Briton facing jail in Dubai for kissing
A British consultant facing a month in jailing for kissing a friend in a Dubai restaurant says he has no hard feelings towards the emirate or its legal system.
Ayman Najafi, 24, and Charlotte Adams, 26, deny indecency charges, saying they pecked each other on the cheek as a greeting in the restaurant in the city's Jumeirah Beach Residence complex in November.
But even though they are appealing the jail term imposed by the courts, Mr Najafi said it was not out of disrespect for the city's laws or legal system.
"All I want to do is clear my name," he said after the appeal hearing.
He said he knew that he could have admitted the crime and the case would now be over and done with, though he would also have been deported at the end of the sentence.
He added: "I could have accepted the sentence. But I believe I have done nothing wrong, and I want to stand up for that."
The couple were arrested after a 38-year-old local woman reported their behaviour at Bob's Easy Diner on November 27 at 2am.
She said her daughter had witnessed the couple kissing each other on the mouth, and then she had seen the same thing.
"I also saw them touching each other, as they were seated two to three metres away from our table," her statement, read to the first hearing, said. "A number of customers witnessed the scene as well."
They were found guilty of public indecency, and sentenced to a month's jail followed by deportation. They were freed on bail pending appeal.
At the appeal hearing on Sunday, Mr Najafi said the pair's behaviour had not been inappropriate.
"We kissed each other on the cheek as a greeting, nothing more," he told Judge Aysar Fouad. Miss Adams pointed at her cheek to show where contact had taken place.
The couple admitted having drunk alcohol. Drinking alcohol in licensed bars and restaurants is not illegal in Dubai, but being out in public afterwards is.
The couple were originally fined 1,000 dirhams - pounds 180 - and are asking for clemency in their appeal on that charge, which they do not deny.
Mr Najafi has lived in Dubai for 18 months, where he works as a consultant for the Hay Group, a marketing firm. Miss Adams was on holiday, staying with another friend who lives in the emirate, when the group of six friends altogether decided to go out to dinner together.
Their defence lawyer, Khalaf al Hosany, said there were inconsistencies in the witness's account, and that when attempts were made to ask her for a second statement, her phone was disconnected.
He also offered to produce six witnesses for the defence.
He said the couple admitted kissing each other on the cheek but denied any intention to break the law. "It’s part of their culture to kiss on cheeks as a greeting," he said.
The court reserved its verdict until April 4, renewing the couple's bail but keeping their passports so that they cannot leave the United Arab Emirates.
The couple knew each other before they met up in Dubai, but both say they were not boyfriend and girlfriend.
Miss Adams is an estate agent from north London. Her flatmate Jade Christa Williams, acting as a spokesman for Miss Adams, said what had happened was simply "a huge misunderstanding".
"She is completely innocent and is looking forward to coming home soon to carry on with her life and put this behind her," she said.
In http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/dubai/7446484/Brito...
So showing the world that they are hypocrites is going to help them get their eroded Islamic values back?
If they want to get their Islamic values back, why don't they start with cleaning up the open prostitution market? No, they want the best of both worlds and are just showing themselves as the hypocrites they really are. At least Saudi is open about their policies instead of these two faced hypocrites.
I agree with deepb, you find prostitutes roaming the streets and soliciting but they turn a blind eye to it, but are ready to arrest and throw a couple in jail for a kiss on the cheek, ridiculous.
"A Dubai appeals court on Sunday upheld a one-month prison sentence for a British couple convicted of kissing in a restaurant.
The pair landed in court after an Emirati woman complained about the public kiss, which the couple insisted was just a peck on the cheek. They were arrested in November and convicted of inappropriate behavior and illegal drinking."
