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Tag: Dubai News

Get the latest LGBT+ Dubai news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in Dubai.

  • Man who touched other man’s hip in Dubai has been freed by the Ruler of Dubai

    The Scotsman who was jailed yesterday for breaking Dubai’s strictly indecency laws has been freed by Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.

    Jamie Harron has been freed from his Dubai jail, after the country’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum made a special order. The cases against him have been dismissed amidst an international backlash against the country.

    Speaking on behalf of Mr Harron, Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said today,

    “We wish to express our deepest gratitude to Sheikh Mohammed for his personal intervention in this case, and for exonerating Jamie at long last. It has now been established that the allegations against Jamie were entirely unwarranted, defamatory, and meritless; to such an extent that the Ruler of the country found it necessary to step in and correct the wrongful action of the Public Prosecutor and to quash the judgment of the court. This was a courageous and honourable decision on the part of Sheikh Mohammed, and while it highlights the urgent need for judicial reform in the country, it is also a hopeful sign that the UAE’s leadership possesses the will and vision to pursue such reforms in the future,

    “When Jamie was called this morning by the police he was told that the case had been dismissed, and that he should come in to collect his passport”, Stirling explained. “He was understandably nervous; as similar calls from the police in other cases were merely tactics to lure individuals into police custody. But when Jamie arrived at the police station, his passport was returned, and he was told that he was free to go. The charges were dropped, the sentence annulled, and he faces no order for deportation.

    “This came by direct order from Sheikh Mohammed.”

    Mr Harron is expected to bring a civil case against his accuser. After being arrested and detained in Dubai, he had spent over £30,000 on legal fees and lost his job in the process.

    His legal representation said that they believe that Mr Harron, would bring civil proceedings against his accusers and the company he works for. Detained In Dubai, said that the allegations against him “have been definitively proven false and slanderous, and have caused him tremendous suffering and financial loss”.

     

  • Man who touched another man’s hip in Dubai sentenced to 3 months in Prison

    The man who brushed up against another man in a Dubai bar, in an attempt to protect against drink spillage has been sentenced to 3 months in Dubai.

    Jamie Harron from Stirling in central Scotland has today been imprisoned for 3 months following the complaints that Mr Harron had touched another man’s hip at a bar in Dubai.

    In fighting his case, Mr Harron has lost his job and spent in excess of £30,000 on his legal defence.

    Jamie was in Dubai, with a friend, on a two-day stopover from Afghanistan, where he worked as an electrician.  Mr Harron claimed that he was trying to ensure that a drink he was holding did not spill on himself or others. He touched the other man’s hip in order to avoid an impact. He was arrested for public indecency and his passport was seized but authorities. In fighting his case, Jamie has spent in excess of £30,000 in legal fees. He has spent all of his savings and spent £12,000 on credit cards.

    According to Detained In Dubai, leading experts in Middle Eastern Law, Mr Harron has yet to be sentenced for two other charges stemming from the case; that of consuming alcohol, and for allegedly making a rude gesture against Mr Tabaza.

    He was previously sentenced to 30 days in prison for failing to appear at a court hearing the date of which he had not been notified of in advance.

    Life in tatters

    He has already spent several months stranded in the UAE over this case, lost his job, and is in danger of losing his home as he struggles to pay legal expenses.

    Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, commented, “Now Jamie has been sentenced to 3 months; there is no telling whether a judgment on appeal will be better or worse. He has already suffered tremendously as a result of these allegations, and now faces the likelihood of incarceration. His family was unable to visit him during this critical time because they faced a very real risk of imprisonment themselves under the UAE’s cybercrime laws which forbid criticism of the government.

    “At this point, Jamie will definitely be pursuing civil action against his accusers when he does eventually return home, as it appears that he will not be able to find justice in the UAE.”

    Mr Harron, she said, is understandably distraught.

    “He is angry, disappointed, and dreads what may happen next. He feels betrayed and exploited by the system, which did not investigate the reports of key witnesses in his defence and led him to believe that the case would be dropped. He can’t understand why a company like Neuman & Esser came out so publicly to repeat the defamatory allegations of Mr Tabaza, and he is intent on pursuing further legal action.”

