The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has abolished penalties for drinking alcohol, attempted suicide, and allowed unmarried couples to cohabit. This is reported by RIA Novosti with reference to local media.
Following the approval of the amendments, drinking alcohol is no longer a criminal offense in this Arab country. Citizens over the age of 21 can now drink alcohol privately or in certain public places. Prior to that, only tourists and foreign citizens who were over 21 and not Muslim were allowed to drink alcohol.
In addition, penalties for harassment of women will be toughened in the country. The amendments also abolish criminal prosecution for attempted suicide and allow unmarried couples to live together.
On November 7, UAE leader Khalifa bin Zeid Al Nahyan approved amendments to several provisions of the personal status and civil relations laws and the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes. Among other things, the article was canceled, which provides for the mitigation of punishment for the so-called crime in defense of honor.
