American held in UAE after posting spoof video is expected to be released | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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American held in UAE after posting spoof video is expected to be released

FILE - In this undated file photo provided by Shervon Cassim shows his brother Shezanne Cassim of Woodbury, Minn. Shezanne, arrested in April and held in the United Arab Emirates for roughly nine months after posting a parody video online about youth culture in Dubai, is expected to be released. A State Department spokeswoman said Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014 that Cassim has been moved to a deportation facility for processing. (AP Photo/Courtesy Shervon Cassim, File)

MINNEAPOLIS - An American who's been held in the United Arab Emirates for roughly nine months is expected to be released.

Shezanne Cassim was arrested in April after posting a parody video online about youth culture in Dubai.

In December, he was sentenced to one year in prison, a fine and deportation.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Pooja Jhunjhunwala says Tuesday that Cassim has been moved to a deportation facility for processing. She says: "We understand processing will take a few days at which point he will be returning to the United States."

The United Arab Emirates-owned daily The National has said Cassim and others were accused of defaming the country's image abroad. Cassim's supporters say he was charged under a cybercrimes law that tightened penalties for challenging authorities.

News from © The Associated Press, 2014
The Associated Press

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