Abu Dhabi sets up media courts

Today's news...

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judiciary Department HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued yesterday an ordinance setting up public prosecution and circuit courts to try media related cases in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Article No.1 of the ordinance stipulated the establishment of a public prosecution to handle and conduct investigation of media related cases in the emirate and to refer them to competent courts. The same article also stipulated the establishment of circuit courts to hear these cases and pass verdicts. The ordinance assigned the Judicial council to issue decisions and bye-laws to execute it. The ordinance took effect from the day of its issuance and will be published in the official gazette. – Emirates News Agency, WAM

I'm no legal eagle, and would really appreciate someone telling me what this means. Based on earlier posts about the very controversial revamped media law that is in process of being finalised, I can see the pros (it being taken out of criminal courts) and cons (it sounds pretty serious) of a specialist court.

Coverage of this has been limited pretty much to the above so far, issued from the Government news agency.

One thought that does strike me (...as, y'know, I'm never knowing short of an opinion!) is that if they are going to all this trouble for the media industry then maybe the Government should consider its application to other industries that cause it far more embarrassment and headache. Given the trouble that the property industry has landed itself, its customers, its partners, suppliers and the authorities in...I would look at that as the first contender for special treatment.