Questions & Answers
I posted a review for a piercing shop, and they threatened me to file a defamation case against me. What to do?
I recently posted a review for a piercing shop, and they threatened to file a defamation case against me. I didn't get it first. Their customer service was rude, and when I posted a review about it, they said they would file a complaint.
I basically said I gave them one star, and I said whenever I have gone to their Instagram page to ask questions, they have been rude to me.
Probably they don't want to answer or they are irritated by my questions for improving their customer service, especially for their clients who paid you for piercings!
This is my review. I want to ask, is this illegal and considered defamation?
Don't I have a right to post reviews?
Under UAE law, you have the right to express your honest opinion and post reviews based on your personal experience, as long as they are truthful and not defamatory.
Threats of defamation lawsuits over factual, non-abusive reviews may be considered an abuse of the law.
Our center specializes in digital rights and freedom of expression cases, and we are ready to assist you with legal response and protect your rights.
For consultation and legal support, please contact us via WhatsApp. We are here to help you.
This is not defamation, but rather an assessment offered to everyone.
So don't worry.
If you have any further questions, contact us by phone.
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your situation. Based on what you've described, your review appears to be a personal opinion about your experience, especially focused on customer service, which is generally allowed and protected as long as it’s not false, abusive, or malicious.
In the UAE, defamation is a sensitive matter and can include online comments, but for a complaint to succeed, the statement usually needs to be untrue and damaging to someone's reputation beyond reasonable criticism.
Saying that the service was rude and urging them to improve, based on your genuine experience, is unlikely to be considered criminal defamation, especially if it’s respectful and not offensive or insulting.
That said, even truthful reviews can sometimes lead to legal threats in the UAE, so it’s good that you're taking this seriously. If they do file a complaint, we can assist in responding and protecting your rights.
Feel free to reach out to me directly through WhatsApp or by phone to discuss this further and guide you properly if anything develops.
Dear Client,
Regarding your question about posting a review for the piercing shop and their threat to file a defamation lawsuit:
Posting honest and factual reviews based on your personal experience with a service or product is a legitimate right protected under freedom of expression, provided the review does not contain false statements or unfounded allegations harming the other party's reputation.
In your case, since your comment reflects your personal experience with their customer service and expresses your opinion objectively without false accusations or misinformation, this does not amount to defamation and is generally legal.
However, if the shop believes your review contains false claims or exaggerated statements that unjustifiably harm their reputation, they may attempt legal action. Still, you have the right to express your honest opinion and experience.
We advise maintaining a professional and respectful tone in your reviews to avoid misunderstandings. If you face any legal threats, we are ready to assist you with a legal response and protect your rights.
Our team is fully prepared to provide comprehensive legal support if the matter escalates.
For further inquiries or legal assistance, please contact us:
Alya Alzeera
Licensed Lawyer & Legal Consultant
