A social media influencer has been accused of posting abusive video messages on Instagram in which he allegedly insulted an Emirati actress who hailed Saudi Arabia's decision to allow women to drive.

The Abu Dhabi Misdemeanour Court heard that the Emirati man made the insulting comments against the woman on his social media account after she posted a video on Instagram and Snapchat in which she appeared while driving a car along with Saudi Arabian women in a convoy to show her support following the new Saudi rule.

Official court documents stated that the man, with a huge following on social media, had on June 26, posted a video on Instagram in which he allegedly insulted the Emirati woman for celebrating the new move.

The complainant, popularly known as Kashoona, is a well-known person in the UAE and also has many fans and followers on social media. She has acted in many drama series and participated in a series of art works.

Her lawyer Abeer Dahmani, said that her client was undermined by the insults and abusive comments made by the Emirati man because the woman is a public figure and a respected member of the community.

According to the lawyer, when the decision allowing women in Saudi Arabia to drive cars was announced, her client participated in the celebrations as the first Emirati woman to drive a car in Saudi Arabia. She was along with a Kuwaiti woman and a large number of celebrities from several countries.

"A few days later, my client was surprised to see the defendant, one of the famous person on social media had recorded a video commenting on the event, which he posted on Instagram," said Dahmani.

"In the video, the man insulted my client and abused her using all sorts of bad words. The comments were so offensive, undermining and had damaged the reputation of my client among her fans and in the society."

The abusive video, which circulated on social media, according to the lawyer, also caused moral and psychological damage to her client.

Prosecutors charged the man with defamation and violating online laws.

The trial was adjourned until September 17 for the Emirati man to enter a plea and to also file his defence.

The UAE cybercrime laws stipulate a penalty of imprisonment for between one year to three years and or a fine of between Dh250,000 and Dh1 million if someone is found guilty of the offence.

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