Boycott the UAE

[LordRaven]

Matthew Hedges: British academic accused of spying jailed for life in UAE
A British academic who was accused of spying for the UK government in the United Arab Emirates after travelling to Dubai to conduct research has been sentenced to life in jail.

Matthew Hedges, 31, has been in a UAE prison for more than six months. The Durham University student, who went to the country to research his PhD thesis, was handed the sentence at an Abu Dhabi court in a hearing that lasted less than five minutes, with no lawyer present.

Hedges was detained in May at Dubai airport as he was leaving the country, and was held in solitary confinement for five months.

The UAE attorney general, Hamad al-Shamsi, said Hedges was accused of “spying for a foreign country, jeopardising the military, political and economic security of the state”.

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Hedges denies the charges, and maintains that he was in the country to research the impact of the Arab spring on the UAE’s foreign policy.

Hedges’ wife, Daniela Tejada, who was in court, said: “I am in complete shock and I don’t know what to do. Matthew is innocent. The Foreign Office know this and have made it clear to the UAE authorities that Matthew is not a spy for them.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... ife-in-uae

[LordRaven]

Remember the woman who was jailed for admitting drinking one alcoholic drink --complimentary on Emirates Airlines -- and the man who was jailed for touching another man's hip?

Such an unfriendly non-compassionate draconian place should be avoided like the plague because of the way it treats our citizens.

[Dean]

Can you keep these racist threads in the News section please...

[Say What?]

Can you keep these racist threads in the News section please...

Looks who's barking his orders around.

[LordRaven]

Can you keep these racist threads in the News section please...

I agree with the racial/religious discrimination aspect....

Migrants from Iran land on British coast as religious discrimination rises
Al-Arabiya-19 Nov 2018
British authorities say they found nine suspected migrants from Iran after ... An Iranian Christian girl seeking refuge in Scotland has been ... Had Mania been arrested in Iran, she would have faced a harsh prison sentence and ..
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/feature ... rises.html

British-Iranian woman accused of spying returns to prison in Iran
CNN International-26 Aug 2018
(CNN) A British-Iranian woman who has been imprisoned in Tehran since 2016 on spying charges returned to prison on Sunday, just three ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/26/worl ... index.html

It seems our citizens are in danger of imprisonment just by landing and admitting to drinking a complimentary glass of wine on their own airline..

Woman held in Dubai with daughter after drinking wine on flight
The Guardian-10 Aug 2018
Woman held in Dubai with daughter after drinking wine on flight ... after drinking a complimentary glass of wine on a flight from London, an NGO has said. ... Holman, 44, was arrested on 13 July after having one glass of wine ...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... -on-flight

And whilst our foreign office seems impotent to act I would highly recommend people avoid these countries, it is not safe at all to travel to them because you could be arrested on a whim by airport security.

[Guest]

Can you keep these racist threads in the News section please...

Oh look it's Mr self appointed mod again. If you think it's racist to criticise fundamentalist Islamic regimes then I suggest you FUCK RIGHT OFF OVER THERE, CAPISCHE?

[Niv]

Can you keep these racist threads in the News section please...

I agree with the racial/religious discrimination aspect....

Migrants from Iran land on British coast as religious discrimination rises
Al-Arabiya-19 Nov 2018
British authorities say they found nine suspected migrants from Iran after ... An Iranian Christian girl seeking refuge in Scotland has been ... Had Mania been arrested in Iran, she would have faced a harsh prison sentence and ..
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/feature ... rises.html

British-Iranian woman accused of spying returns to prison in Iran
CNN International-26 Aug 2018
(CNN) A British-Iranian woman who has been imprisoned in Tehran since 2016 on spying charges returned to prison on Sunday, just three ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/26/worl ... index.html

It seems our citizens are in danger of imprisonment just by landing and admitting to drinking a complimentary glass of wine on their own airline..

Woman held in Dubai with daughter after drinking wine on flight
The Guardian-10 Aug 2018
Woman held in Dubai with daughter after drinking wine on flight ... after drinking a complimentary glass of wine on a flight from London, an NGO has said. ... Holman, 44, was arrested on 13 July after having one glass of wine ...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... -on-flight

And whilst our foreign office seems impotent to act I would highly recommend people avoid these countries, it is not safe at all to travel to them because you could be arrested on a whim by airport security.