For full article:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100404/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_dubai_kissing_case
"I wish I could drink like a lady. I can take one or two at the most. Three and I'm under the table. Four and I'm under the host"
-- Dorothy Parker
But you need to step outside to get into a cab & being in a cab is arguably being out in public.
literal people are scary, man, literal people scare me
out there trying to rid the world of its poetry while getting it wrong fundamentally down at the church of "look,it sez right here, see!" Ani Difranco
@ Qataria78,so i guess it's not "against the rules" for prostitutes to openly walk around soliciting & for guys to pick them up in Dubai eh?...
happygolucky,
better not even go to Dubai!
"Drinking alcohol in licensed bars and restaurants is not illegal in Dubai, but being out in public afterwards is."...
One can just take a cab from the restaurant or bar and go home...will save that individual from being in public too if he intends to hang out somewhere outside the bar or restaurant....no need for teleportation...:)
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One life to live, live it to the fullest.
As for going out while being drunk, Once I got too drunk in a bar in Dubai and as per my flatmate a local cop himself dropped me to our apartment as I was too drunk to find my own way back :P
Oh I miss those wild days :P
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It's definitely because of the lady. It's the same here, you can do whatever you want, just don't let a local see you.
literal people are scary, man, literal people scare me
out there trying to rid the world of its poetry while getting it wrong fundamentally down at the church of "look,it sez right here, see!" Ani Difranco
lol Olive.. Again I think it's because of the lady who complained. Maybe she was someone influential.
As for lady out with her kids at 2 AM, that's not that odd, If you are sleeping throughout the day, a bit hard to sleep early at night. Plenty of families are out late at night.
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"The couple admitted having drunk alcohol. Drinking alcohol in licensed bars and restaurants is not illegal in Dubai, but being out in public afterwards is."
How are you supposed to get home? Has Dubai achieved teleportation and I just haven't heard about it?
literal people are scary, man, literal people scare me
out there trying to rid the world of its poetry while getting it wrong fundamentally down at the church of "look,it sez right here, see!" Ani Difranco
Eaglemmanuel,
LOL... no I didn’t say that.
Deepb was just defending me from an irrelevant personal attack from One_shot, who likes to assume things that people never said.
All I said here was:
"Dubai, the place not to go on a holiday ;)"
Mon, 15/03/2010 - 2:10pm
what was other women doing at Bob's Easy Diner at 2:00 am ? watching and waiting for both to get arrested ?
-: Perfectly ImPerfect :-
Peck on the cheek is quite normal in this part of the world...
Maybe the lady who reported it was his ex gf...lol
Yes, should tell rizks not to practice his research in public.
Kissing in public does not carries weight to misbehaviour unless one overdo it with affection
A couple of times it nearly did lol..
But luckily was able to talk my way out of it.
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but a simple advice, sometimes luck runs out!
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wala lang
I won't have any problem if the law was applied for all. Maybe in this case they were a bit harsh as someone actually complained.
They don't discriminate on the basis of race though.
As for kissing in public, me and my gf stole a few kisses at times in malls there so speaking from experience too :P
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you can,t kiss them in public
Well we have rules for people to obey since they come to that country if they dont like it then why come in the first place. they deserve what happened to them :P LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL who told them to do such things in public .
kiss in public (I'll take your word for that), but was there a 38-yo lady with children that complain?
Maybe, it's racism per se as it targets certain race! But why complain when you know what is right? Right to you maybe not to others! It's how other views it in the context of the law.
Like here in QL, sometimes we feel that what we are writing is okay but seen differently by the Mods in the context of the written and unwritten guidelines. Anyway, we should accept that we are not the authority, there is someone else and sometimes no use to challenge it (but not all the time).
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wala lang
Its very simple rule, do what you want, but if someone makes noise then I (law) will come after you. ________________________________________
One life to live, live it to the fullest.
is britexpat in Dubai ? :(
flor yes you can kiss them in public, heck you can see so many couples kissing inside malls. They just like to set an example now and then to show that they are following Islamic law and haven't been corrupted yet.
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Height of Hipocracy...
but why is it always Brits involved in such news from Dubai?
the city that is currently in all likelihood the singlest biggest sustainer of Eastern European prostitution on the planet,but a young couple exchanging a kiss over dinner is a BIG deal...go figure...
