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Dec. 16: Judgment delayed in case of 'U' grad jailed in Abu Dhabi prison

Shezanne "Shez" Cassim has been jailed since April in the United Arab Emirates. Official there say a 19-minute spoof video he posted to YouTube violates the country's cyber crimes law.

December 23, 2013 at 4:07AM

Judgment has again been delayed in the case of a University of Minnesota graduate from Woodbury detained in prison Abu Dhabi since June after posting a satirical YouTube video.

United Arab Emirates officials say a 19-minute spoof video posted by Shezanne "Shez" Cassim violates its federal cyber crimes law and poses a threat to national security there.

Monday's non-ruling marked the sixth postponement of a final judgment in the case. Another court appearance has been scheduled for Monday, Dec. 23.

"We cannot tell you how much heartache our family feels every day," Cassim's brother, Shervon Cassim, said in a statement.

Dubai authorities jailed Cassim, who is a U.S. citizen, and revoked his passport on April 7 after questioning him about the 19-minute video, "Ultimate Combat System: The Deadly Satwa G's," which was intended to spoof youth culture in Dubai, where he has lived and worked since graduating from the U in 2006.

In June, Cassim was transferred to Al-Wathba Prison in Abu Dhabi, along with several other people featured in the video, including two Emirati citizens.

Cassim produced and uploaded the video in October 2012 with a disclaimer that read that stated the video was fictional.

The U.S. State Department is monitoring Cassim's case. Staff from the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the U.S. Consulate General in Dubai have visited him in prison and attended his court hearings.

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