It's alright saying boycott the UAE, but their laws are their laws. Many think that they can go there and flout their laws, then they end up paying the price. It's not like the UK where you can do what you want, and if you do wrong, you'll probably go to prison.. There you'll get 3 meals a day, and all of your human rights respected, and adhered to, and a host of opportunities to study, and allsorts. There's no deterrent. If you were slung in prison and given no privileges or opportunities you'd think twice.

Arabia is consistent when their laws are flouted. You need to think twice,and consider your actions. If you don't you'll pay a hefty price. Even losing your life. It's a beautiful country, you just have to be responsible visiting it. Ignorance is no excuse. It's your duty to be aware.

[LordRaven]

Can you keep these racist threads in the News section please...

I agree with the racial/religious discrimination aspect....

Migrants from Iran land on British coast as religious discrimination rises
Al-Arabiya-19 Nov 2018
British authorities say they found nine suspected migrants from Iran after ... An Iranian Christian girl seeking refuge in Scotland has been ... Had Mania been arrested in Iran, she would have faced a harsh prison sentence and ..
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/feature ... rises.html

British-Iranian woman accused of spying returns to prison in Iran
CNN International-26 Aug 2018
(CNN) A British-Iranian woman who has been imprisoned in Tehran since 2016 on spying charges returned to prison on Sunday, just three ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/26/worl ... index.html

It seems our citizens are in danger of imprisonment just by landing and admitting to drinking a complimentary glass of wine on their own airline..

Woman held in Dubai with daughter after drinking wine on flight
The Guardian-10 Aug 2018
Woman held in Dubai with daughter after drinking wine on flight ... after drinking a complimentary glass of wine on a flight from London, an NGO has said. ... Holman, 44, was arrested on 13 July after having one glass of wine ...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... -on-flight

And whilst our foreign office seems impotent to act I would highly recommend people avoid these countries, it is not safe at all to travel to them because you could be arrested on a whim by airport security.

It's alright saying boycott the UAE, but their laws are their laws. Many think that they can go there and flout their laws, then they end up paying the price. It's not like the UK where you can do what you want, and if you do wrong, you'll probably go to prison.. There you'll get 3 meals a day, and all of your human rights respected, and adhered to, and a host of opportunities to study, and allsorts. There's no deterrent. If you were slung in prison and given no privileges or opportunities you'd think twice.

Arabia is consistent when their laws are flouted. You need to think twice,and consider your actions. If you don't you'll pay a hefty price. Even losing your life. It's a beautiful country, you just have to be responsible visiting it. Ignorance is no excuse. It's your duty to be aware.

Imagine that poor woman (and her young daughter) as her plane ( EMIRATES AIRLINES )took off from the UK and she was asked "Would you like a complimentary drink madam?"
"Oh yes, I'll have a glass of wine" she replied.
On arriving in Dubai she was asked "Have you been drinking madam?"
She replies Yes and was slung in jail with her young daughter.
What a wonderful place to visit, NOT!!!

[Cleopatra]

Can you keep these racist threads in the News section please...

I agree with the racial/religious discrimination aspect....

Migrants from Iran land on British coast as religious discrimination rises
Al-Arabiya-19 Nov 2018
British authorities say they found nine suspected migrants from Iran after ... An Iranian Christian girl seeking refuge in Scotland has been ... Had Mania been arrested in Iran, she would have faced a harsh prison sentence and ..
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/feature ... rises.html

British-Iranian woman accused of spying returns to prison in Iran
CNN International-26 Aug 2018
(CNN) A British-Iranian woman who has been imprisoned in Tehran since 2016 on spying charges returned to prison on Sunday, just three ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/26/worl ... index.html

It seems our citizens are in danger of imprisonment just by landing and admitting to drinking a complimentary glass of wine on their own airline..

Woman held in Dubai with daughter after drinking wine on flight
The Guardian-10 Aug 2018
Woman held in Dubai with daughter after drinking wine on flight ... after drinking a complimentary glass of wine on a flight from London, an NGO has said. ... Holman, 44, was arrested on 13 July after having one glass of wine ...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... -on-flight

And whilst our foreign office seems impotent to act I would highly recommend people avoid these countries, it is not safe at all to travel to them because you could be arrested on a whim by airport security.