    Though the German company that employs Mr Tabaza, Neuman & Esser, claims that Tabaza sought to dismiss the case in August, Detained In Dubai says there is no documentation to support this, and Mr Tabaza has never appeared in court to request a dismissal.

    A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said, “We have been in contact with a British man following his arrest in Dubai in July. We are providing consular assistance.”

  • Parents of man detained in Dubai over touching a man’s hip, speak out of their worry for him

    The parents of Jamie Harron, the Scotsman arrested in Dubai for accidentally touching another man’s hip while trying to avoid bumping into him in a crowded bar, have spoken out. They tell of their fears for Jamie, and how the pressure has affected their close family.

    Jamie’s father Graham, a caterer, and his mother Patricia are beside themselves with worry. Patricia cannot sleep. “I’m up all night worrying about what is going to happen to Jamie in court on Sunday,” she says. “There’s no chance of sleep.”

    Jamie was in Dubai, with a friend, on a two-day stopover from Afghanistan, where he worked as an electrician.

    Jamie, says he was trying to ensure that a drink he was holding did not spill on himself or others. He touched the other man’s hip in order to avoid an impact.

    He was arrested for public indecency and his passport was seized but authorities. In fighting his case, Jamie has spent in excess of £30,000 in legal fees. He has spent all of his savings and spent £12,000 on credit cards.

    Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained In Dubai, the NGO representing Jamie and his family is in constant communication with the worried couple.

    Graham stresses that he is very grateful for all the support from the press and the people of the UK.

    He says, “Patricia and I have not been able to relax for a moment. We never dreamed we would have to face something like this. I wanted him to tell his story to the press but he really did not think it would be necessary. We can’t believe that this nightmare has gone on for three months. Jamie is a good boy. He has never been a problem and never in trouble. We are a very close family and it is killing us to think of him spending even 3 nights in jail, let alone 3 years.”

    The Embassy is doing nothing

    Graham continues, “The UK embassy has not done anything to help and seem to think it is absolutely fine for British nationals to be abused in this way. People have to stop visiting that country. Since Jamie was arrested, I have researched and found that this is more common than any of us think. It is unacceptable the FCO actually promotes the UAE to British tourists.”

    “We are so worried about what may happen tomorrow at the hearing. We have been told to expect he will be taken into custody. We feel helpless.”

    “Questions need to be answered as to why there is no advice about these incidents on the UK FCO website,” Graham insists, “and where are the embassy staff who should be offering emotional and practical support to both Jamie in the UAE and his family back home in Stirling?”

    Graham and Patricia spoke of their family’s finances which are now in tatters, Jamie has been forced to pay over £10,000 for a solicitor and run up huge credit card debts which he is going to have trouble repaying, now that he has lost his job. Loving parents Graham and Patricia have also stretched their own finances to breaking point to help their son.

    Horrible dream

    Jamie adds, “the whole thing is like a horrible dream and I just don’t know when it is going to end. I thought it would be over by now but it feels like it will never be. I am lucky I have friends to stay with but this has broken me, financially and emotionally. I am in debt because of the legal fees and won’t even be able to afford to appeal the case if it doesn’t go in my favour”.

    Radha Stirling adds in a statement, “Jamie’s local MP, Stephen Kerr, contacted me today to ask whether he should intervene and we have requested he do so. This case has been brought to the attention of the UAE government who we hope will intervene and stop the injustice. More and more British nationals have written Dubai off as a possible holiday destination in light of several recent high profile arrests and we are inundated with more stories of legal abuse. We are hoping to work with the UAE government to make improvements to make the country safer for tourists, expats and investors.

    We are all anxiously awaiting to see whether Jamie is jailed tomorrow for previously not turning up to a court hearing that neither he, nor his lawyer, were advised of”.

  • Man arrested in Dubai for touching another man’s hip

    A man is facing financial ruin after being arrested and detained in Dubai following a misunderstanding.

    A Scottish man has been arrested and detained in Dubai after falling foul of Dubai’s strict public decency laws. According to DetainedInDubai.org, Jamie Harron was arrested after touching the hip of another man in a crowded bar.

