured in the selfie.  

The GCC national asked the women to delete the photo but her requests were denied.

The argument soon escalated into a brawl, which left the GCC national with a fractured thumb on her right hand, in addition to minor cuts and bruises on her body.

Police were finally called in after the salon’s owner was unable resolve the dispute, and the injured woman was transferred to Al Qasimi Hospital for treatment.

The law

Taking a photograph of someone without their permission is regarded by the law as an invasion of privacy.

A person can take you to court for breaching his or her privacy and taking their picture without consent.

Punishment for being found guilty in such a crime can be severe.

According Federal Law No 5 for 2012, on social media, states that a person found guilty can be jailed for a period no fewer than six months, be fined between Dh150,000 and Dh500,000, or both.

Expatriates are also deported, according to article no 42 of the law.

The law states: "That who commits an act which breaches the privacy of other people’s lives by listening to a conversation, recording or sharing a clip, or taking a picture of a person without their consent, faces jail or a fine."

source: GULF NEWS