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UK woman jailed in Dubai for saying ‘F*** You’ to her flatmate on WhatsApp row

Representational image

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A 31-year-old human resources manager from Gloucestershire, UK was detained on January 30, and is currently facing two years in jail in Dubai after her Ukrainian flatmate lodged a complaint with police for sending F*** You? to her, over private WhatsApp chat during lockdown.

The British woman had made the comment in October amid an argument over who used the dining table for work during lockdown.

 

She had been living in Dubai since 2018, and had decided to return home permanently to be close to her partner and family. She had already shipped her belongings home in advance to start a new job.

 

However, the woman was barred from leaving Dubai, when she tried to fly to the UK on Saturday. She, then was told that she wasn’t permitted to leave as there was a police case lodged against her.

 

Later, she discovered that her flatmate had lodged a police complaint against her over the WhatsApp row, claiming that she had felt offended.

 

The woman, who asked not to be named, told a UK based media portal The Sun, I can’t believe what my flatmate has done, she has been so spiteful. I pleaded with her to withdraw the complaint but she said, this is a criminal case.

 

The woman has no cash and nowhere to live. She is currently staying with a friend and waiting for her court date, which is probably months off. Her visa expires on February 12.

 

Speaking to the international authority on United Arab Emirates (UAE) law Detained in Dubai, the woman added, I would never have expected a European to take advantage of the UAE’s strict laws. We shared a flat and we were all casual with one another.

 

I have never been in trouble in my life, and I’m shocked that I’ve been criminalised over a private WhatsApp exchange with someone whom I lived with. What’s worse, the messages were from months ago and only now, when I’ve shipped all of my belongings, booked a flight and when my visa is about to expire, do I even find out about this case. I tried to plead with her to drop the case, but she doesn’t seem to care about the impact this is having, she added.

 

Detained in Dubai CEO Radha Stirling, who is representing the woman, issued a statement on Thursday, which read:

 

This is a terrifying situation for anyone to face. She had to attend several different police stations, where staff have limited English and communication is difficult. Every officer seemed to have a different take on what would happen to her, how long it would take and if she’d be allowed to go. Most people find this experience traumatising.

 

The police confiscated her passport and her mobile phone to gather the evidence. The police took the woman’s statement which admitted the rude word, but they still feel the need to process her phone through their forensic department, a process in itself, that can take weeks or months. Nothing is clear and nothing is logical. If shes admitted the crime in her statement, do they really need to drag her through a lengthy evidence gathering process

 

?When the UAE first published their Cybercrime Laws, we realised they were the single biggest risk to visitors to the country. The broadness in scope essentially criminalised everyone, and gave practically limitless sentencing discretion to judges. A private WhatsApp message to a friend, colleague, or ex partner can land you in jail. Even more unimaginable is the extraterritorial element. You do not even have to be in the UAE when you send the message. This is extremely dangerous for visitors to the country.

 

We have approached the British consular office for assistance, and the UAEs Ambassador to Britain to investigate the matter. Without intervention, the woman is likely to spend months in the UAE, awaiting judgment which may or may not be a prison sentence. This is no way to treat visitors and expats in Dubai.

 

The human resources manager has been worried sick, her visa expires in a few days and she can’t believe anyone would use the law like that.

 

While in a conversation with Sterling, the woman cried, This is like the nightmare all over again at the thought of losing my job. They cannot send a report until the forensics compiles the report of my phone (even though I said I said the word and did not deny it the prosecutor still needs that apparently) but no one seems to know when that report will be done. I call every day. I have told them I have no apartment and no job here and no money and that my visa expires on February 12, they just don’t understand. I’m banging my head against a brick wall. No one cares.

 

The UAEs Cybercrime Laws are a dangerous threat to foreigners, Stirling added.

 

 
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Legal

Karnataka High Court says wearing hijab non-essential practice in Islam; upholds ban

Published

3 years ago

on

March 15, 2022

By

Radhika Dhawad | Bengaluru

Representational image

Representational image

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday upheld hijab ban by dismissing petitions filed by a section of Muslim students from the Government Pre-University Girls College in Udupi seeking permission to wear hijab inside classrooms.


The court upheld the state government ban by saying, The prescription of school uniforms is a reasonable restriction.


The court further said hijab was not an essential religious practice in Islam. However, the petitioners are likely to challenge the ban in the Supreme Court.


“Met my clients in Hijab matter in Udupi. Moving to SC soon In sha Allah. These girls will In sha Allah continue their education while exercising their rights to wear Hijab. These girls have not lost hope in Courts and Constitution,” lawyer Anas Tanwir wrote in a tweet.

The court was answering three key questions on the controversy namely:
1. Whether wearing hijab is an essential religious practice in Islamic faith protected under Article 25?
2. Whether prescription of school uniform is violative of rights
3. Whether government order on February 5 was issued without application of mind and manifestly arbitrary?


A three judge bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice JM Khazi delivered their verdict on the ongoing hijab controversy at 10.30 am today.


Ahead of the hijab row verdict, Section 144 was imposed in Bangalore and educational institutions remained closed.

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Legal

SC grants bail to Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination convict AG Perarivalan jailed for 32 years

Published

3 years ago

on

March 9, 2022

By

Radhika Dhawad | New Delhi

Rajiv Gandhi

Rajiv Gandhi

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday afternoon, granted bail to AG Perarivala, one of the seven convicts in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.


However, the remission of his life imprisonment is pending before the President of India. AG Perarivala was serving life sentence and was jailed for almost 32 years.


As per the SC order, Perarivalan would have to follow the conditions of release and would have to report before the local police officer every month. 

Granting him bail, the court, in its order, said: Since Perarivalan has already undergone sentence for more than 30 years, we are of the considered view that he is entitled to bail in spite of the vehement opposition by the Additional Solicitor General Additional KM Nataraj.
On May 21, 1991, he was accused of purchasing an eight-volt battery used to trigger the belt bomb that killed Gandhi. Perarivalan was arrested when he was 19 and was sentenced to death in May 1999.

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Legal

Supreme Court to allow journalists inside courtrooms for physical hearing of cases

Published

4 years ago

on

October 21, 2021

By

Karan Pareek | New Delhi


The Supreme Court of India, on Thursday, October 21, resumed hearing of cases and pleas in the physical mode for the first time since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in India.
The Supreme Court has recently issued new SoPs for hybrid hearings as per which all cases on Wednesdays and Thursdays to be heard only in the physical presence of the counsels/parties in courtrooms.
Along with this, SC also decided to allow media persons inside the courtroom during the physical hearings. However, journalists would have to strictly adhere to COVID-19 related norms and protocols.
?With the physical hearing in the Supreme Court of India commencing tomorrow (Thursday, 21 October 2021), it has been decided to allow the media persons, subject to usual COVID restrictions, into the courtrooms for covering the proceedings,” said the top court in a press note.
Supreme Court heard cases through video conference since March last year due to the pandemic and several bar bodies and lawyers demanded that the physical hearings should be resumed immediately.

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