    Jamie was in Dubai, with a friend, on a two-day stopover from Afghanistan, where he works as an electrician.

    Jamie, originally from Stirling in Central Scotland, says he was trying to ensure that a drink he was holding did not spill on himself or others. He touched the other man’s hip in order to avoid an impact.

    He was arrested for public indecency and his passport was seized but authorities. In fighting his case, Jamie has spent in excess of £30,000 in legal fees. He has spent all of his savings and spent £12,000 on credit cards.

    A misunderstanding that has cost him the earth

    According to DetainedInDubai, after Jamie had purchased his drink in at the Rock Bottom Bar in Dubai, he noticed a Jordanian man who was looking over at him from the edge of the dance floor in a confrontational manner.

    In order to get to the other side of the bar, Jamie had to pass the man and in doing so, placed his hand on the right-hand side of the man’s hip top to ensure that when passing they didn’t bump and spill drinks in a move familiar to most UK patrons of crowded pubs. There was no intention to upset the man in any way. The man said nothing and didn’t show any reaction.

    Jamie and his friend relaxed for another 20-30 minutes chatting when suddenly, the police appeared outside the bar. The man went out to meet them, and he began animatedly talking with them, pointing at Jamie. Jamie got up and went to see what the problem was.

    The man, his friends and the police were all speaking in Arabic. The accuser occasionally shouting in English, “he’s been drinking, and he touched me improperly, I will get you deported, do you know who I am?”

    The police asked Jamie to apologise which he gladly did to the man. The man was not mollified and urged the police to arrest Jamie; Jamie was arrested and in and out of jail for the next 8 days with no idea of the charge. He was held in the Al Barsha prison, where he was allegedly prohibited to wash or brush his teeth.

    It was only after a meeting with a  prosecutor that Jamie learned that charges against him were twofold, drinking alcohol and “public Indecency.” Jamie denies this latter charge vehemently, restating that his only intention was to avoid spilling a drink.

    Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained In Dubai, the British based NGO who is leading the campaign to help Jamie, released the following statement: “I have spoken to Jamie today who is under immense pressure and stress. He was expecting to appear in court this Sunday, the 6th of October but the court moved the date without telling him or his lawyer. This led to a sentence of 30 days imprisonment for failing to present himself at the hearing”.

    Jamie said in a phone call to Stirling “Of course if I had known there was a change in the court date, I would have been there. I have been waiting for months to appear and now it looks as though I will be arrested when I go to the hearing on Sunday. It is completely unfair and I can’t understand how I can be sentenced for failing to appear when I was not even informed of the hearing”.

    Vulnerable tourists

    Ms Stirling continued, “Jamie has been advised by his lawyer that he is at high risk of being jailed for a duration of up to three years. It is quite outrageous that he has been held in the country for so long already. This is another example of how vulnerable tourists are to arrest and detention in Dubai and at how drawn out and disorganised legal proceedings are.

    “We have received a wave of new cases of British nationals detained in Dubai and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office need to increase travel warnings to citizens intending to visit or live in the country. If Jamie is sentenced to prison, he faces human rights violations and torture. The English High Court has ruled against extradition to the UAE based on the ‘very real risk of unfair trials and torture’ but the UK government has refused to increase warnings, largely due to their financial and diplomatic ties with the UAE”.

    Tourists who consume alcohol at licensed venues can still be arrested for having alcohol in their system; Most tourists are not aware of this fact. A number of British nationals have been caught out by this contradictory application of the law.

    Both Jamie and his family are anxious for him to be back home in Stirling, Scotland as soon as possible.

    27-year-old Jamie has been held in the UAE since the 15th of July 2017.

     

  • OPINION | Should Gigi Gorgeous be surprised she was treated badly in Dubai?

    So it’s all over the web, YouTube star Gigi Lazzarato (Gorgeous) was detained in a Dubai airport for 5 hours after being refused entry through passport control after allegedly being told by the worker there, that she couldn’t enter the country due to her being transgender and that her passport picture and information didn’t match her presented gender, a claim she refutes.

    But should she really be remotely surprised that in Dubai, a place not known for its progressive nature towards LGBT individuals she got treated badly.

