Sharjah police on the hunt for porn

People should be wary of some pornographic movies that teach sex offenders how to lure young victims, the United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah police warned on Wednesday.

The illicit films, which are being distributed among laborers and bachelors living in the emirate’s industrial areas, show how potential victims – children - can be lured by tempting them with sweets or money.

“Some of the prohibited movies were smuggled from an Asian country, but some of the movies were made in the UAE by gang members who were using a secret location for illegal activities,” Colonel Sultan Abdullah al-Khayal, director of media and public relations at Sharjah Police told The National.

“We have witnessed an increasing number of sexual harassment cases and such prohibited movies can be a strong reason leading to the targeting of children.”

Khayal said a number of people had been already arrested; whereas a report by Sharjah Police’s Organized Crimes Section revealed that many of the victims were children who were targeted by pedophiles in elevators or poorly lit areas at some residential neighborhoods.

Col. Khayal warned that watching such material is likely to be addictive. “They usually find children an easy target,” he said.

“Parents must provide adequate and safe information about sex to their children in a way that ensures they can figure out these dangers,” he added.

Police are seeking the public’s help in stopping these movies from being circulated.