Mixed couple in Dubai treated appallingly

[saffron]

 I have had to think careflly about putting this information up, as I was so Appalled by this and did not want to worry or concern young couples, but I feel that Its important to mention this to enable couples to think of their safety esp if travelling to muslim countries. Im sure that this is not the case for many who travel there, however it is worth considering how the Law can treat women in particular in these circumstances.

Ive recently learnt from a friend that between Nov 09 and Jan 2010...Not clear exactly when....  a mixed couple ...muslim woman and English man....in their tweenties? from England, married and went on honeymoon to Dubai.

The couple stayed in a Dubai hotel where the hotel male staff made the young women feel uncomfortable about her relationship with a white british man. Apparently She was grabbed by a number of the male staff in the hotel , when her husband was not with her, she was raped . She was told her that her marriage was not respectable and not acceptable to Islam. They were critical of how she dressed and violated her for her choices.

Her husband was in shock and could not believe what had happened. The couple informed the police and I understand that the police told her that if she pressed charges for rape that they would refuse her return back home to England. She was asked to say that she was never raped. She dropped the charges.

If anyone can find the story in the papers, which is where it was reported here in England, please put this link up for us.

This has made me think if I would want to go to Dubai with my husband.

[chweetgurl]

Saffron,

The incident is true unfortunately,Muslim countries are very sensitive when it comes to their culture.

Here is the the link
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2799483/Dubai-waiter-rapes-British-girl-then-SHE-and-fiance-are-held-for-illegal-sex.html

On right side of the article you can read the strict guidelines to be followed when you are in Dubai
No skirts,fined for alcohol,Homosexaulity illeagal,death sentence for drug smuggling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its appalling how the rapist and the cops got away with it!Since it comes under Dubai Juridiction there is not much british govt can do.

[Kitush]

A friend of mine (who is white) got married to his half egyptian / lebanese girfriend in Dubai. She's muslim. He converted. He is as English as can be. They love it over there, and are treated fine.

[a.c.]

I have to say, I've never been but I don't like the idea of the place. It's basically a bubble inside a Muslim country. If you stay in the bubble then no problems, but if you step outside it then you get hit with very heavy Muslim treatment.

I'd avoid going if I could.

[saffron]

Your wise AC..this is quite a worrying incident that I think younger women in particular of muslim origin need to be aware of...any woman for that fact, it has put me off going to Dubai...purely because of the manipulation by the law. Is this sharia law? Or is it just the tyranny of the judge hearing this case?

[chweetgurl]

It is Sharia law Jas
If there is any theft the thief's hand is cut off!
If Adultery person who comitted is stoned to death!
I have a friend of mine who works in hotel industry the stories she shared is scary.I would definetly think million times to go there i would be better off in a paradise like 'BALI' or 'JAMAICA'

[monome]

This is a shocking story. I really dont see the appeal of dubai, if i had the money to holiday in a tropical climate, i would choose somewhere with natural beauty, not somewhere man-made in the middle of a desert?!

[Kitush]

I think Egypt may have similar problems - might even be worse. Not sure. Anyone?

[saffron]

Is it Egypt and Dubai that many asian people from this country go to purchase gold .

I recall that when I went to Indian about 25 years ago now...the flight was operated by an egyptian airline, we stopped in Dubai...a very long wait there, I was on my own at the time and it was very uncomfortable being a single female in the hugh airport, I got starred at by mostly men, I soon realized that alot of the women were in purdah. Never again...I would not fly with this airline if it meant stopping in Dubai.

Had I been with my husband...I cant imagine how we would have coped with the starring...

[chweetgurl]

Egypt does not practice sharia law though they follow islam the country was earlier colonised by both france and Britian so there is an certain extent of western culture influence.

[chweetgurl]

Another couple in news being tried just for kissing in public!
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100314/twl-dubai-kissing-brits-face-wait-on-jai-3fd0ae9.html

[saffron]

Yes, Ive just heard this morning on the news..Perhaps the Dubai courts are trying to justify to the british appeal for the other couple we know of, by making further examples.  How can they take the view of one woman and not accept what this couple have said..is a kiss on the cheek not allowed in Dubai? I thought that a kiss on each cheek was acceptable in Dubai as a greeting?

[a.c.]

Once again, who'd go to Dubai?

I've been looking at Maldives as a honeymoon destination. I think it's more relaxed, but still has this setup where visitors are kept in virtual fishtanks away from the Muslim population. You're not allowed to be a Maldivian citizen unless you are Sunni Muslim. Is that good human rights??

[saffron]

Its not good of anything ...is it really!  spells exclusivity , human rights are far from their minds..is it economically linked I wonder?

[Kitush]

I think to be a citizen there you have to be a Muslim. To be a cynic, to be honest it's a Muslim country with different rules and reguations. They're a little harsh (ok a lot harsh), and we would expect people coming to the UK to be respectful of UK customs so similarly should respect Dubai customs (although the girl being raped was definitely just insane).

I think at the end of the day t hey are rich, they are big on Islam and therefore they have the say. i suspect the couple will get off with a slap on the wrist. Don't you remember the couple last year ho were caught 'canoodling' for want of a better word on the beach? Theirs was far worse...but they just got ejected from the country after the British government stepped in.