Job Discussion Forums

[redeyes]

Blimey !

Illegal activity with a British man on Jumeirah Beach.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1033635/British-businesswoman-faces-SIX-YEARS-Dubai-jail-caught-having-sex-beach.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jul/09/middleeast


Those Brits eh?

[veiledsentiments]

This is what happens when people - who are certainly old enough to know better - forget that they are in Muslim country, not back home. Over the past few years people have been attacking me on here for warning new teachers that they should adjust their lifestyles accordingly... their constant refrain that "things have changed" "Dubai is liberal now" is only true on the surface. As it has always been, there are rules for public behavior and if you cross the line, the punishments are NOT pleasant.

Of course, this sort of public activity could get you arrested in the US too, but the punishment is relatively minor - a fine and embarrassment. This is not the time of year to have to serve a jail sentence in the Gulf - prisoners have no need of AC. Hopefully the British government can shorten their sentences to the minimum as they did some years back with the last couple that ended up in jail for cohabiting and her getting pregnant.

These situations may be few and far between, but common sense needs to prevail.

VS

[adorabilly]

what I find most interesting is the part of the story that the guard found them having sex, then told them to stop and gave them a warning.

he didn't arrest them until he came back and they were at it again.

I'm surprised he actually gave them a warning and the opportunity to stop before arresting them.

There was also a story from yesterday's the national pointing out a couple who were kissing in a car were arrested and would most likely be deported even though they were married.

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080707/NATIONAL/480879389/0/ART

So it isn't always just sex you have to worry about, even PDA's such as kissing in public can get you deported.

[mishmumkin]

The British Embassy in Dubai has reiterated that it is unable to "get people out of prison", if they are arrested in the UAE.
...Simon Goldsmith, Second Secretary, Political and Media Affairs, said,

"We offer consular advice to British nationals that want it, if they have been arrested and want the advice. We can provide details of local lawyers and contact you as soon as possible after we find out that someone has been detained, and also contact friends and family if required.

"What we cannot do is get somebody out of prison, prevent local authorities from deporting someone after a prison sentence, interfere with any civil court proceedings or give direct legal advice."


Article from here: http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/07/08/10227388.html

[tmac-100]

It never ceases to make me smile and sometimes laugh when I read these sorts of events.

Western folks seem to think they can do whatever they want and wherever they want - because they are Brits, or Americans, or Aussies or.. Of course many western nations reciprocate this "arresting behaviour" by not allowing Muslims and others to wear clothing that they have worn for years (ie Hajabs and turbins..)

Thus, Australians and others get sentenced to death in Malaysia/Singapore for being "drug mules".

Thus, Brits get arrested for public nookie in the UAE (even continuing after being warned).

Thus, Canadians get thrown in jail in Dubai for having poppy seeds on their person..

Thus Canadian women have been sent away from a polling station when trying to vote in an election they were legally entitled to vote in, for wearing a Hajab - is that what it is called when they totally cover their faces??

This is getting to be pretty old news - except for those who think they will change a country's laws by challenging them OTOH, some Canadian laws have been changed after Sikhs challenged Canadian policies disallowing the wearing of turbins. Wearing the Hajab is still "under discussion".

Luckily, I myself have never been caught/accused of doing something illegal in a foreign country - except for being driven to the Canadian border at Pembina ND (in July 1973) for trying to hitch hike in the USA.

Tisk, tisk. I was an "alien" and "aliens" were not allowed to hitch hike in the USA in those days. ET - are you listening??? At least I was not arrested/detained/jailed - just warned by the US Border Patrol, and then driven to the Canadian border.

Oh well, .......... next topic

[007]

[tmac-100]

[redeyes]

Just wondering : I too have read many newspaper accounts about the guy who got put in jail for having a poppy seed on his shoe.

I wonder if the whole story is just an urban myth -- I mean, it's so silly, it can't be true -- can it?


Does anyone know?

Bear in mind that just because it's in the local/international press -- it doesn't mean it's true. For example, there have been some very high profile stories in extremely reputable international newspapers like The Guardian and the Times of London -- that later turned out to be utter nonsense. For example, there were the pictures that ran for about a week of the guy who ( apparently ) made a death defying leap at the Grand Canyon run by the major newspapers.

Faked.

Then there were the incredible pictures of a never before seen painted tribe of "stone age warriors" in the deep of the Brazilian jungle.


Faked -- people had known about the "stone age tribe" for years.


I mean c'mon, the story goes the guy had a poppy seed ( from a bread roll ) on his shoe. It doesn't ring true.