It's alright saying boycott the UAE, but their laws are their laws. Many think that they can go there and flout their laws, then they end up paying the price. It's not like the UK where you can do what you want, and if you do wrong, you'll probably go to prison.. There you'll get 3 meals a day, and all of your human rights respected, and adhered to, and a host of opportunities to study, and allsorts. There's no deterrent. If you were slung in prison and given no privileges or opportunities you'd think twice.

Arabia is consistent when their laws are flouted. You need to think twice,and consider your actions. If you don't you'll pay a hefty price. Even losing your life. It's a beautiful country, you just have to be responsible visiting it. Ignorance is no excuse. It's your duty to be aware.

Imagine that poor woman (and her young daughter) as her plane ( EMIRATES AIRLINES )took off from the UK and she was asked "Would you like a complimentary drink madam?"
"Oh yes, I'll have a glass of wine" she replied.
On arriving in Dubai she was asked "Have you been drinking madam?"
She replies Yes and was slung in jail with her young daughter.
What a wonderful place to visit, NOT!!!

That woman was an entitled, middle-class professional who thought she didn't have to adhere to the rules like everyone else. She should have had her papers in order and refrained from being abusive to the airport staff. She would not have been arrested for consuming wine on the flight if she hadn't started throwing her weight around and expecting special treatment. Maybe she''ll think twice next time.

[Niv]

Can you keep these racist threads in the News section please...

I agree with the racial/religious discrimination aspect....

Migrants from Iran land on British coast as religious discrimination rises
Al-Arabiya-19 Nov 2018
British authorities say they found nine suspected migrants from Iran after ... An Iranian Christian girl seeking refuge in Scotland has been ... Had Mania been arrested in Iran, she would have faced a harsh prison sentence and ..
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/feature ... rises.html

British-Iranian woman accused of spying returns to prison in Iran
CNN International-26 Aug 2018
(CNN) A British-Iranian woman who has been imprisoned in Tehran since 2016 on spying charges returned to prison on Sunday, just three ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/26/worl ... index.html

It seems our citizens are in danger of imprisonment just by landing and admitting to drinking a complimentary glass of wine on their own airline..

Woman held in Dubai with daughter after drinking wine on flight
The Guardian-10 Aug 2018
Woman held in Dubai with daughter after drinking wine on flight ... after drinking a complimentary glass of wine on a flight from London, an NGO has said. ... Holman, 44, was arrested on 13 July after having one glass of wine ...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... -on-flight

And whilst our foreign office seems impotent to act I would highly recommend people avoid these countries, it is not safe at all to travel to them because you could be arrested on a whim by airport security.

It's alright saying boycott the UAE, but their laws are their laws. Many think that they can go there and flout their laws, then they end up paying the price. It's not like the UK where you can do what you want, and if you do wrong, you'll probably go to prison.. There you'll get 3 meals a day, and all of your human rights respected, and adhered to, and a host of opportunities to study, and allsorts. There's no deterrent. If you were slung in prison and given no privileges or opportunities you'd think twice.

Arabia is consistent when their laws are flouted. You need to think twice,and consider your actions. If you don't you'll pay a hefty price. Even losing your life. It's a beautiful country, you just have to be responsible visiting it. Ignorance is no excuse. It's your duty to be aware.

Imagine that poor woman (and her young daughter) as her plane ( EMIRATES AIRLINES )took off from the UK and she was asked "Would you like a complimentary drink madam?"
"Oh yes, I'll have a glass of wine" she replied.
On arriving in Dubai she was asked "Have you been drinking madam?"
She replies Yes and was slung in jail with her young daughter.
What a wonderful place to visit, NOT!!!

You've kind of cherry picked that article really haven't you?

She was initially detained due to her visa had expired, and she was told that she had to fly straight back to the UK.. She started arguing, and they asked her if she had been drinking. All travellers to Dubai are warned on the plane that they could face prison for doing so. I've been 3 times, on each of those times, I along with many on the plane were advised of the penalties. I chose not to consume alcohol. It is that simple. Warnings were given, she chose not to heed them.

Her expired visa meant that she had entered the country when she wasn't permitted to do so, she argued, she got put into prison. The onus was on her to check her documentation was valid, when it wasn't she should have returned to the UK. As I said their laws and regulations are non-negotiable.