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wala lang
I think scr*wing or kissing a prostitute in public gaze is also not allowed in Dubai.
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One life to live, live it to the fullest.
In the locals eyes, Its ok for men to kiss each other, just dont get caught kissing a woman. "That might corrupt the values of society".
Prostitution is Legal in Dubai
BUT not Kissing ....:(
Strange !!
deepb said When did Nic say these rules were implemented now? or that it was targeted to Europeans? Did I miss a post? "
No, Nic didn't say that. They were too lax in their enforcement in order to market "freedom of liberties" and encourage investments, etc. to build up the country. They have done very well in putting Dubai on the world map - but the cons are that their Islamic values are being eroded. That is the key issue and they need to take action to stem the slide. I say, rightly so.
People are granted freedoms but when they take their liberties for granted, are egocentric and step on their hosts' hospitality, then laws have to be enforced - to make people think twice before they act. There is always a discretion for leniency BUT it must not be taken for granted.
Instead of blaming the govt for enforcing their laws, have people considered that thoughtless people who cause troubles like these, cause troubles for everyone else? No, they don't cos they think the whole world revolves around them. They say the locals are so proud, but the critics should look at themselves in the mirror.
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Beauty lies in the eyes of the beerholder.
Ayman Najafi, 24, and Charlotte Adams, 26, deny indecency charges, saying they pecked each other on the cheek as a greeting in the restaurant in the city's Jumeirah Beach Residence complex in November."
- Unlikely. But error made. Only option - to save their jobs - is to raise publicity to "encourage" leniency. After all, those morons in the beach incident got away with just a slap on the wrist.
"But even though they are appealing the jail term imposed by the courts, Mr Najafi said it was not out of disrespect for the city's laws or legal system."
- Sounds like BS but never know, maybe true.
"He said he knew that he could have admitted the crime and the case would now be over and done with, though he would also have been deported at the end of the sentence."
- Here lies the actual intent - to avoid deportation.
"The couple were arrested after a 38-year-old local woman reported their behaviour at Bob's Easy Diner on November 27 at 2am.
She said her daughter had witnessed the couple kissing each other on the mouth, and then she had seen the same thing.
"I also saw them touching each other, as they were seated two to three metres away from our table," her statement, read to the first hearing, said. "A number of customers witnessed the scene as well."
- Likely true. Is it normal in Dubai for families to be out at 2am in the morning? But anyway...
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Beauty lies in the eyes of the beerholder.
lol rishimba keep secret .. lol :)
yeah pajju, you guessed right....she is the same girl.:)
lol rishimba i thot the one who is ....... ( guess ) lol
pajju, she is the same girl you said you met in ramada car park last week..how come you forgot her name..:)
rishimba who is julie ? :P
yet men holding hands is considered ok.
no wonder most guys in this region walk like horny lesbians.
yes wk..he should have acted smart..
pajju, shall i ask julie to wait for you there..:)
lol ... i am goin to ramda car park now .. u guys wont leave me .. :P
lol pajju..
rishimba maybe he would have got away with it if he had told the cops that she is a prostitute he hired rather than admitting she is his gf :P
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guys plzz stop it ... or i will be hot :)
the logic there is...unless you are caught in the act, you are innocent.
the government doesnt want to clean up the city as they want the tourists to come and have a good time...prostitution is an inseparable part of the package. in addition, the visa fee of the girls coming everyday in 100s of numbers is a bonus.
I used to be in first floor of York every other day but only because I loved their band "whitenite"
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lol..wk, it seems you were also a regular in four point sheraton and york international in bur dubai..:)
infact i have seen cops grinning at the girls there when i was once coming out of the four point sheraton..!!
Thousands of prostitutes roaming the streets and openly picking up customers (99 % of whom are driving under the influence of liquor) while police vehicles are parked a few meters away, whose culture is that?
