Member Since: 9/24/2008
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Dubai Kissing Brits Face Wait On Jail Fate
Quote:
Two Britons accused of kissing in public in Dubai will not have their appeal heard until April 4, a court has ruled.
Briton Ayman Najafi, 24, was due to appear in court alongside a 25-year old British tourist Charlotte Louise Adams to contest a one-month prison sentence.
The pair were allegedly seen kissing on the mouth in a restaurant in the luxury Jumeirah Beach Residence, breaching Dubai's strict decency laws.
They were arrested by police in November last year and appeared in Dubai's Misdemeanours Court last week.
The judge reportedly heard written evidence from a 38-year-old woman who initially complained to police and said she was offended by their behaviour.
Mr Najafi claimed that he had merely kissed the woman on the cheek but his argument was dismissed by the judge.
Both defendants were sentenced to a month in jail followed by deportation, but were bailed pending their appeal against the sentence.
The Dubai authorities are holding their passports so that they cannot leave the
country.
Mr Najafi moved to Dubai to work for marketing firm Hay Group in Dubai around 18 months ago.
Speaking from the family home in Palmers Green, north London, his mother Maida Najafi said hers on had vowed to clear his name and come home.
"My Ayman is a good boy, he's very wise and mature. I don't think it's true. He's not like that at all," she said.
"He's been there for one and a half years and he's never been in trouble. He knows the rules over there.
"He said, 'I haven't done anything wrong mum, hopefully I will clear my name and then I can come back'.
Commenting on the case, Adel Darwish of the Middle East magazine told Sky News that police in Dubai would usually tolerate such a misdemeanour.
"Perhaps if the woman had not complained, nothing would have happened. I think in recent weeks though, the police are wanting to be seen to be tough," he said.
Mr Darwish added that he thought further cases involving a harsh reaction to a "petty" crime could have the effect of driving much-needed tourists away.
"Dubai had a reputation of being tolerant - you can actually drink in restaurants," he said.
"They've got a lot to lose in this economic climate."
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http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100314/...i-3fd0ae9.html
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