[LordRaven]

Can you keep these racist threads in the News section please...

I agree with the racial/religious discrimination aspect....

Migrants from Iran land on British coast as religious discrimination rises
Al-Arabiya-19 Nov 2018
British authorities say they found nine suspected migrants from Iran after ... An Iranian Christian girl seeking refuge in Scotland has been ... Had Mania been arrested in Iran, she would have faced a harsh prison sentence and ..
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/feature ... rises.html

British-Iranian woman accused of spying returns to prison in Iran
CNN International-26 Aug 2018
(CNN) A British-Iranian woman who has been imprisoned in Tehran since 2016 on spying charges returned to prison on Sunday, just three ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/26/worl ... index.html

It seems our citizens are in danger of imprisonment just by landing and admitting to drinking a complimentary glass of wine on their own airline..

Woman held in Dubai with daughter after drinking wine on flight
The Guardian-10 Aug 2018
Woman held in Dubai with daughter after drinking wine on flight ... after drinking a complimentary glass of wine on a flight from London, an NGO has said. ... Holman, 44, was arrested on 13 July after having one glass of wine ...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... -on-flight

And whilst our foreign office seems impotent to act I would highly recommend people avoid these countries, it is not safe at all to travel to them because you could be arrested on a whim by airport security.

It's alright saying boycott the UAE, but their laws are their laws. Many think that they can go there and flout their laws, then they end up paying the price. It's not like the UK where you can do what you want, and if you do wrong, you'll probably go to prison.. There you'll get 3 meals a day, and all of your human rights respected, and adhered to, and a host of opportunities to study, and allsorts. There's no deterrent. If you were slung in prison and given no privileges or opportunities you'd think twice.

Arabia is consistent when their laws are flouted. You need to think twice,and consider your actions. If you don't you'll pay a hefty price. Even losing your life. It's a beautiful country, you just have to be responsible visiting it. Ignorance is no excuse. It's your duty to be aware.

Imagine that poor woman (and her young daughter) as her plane ( EMIRATES AIRLINES )took off from the UK and she was asked "Would you like a complimentary drink madam?"
"Oh yes, I'll have a glass of wine" she replied.
On arriving in Dubai she was asked "Have you been drinking madam?"
She replies Yes and was slung in jail with her young daughter.
What a wonderful place to visit, NOT!!!

That woman was an entitled, middle-class professional who thought she didn't have to adhere to the rules like everyone else. She should have had her papers in order and refrained from being abusive to the airport staff. She would not have been arrested for consuming wine on the flight if she hadn't started throwing her weight around and expecting special treatment. Maybe she''ll think twice next time.

Whilst I agree that the "Do you know who I am" types can be a pain, and I suspect they also look down on foreign people, I do think he treatment was harsh because they locked both her and her daughter up.

I have only been to Dubai once and couldn't wait to leave, it has an indescribable undercurrent that I found off-putting, plus upon landing at any other Middle East Airport I have had the same feeling.
And yet many westerners live there and love it, even ex forces friends of mine, so I guess it's very much a case of each to their own.
But I will not agree with their treatment of our citizens, we don't treat their citizens in such a manner --we welcome them with open arms and allow them freedom to enjoy themselves.

[Guest]

Cleo and nirvana should fuck off and join Al khansaa if they hate other women having freedom so much.

[banana chewits]

the person to blame for the daughter being locked up was the mother. totally irresponsible behaviour & sense of entitlement.

you check the laws & customs of the land you're going to & behave accordingly.

[LordRaven]

the person to blame for the daughter being locked up was the mother. totally irresponsible behaviour & sense of entitlement.

you check the laws & customs of the land you're going to & behave accordingly.

BC the reason given for jailing her was she'd been drinking alcohol before landing ---criminal offence, and yet it was a complimentary glass on their airline.

And what do you think of the life imprisonment for the student, who was also made to sign a piece of paper (confession) in Arabic with no translator or lawyer present?

Their rules their law and all fair BC in your opinion?

[Guest]

Hark at all these NPC's spewing out their preprogrammed lines about how moral Islamic regimes are. Totally pukeworthy traitors who can't wait to throw their fellow Brits under the bus just to appease the headchoppers. Sometimes it seems Raven is the only sane one on here.