Happens every night in Dubai.
Maybe when tourists see that, they assume kissing is no big deal.
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men kissing each other on the cheek or rubbing noses together, cause its bringing out homosexual behaviour...
ohhh, wait... its their culture to greet like that.... go figure....
visit www.qaws.org
As Brit, no offence taken. Whether or not we (they, I'm not!) are more promiscious or not is another matter. The fact is the Brits abroad are not always very good at respecting the culture they are in, whether in Greece, Dubai or Nepal. Whilst Dubai clearly exploits the sand and sea tourist market and encourages the whole Friday brunch thing, the visitors should still respect their customs, whatever their opinion. Dubai tourism should also make it clear to visitors that 5* hotels are international, outside of these, learn the cultural rules before acting.
I don't care what happens either way, they shouldn't have done it but I hope lessons will this time be learned on both sides.
one shot if she kissed you on your a**,thats the end of the world"
whats the prob about a kiss in the chicks
They deserve to be terminayed and sent back to their country. Maybe there, they can have sex in public.
By the way, did you ever hear about an asian,arabic or indian couple terminated for such acts. Why does it only happen to europians and especially britons? no offense :)
outchhhhhhhh
double standards again.
so you are with freedom to kiss in public,
but against woman covering her head.
just because u used to do it in your home, and you feel threatened if you see women in veils because you are not used to see them like this???
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MU2M :(
I like French cofee,but it is simply Turkish with milk
thanks deepb, no point feeding personal attacks ;)
peace8-))
When did Nic say these rules were implemented now? or that it was targeted to Europeans? Did I miss a post?
All these rules are suddenly made in GCC with aiming to punish European only, or was it implemented many decades ago?
If its not only to restrict them now, to their limits, then why all the fuss about? One must have to think 100times before getting enter to this region.
Second i don't want u to listen ur crap replies with comparing these rules, with the recently made french or where ever around the europe, they are imposing the new laws, over muslims.
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A lot of lovemaking can unblock a stuffy nose! Dr. Choc
Kissing as8es is rewarded in this part of the world.
.... "It’s part of their culture to kiss on cheeks as a greeting," he said. ...
Yeah, if only Arabs allow "their" culture to go in this part of the world at first place, life would have been very different here ;-)
BTW,What a defense lawyer they have:-(
well deserved.
what next ?
At least you were kissing only pajju. I've seen lot more activities in back of land cruiser at times which are overlooked. And, of course lets not mention the china dolls.
once i kissed my GF n corniche , after one CID came and said bro dunt repeat it :) eeji eeji marathaani maa eeji :P
but why we should put a mark on the names we have ?
by things, because we just get used to it.
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MU2M :(
I like French cofee,but it is simply Turkish with milk
in this life...
not all criminals are in jail.
and also not all Imprisoned people are guilty.
this is life around all the world .
right?
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MU2M :(
I like French cofee,but it is simply Turkish with milk
people
there is something you don't understand
there is some rules in these countries uae,qatar,saudi arabia...etc.
and everyone of us approved on them when he signed his contract, or when he entered this kind of countries.
so by getting bothered of these rules , you are just rebelling on the rules here , which considered as non-acceptable.
and in some cases considered as a crime.
be careful people,unless you really don't like it here.
hmmmmmmmmmmm
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MU2M :(
I like French cofee,but it is simply Turkish with milk
Posted before but just as a response to you one_shot - Don't you think the rules here are followed randomly and quite hypocritically?
if he kiss my A**
should he has the same penalty or lesser?
hmmmm
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MU2M :(
I like French cofee,but it is simply Turkish with milk
It's a kiss day, indeed!
...listen to the sound of silence....
a dought .. today is kiss day ?
Dubai, the place not to go on a holiday ;)
bulllllll shit
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MY NAME IS KHAN
oooffff.... Fine, no pecks in public restaurants.
...listen to the sound of silence....
...Life would become Dull if there were no such Difficulties...