A court in Dubai yesterday sentenced a British woman and an Irish man to 3 months in jail followed by deportation after the couple got drunk and then had sex in a taxi. The couple did plead guilty to drinking in public, but had pleaded not guilty to breach of honor without consent. As much as it sucks that they have to go to jail for having sex in a taxi, I think even in the US and other western places they could have easily gone to jail or got a ticket for indecent exposure. It is not like Dubai has not done this before. They always arrest people for having sex in public. If you to the Netherlands, feel free to smoke as much pot as you want. If you go to Dubai are you going to do the same thing? The couple are planning on appealing, and probably they will just end up being deported with no jail time. Dubai has plenty of places where westerners can drink and have fun and as long as you stay there, everything will probably be allowed, but when you go outside of that area and do it, then you risk getting arrested.
They won't be smirking for long!
ReplyDeleteExactly ^ Well said. I hope they learn their lesson, I think it's piggish to do something like that in the US, and much worse to do in a country that is primarily Muslim.
ReplyDeleteWhat is breach of honor without consent? Whose consent does that mean, the driver? Or is it because they aren't married? I don't get it.
ReplyDeleteNot saying I condone the behavior, but 3 months in a Dubai jail seems excessively harsh. I also wonder why people travel to places like Dubai, especially women.
ReplyDeleteIdiots didn't watch SATC 2!
ReplyDeleteOnly idiots DID watch SATC 2, me included unfortunately.
DeleteDon't pretend you don't know the rules of the country you are going to. And if you don't well you're a moron.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing @Reno!
ReplyDeleteWho has sex in a taxi? Gross! Come on, I'm sure they could've had sex at a hotel. No one wants to see you getting busy in public.
I feel like it's not OK to have sex in a cab in any country. Gross. That being said, I've never been to Dubai and don't plan on going, but I know the basics for behavior there. They should have known. Drunk or not. I don't feel a lot of sympathy for them.
ReplyDeleteJaysus, what a couple of idiots....Talk about being oblivious....
ReplyDeleteEw. Idiots. No sympathy here, either.
ReplyDeleteThey still don't deserve 3 months in jail.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree with everyone here. When you travel, know the local rules and customs and have some respect. I had no sympathy for that young man who got caned for vandalism and asked Pres. Clinton to intervene. If you break the law abroad, don't expect the Lindsay Lohan treatment.
ReplyDeleteAh, Dubai. A global centre for terror funding, money-laundering, and drug money. Idiots for going there.
ReplyDeleteI thought a dna test proved they had not had sex in the cab but were jailed anyway. At least that is the newspapers here said..
ReplyDeleteI read that they never had sex in the cab, they were just kissing and a bit amorous but because they aren't married its an offense.
ReplyDelete@Noetje yes that's what the news is reporting here too. Apparently There was an argument with the driver over the journey he was taking and he stopped for a policeman and reported they were having sex in the car. DNA has apparently proved they didn't have sex but they have been jailed regardless. However they were stupid enough to have been on a 10 hour drinking binge which wouldn't be looked on favourably in Dubai anyway.
ReplyDeleteUh, you guys do know I was kidding, right?
ReplyDeletesounds like the cab driver had an agenda....
ReplyDeleteI have not read the article, but I know for a fact that you can be accused of breach of honour just for kissing in public.
ReplyDeleteAs a matter of fact a lot of my married friends do not even hold hands in public, to avoid problems. So I would not be so easy in judging.
And @Agent**It, no please tell us how you really feel!
There have been a lot of unsavoury incidents reported in Dubai over the last 2-3 years. Whilst some seem dubious, I'm sure some aren't, but the most shocking case was a woman on her honeymoon who claimed she was raped by a waiter. She ended up thrown in the slammer for several days before being deported back to UK. Pretty sure it was a muslim couple as well.
ReplyDeleteGiven Abu Dhabi has the majority of UAE oil & gas, and Dubai is diversifying its economy with a big push on tourism, they should probably invest a bit more in the PR sector.
I lived in Dubai for a few years and really enjoyed the experience. Mind you, I didn't engage in sexual activity in public, so you know - not getting arrested helps.
ReplyDeleteMy company's government rep, had to liaise with various officials including the police and he said to me, the way the police deal with things, is that if you bring something to their attention, then they have to deal with it. If you behave yourself and show consideration and respect to others, then there isn't any need to worry.
The way I see it, is that these people brought it on themselves, which is why I have no sympathy for them. Especially as they were asked a couple of times not to continue with that behaviour but they chose to ignore those requests.
these people are stupid, yes.
ReplyDeleteBut if Dubai wants to be the "world's playground" in 2025 they better lighten the fuck up on some things like boozing etc.
Public sex is never a good idea.
Fun, but never a good idea.
I guess they should have given the cab driver a bigger tip.
ReplyDeleteWell said Jax. I think we'll get a preview of that at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.. If they do not relax the rules a but they better start building bigger jails for all the intoxicated people around at that time!
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm concerned, If you visit a different country you need to abide by the laws that exist there just like we would expect of people coming to whatever country we live in. If you choose to break the law you need to suffer the consequences. No pity from me..
ReplyDeleteJesus, get control of yourself. And what do u mean people get arrested all the timd in dubai for having public sex? What goes on there??
ReplyDeleteDumbasses.
ReplyDelete@Noetje and others. I agree that as a guest or permanant citizen of a different country you most definitely should follow their laws and make an effort not to flaunt your cultural differences. Especially in a country where flaunting those rules ends up in suffering for the "offender" in that country. Which for the most part is any country with Islam is the predominant religion and law.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, many of them don't feel the same way when they move to another country. They are pretty vocal about how "we" have to adapt to "them". Which means they don't respect us. I have personally seen it happen. It is pretty one-sided in my view.
I have holidayed in Dubai a few times, and I have to say its quite liberal, western and a party town. You would be amazed at the amount of alcohol consumed there and how much partying goes on there. Each time I went there, it was always a shame to realise that, people falling down drunk, loud, rowdy and completely making an idiot of themselves were mostly Brits. So read this story with a pinch of salt as stories written about Dubai being harsh and cruel are rather embellished.
ReplyDeletePs I wore shorts and anything I wanted without any bother at all.
I've visited Dubai a few times, and it pretty open, but then again as a tourist I brought my brain with me and dind't try and antagonise... the same way you cover up in Rome to visit catholic sights, you wear appropriate clothing out and about in dubai (shorts and t shirt is ok in Mall, bikini isn't).
ReplyDeleteFriends have said the lady involved has hired PR Max Clifford (almost the gloria alred of UK ;-), for her side of story. No DNA evidence, and apparently taxi driver talked about seeing her bare skin on her back, but she is apparently heavily tattooed on her back which he made no mention of. If gossip is to be believed apparent she and driver had arguement about the fare.
I think before any person goes to visit another country, it would be to their benefit to watch a couple of episodes of The Amazing Race. Watching that show made me realize that cab drivers can play some dirty tricks on a fare if they think people are being jerks.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you Ent. My opinion may not be popular, and I'll concede anything about human rights, theocrazy, etc in Dubai, but I do think that is you go to a country with overtly conservative customs you should adapt your behaviour.
ReplyDeleteok I just read your comments and most of us agree :)
ReplyDeleteI think some people just love to break the rules. I visited the hassidic neighbourhood in jerusalem and it has HUGE banners telling people to dress modestly etc. well, we were strolling and we crossed an american lady with a short skirt and tank top... which caused a scene of course. She totally wanted the confrontation. very lame.