    It is actually considered illegal in Dubai for “men to imitate women”, and gay people can either be deported or imprisoned, and the crazy thing is, Dubai is considered one of the more progressive cities in the region. But by the standards of the region, that’s not exactly saying much.

    Now not for one second do I agree with her treatment, but at the end of the day, she was travelling to a predominantly Islamic country.

    Yes Dubai is seen as a hip place to be, and the rich and famous go there on their holidays, but Gigi should have done her research before going over there. On the surface it looks like an amazing place to go, well developed and technologically advanced, but just below the surface is a heavily religious city, in a heavily religious area of the world.

    It is grossly unfair that there are some places in the world that people from the LGBT community simply can’t travel, but until the world changes, people have to take precautions. It’s a question of keeping oneself safe as possible. There were probably hundreds of other equally exotic places she could have visited, but she chose Dubai. Personally, she should be thankful that immigration stopped her going through, because who knows what could’ve possibly happened if she had got out of the airport. She may have been arrested, or worse.

     

    ALSO READ: 10 surprisingly homophobic countries we shouldn’t be spending our money on

    ALSO READ: Holiday destination Seychelles ends legal ban on gay sex

    ALSO READ: Gay icon Katy Perry to play Dubai where being gay could land you 10 year in JAIL

     

    What people have to remember is that Dubai has a history of atrocities against people, especially women and the LGBT community. In 2013 a Norwegian woman went to local police and said she had been raped by a co-worker. She was actually arrested and convicted of extra marital sex, and consumption of alcohol and sentenced to 16 months in prison. She was eventually pardoned, but only after she was pressured to say the rape hadn’t happened, and this isn’t the only time something like this has happened. Numerous times, women have reported sexual assault and have been charged themselves for other things. And don’t get me started on how LGBT people get treated there. People have been arrested, fined, imprisoned for up to 10 years, lashed, and forcibly deported, simply for being convicted of homosexual behavior.

    Everyone should feel free to be as fabulous as they want to be, but there will be places and people who simply can’t handle that. It’s why I thinks it’s incredibly important for people to educate themselves about places that they want to travel to remain safe. And while you may feel there is progress in general, it doesn’t mean there is progress everywhere.

    I agree with Gigi to an extent when she said it was disgusting and very scary that you are denied entry somewhere because of who you are, and it shouldn’t happen, but sadly it does.

    So if you are thinking of going anywhere on holiday, please find out everything you can beforehand about its laws and customs so you can stay safe and happy and actually enjoy yourself without fear of being arrested, or attacked.

     

     

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  • LGBT Ally Katy Perry To Play Dubai, Where Homosexuality Could Land You 10 Years In Jail

    Katy Perry is set to open the world’s largest stage, in Dubai, where homosexuality could land you 10 years in prison or deportation.

    The LGBT ally, who has often spoken proactively for LGBT rights has been signed to play an exclusive, invite-only performance at Dubai Airport, which is set to be the world’s biggest stage. She is to be joined by Britain’s Got Talent’s Jack Pack.Homosexuality in the United Arab Emirates is illegal and where Sharia Law is applied could land a person found guilty of homosexual acts the death penalty. Punishment for sodomy in Dubai could land a man 10 years in prison.

    Katy Perry who has in the past been an outspoken advocate for gay rights even confronting former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on his stance on same-sex marriage.

    When same-sex marriage became legal in the US earlier this year, Perry tweeted,

    “Really encouraged to be an American today… Love should live beyond labels & intolerance! #LoveWins #EqualityForAll”

    According to a press release by Dubai International Airport,

    “Katy Perry will play an exclusive, invitation-only performance at the annual Dubai Airshow 2015 Gala Dinner, hosted by Dubai Airports, Emirates airline and Dubai Duty Free. Her set will include huge international hits like Firework, I Kissed A Girl and Roar.”

    In 2012 a British man was sentenced to three years in prison after being found having sex with another man and two Indian nationals were also imprisoned and deported. A Belgium man was also punished after admitting he was in a relationship with another man after his partner died after falling from a window.

    TheGayUK reached out to Katy’s people to ask whether she’d use the trip to advocate for LGBT rights in the UAE.