Job Discussion Forums

[johnslat]

Dear adorability,

Ah, it's good to see that the "Neighborhood Watch" concept has spread so far.
I mean, what if some innocent child wandered by and saw such an obscenity; it could very well traumatize the poor little dear for life.

Regards,
John

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[Stephen Jones]

[Neil McBeath]

VS,

To quote your own earlier posting "unlike in the West, they do NOT separate kissing from sexual intercourse" (I love that "they" by the way) so according to your own anthropological study, a quick peck on the cheek and tonsil massage should be treated the same way.

Incidentally, did it occur to you that a TV censor was possibly not the most unbiased informant when it came to discussing matters of public morality?

[johnslat]

There doesn't seem to be a distinction between "misdemeanor kissing" and "felony kissing."

Dubai: Dos and don'ts

* Sex: you can be arrested for public kissing or for being gay. Sex or cohabitation outside marriage is illegal.

* Language: swearing or obscene gestures can land you in prison for six months.

* Clothes: must cover tops of the arms and legs. Under- wear should not be seen.

* Drugs: zero tolerance, including some prescription drugs. Four years' jail term.

* Alcohol: not illegal for over 21s in licensed hotels and clubs and you can get a licence to drink at home. It is illegal to drink in public.

* Driving: In a minor accident, do not move the vehicle until police have arrived.

* Photography: photographing government and military sites is not allowed.

* Pork: banned, and it is illegal to import it.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/pair-who-had-sex-on-dubai-beach-jailed-964304.html

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

All true (as far as my knowledge goes), John, except the last point even if it's in the sacrosanct "Independent" There are pork shops in some supermarkets there (Jes' like in Bahrain 'cept you don't have to say "Wrap for Saudi") and it is only banned for Muslims.

NCTBA

[helenl]

and the Dubai police did away with the mandatory "stay where you are" in minor accidents (2 years ago I think?) and changed it to "move cars out of traffic safely if damage is minor and no injuries" to try and relieve some road congestion

[Neil McBeath]

and 'photographing government sites' seems to be interpreted sensibly.

No one is going to arrest you for taking photos at HCT or Zaid University

[smedini]

Here's a question, since we've gone from alleged sex on the beach to discussing car accidents:

I lived in Korea in the late 90s, during which time I met a friend who left the Land o' the Morning Calm to work in a language school of sorts in Al Ain. He told me back then that if he, as a foreigner, were involved in a car accident with a local Emirati, he would automatically be deemed the guilty party because the accident wouldn't have happened if he, the outsider, were not present in the victim's (i.e. Emirati's) country.

Is this still the case? Was it ever?

~smedini

[helenl]

It did used to happen often as you describe - however, it is much less frequent now.

[Stephen Jones]

I don't know about the Emirates, but expats in Saudi were always whining about the police being biased towards Saudis. As every time I have had an accident with a Saudi the police have either judged it 50-50 or in my favour, and the only case I have seen of an obviously bad decision was when the Saudi policeman made a 50-50 judgement when it was quite clear the Saudi had done nothing wrong and the fault was that of the Indian van driver, I always viewed the complaints as urban myths.

[veiledsentiments]

It is more a matter of wasta than nationality. High wasta locals - or those with lots of family who are police - tend to get off easy. Drivers from countries like India or Pakistan tend to be pushed into accepting blame. Westerners tend to have an easier time proving their innocence... presuming that it really wasn't their fault.

But, Smedini, the reason that your contact gave borders on the ridiculous - and I didn't see evidence of the 'just because you are there it is your fault' thing when I was there in the 90's. Although it wasn't as even handed legally as in Oman, we had at least one female Emirati student who went to jail because she hit a pedestrian. (don't ever hit a pedestrian... you go to jail until it is known that the victim is fine... and or the blood money is paid) We also had a teacher who got caught up in this situation.

VS

[Rob Taylor]

They ought to have been sentenced to 31 days' sex in December on a British beach of their choosing.

[like2answer]

Well, as it turns out, they are leaving the UAE because the judge found that they really didn't have "sex" - or also known as the way people make babies. They were basically "making out".

They don't have to stay in jail for months (or any more time than they've already served) and the judge wants to make it so they can come back to visit in the future.

I wonder if I'd want to come back after that. No, I guess I don't wonder.

[veiledsentiments]

I just perused about a dozen articles from various sources about the current ruling... British/American/Indian and none of them mentioned anything about the "judge finding that they really didn't have sex." On the contrary, each article mentioned that the guilty verdict stands, but the jail sentence was suspended and they were given immediate deportation. This was about bad publicity hurting the tourist trade, not making their laws conform to ours.

I also caught a link to an article pointing out that a Lesbian couple received nearly the same sentence for necking on the beach.

Remember... their law (and culture) does not separate making out from intercourse. It is all 'having sex' to them. I was glad to see that the hotels are now informing their guests to avoid ALL public displays of "affection."

I highly doubt that these two people will choose to spend another holiday in Dubai. There are plenty of other nice beaches in the world to choose from where you don't risk jail for one drink too many...

VS