Author: Joey Smirnov

BRITISH TOURIST JAMIE HARRON SENTENCED TO THREE MONTHS ‘FOR ACCIDENTALLY TOUCHING A MAN’S HIP’ IN BAR

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British tourist Jamie Harron has been sentenced to jail in Dubai.

He faces three months in prison but his lawyers plan to appeal.

Mr. Harron, from Scotland, was “angry, disappointed, and dreads what may happen next”.

He is not being held in custody while the appeal is considered, according to managing partner of Haigh International Justice David Haigh.

But his passport has been confiscated and he cannot leave Dubai.

The 27-year-old electrician was on a stopover in the Gulf city-state when he brushed past a man in a bar.

Mr. Harron is said to have been holding a drink, moving through a crowded bar and held a hand in front of him to avoid spilling it on himself or others. He then “touched a man on his hip to avoid impact”.

He was later arrested for public indecency.

Worley, Will. “Dubai: British Tourist Jamie Harron Sentenced to Three Months ‘for Accidentally Touching a Man’s Hip’ in Bar.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 22 Oct. 2017, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/british-scottish-man-hip-tourist-jail-accidentally-touching-hip-bar-dubai-jamie-harron-haigh-international-justice-a8013846.html.

HAIGH INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE ARE PREPARING A CLASS ACTION AGAINST UK GOVERNMENT

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Detained International, a non-profit organization and Haigh International Justice formed to assist people who have become victims of injustice in the UAE, has said the UK Government has: “failed to give sufficient warning to UK nationals traveling to the Sharia governed desert state, it [the Government] has failed to respond to requests for help for British citizens who fall foul of the strict laws, and when it does respond, it takes almost no action on behalf of its citizens.”
A number of cases of UK nationals who Detained International say have suffered legal abuse abroad, have been reviewed by David Haigh, CEO of Detained International and managing partner at Haigh International Justice, and by Queen’s Counsel. Statements so far, say the non-profit organization, have included everything from small debt cases, wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and detention without charges, to large commercial cases.
Detained International say that the UK Government is not failing to enforce a 2009 treaty between the UK and UAE which helps to protect UK businesses in the UAE and Dubai. Breaches of this treaty have ‘left UK businessmen and private individuals flailing as Emirati companies are allowed to steal from UK businessmen with impunity’, according to Detained International

Christian.northwood. “UK Government Failing Citizens in UAE.” International Travel & Health Insurance Journal, 17 Oct. 2017, www.itij.com/story/13681.

DAVID HAIGH SECURE THE RELEASE OF AN EDINBURGH MAN

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William Barclay had been accused of trying to exchange a fake £20 note during a family holiday.

Although the incident happened last September and was resolved, he was arrested again over the matter during another holiday to the area last month.

He arrived in Glasgow at 20:00 to be met by his partner Monique.

Mr. Barclay then traveled to his home in Edinburgh to see his children “and have some good food”.

“The worst part was obviously prison, being locked up and away from your family.

“I couldn’t go back to that country, not after the way they’ve treated me. After the second time, what they’ve done to me is horrendous.”

Human Rights lawyer David Haigh who fought for Mr. Barclay’s release escorted to his Emirates flight late on Wednesday

Mr. Barclay was stopped at Dubai International Airport in September last year

Mr. Barclay was quizzed by detectives for 12 hours after trying to exchange money at the Al Hamra Mall in Ras Al Khaimah in 2016.

He was accused of being in possession of counterfeit cash but was then told no charges would be brought and was allowed to continue his family holiday.

On returning to Dubai on 15 September this year, with his wife and two children, Mr Barclay was stopped at the airport and detained again.

David Haigh, of Detained International, and managing partner of Haigh International Justice, who assisted Mr. Barclay, said that without international support and publicity, he could have been held for many months, if not years, which has been the case with other British nationals.

Mr. Barclay said: “I was just glad to get out, see my family – that was the most important thing.

“I didn’t know if my family was safe, I didn’t know if they made (it to) the hotel. Nobody would let me call them.

“You’re in a prison there for three or four days, you don’t know if you’re going to get out.”On Wednesday, it was confirmed the case against him had been dropped and he would be able to return home.

The father-of-two maintains his innocence and says he has no idea how he came into possession of the counterfeit cash.

He also criticized how the UK embassy handled the situation, claiming he had no help.

Mr. Barclay said: “I don’t know what a fake note looks like, that’s the truth.

“The (UK) embassy did nothing for me”.

“If it wasn’t for the press, I wouldn’t be back today.”

“Fake Banknote Man Flies Home for Family Reunion ‘and Some Good Food’.” BBC News, BBC, 5 Oct. 2017, www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-41513638.

SINGAPOREAN MAN AND TRANS WOMAN SENTENCED TO A YEAR IN JAIL EACH FOR ‘WEARING WOMEN’S CLOTHES IN PUBLIC’ IN ABU DHABI

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A pair of Singaporean citizens have been arrested, charged and sentenced to one year in jail in Abu Dhabi for “wearing women’s clothes in public”, according to various media reports.

David Haigh managing partner of Haigh International Justice and founder and CEO of not-for-profit organization Detained International first reported about the case, in which 26-year-old Muhammad Fadli Bin Abdul Rahman and 37-year-old Nur Qistina Fitriah Ibrahim were arrested on Aug 9, a day after they landed in the United Arab Emirates capital. Eleven days later, they were sentenced, despite having no legal representation.

An official court document stated that the two were caught “cross-dressing”, and for behaving indecently. Qistina is in the process of transitioning into a woman and had changed her name, but her gender is still stated as “male” on her passport. Cross-dressing, transgenderism, and homosexuality are crimes in the UAE — if Qistina had been a post-op trans woman, the authorities would likely have had no rationale for the arrest. It is believed that the two Singaporeans were unaware of the strict laws regarding the “impersonation” of women. Both had been in the country to work on a photo shoot — Fadli is a freelance fashion photographer. The two were nabbed at a shopping mall.

According to a Straits Time report, Qistina had actually gone on holiday in the UAE four times before and came home safely each time. As for Fadli, his brother mentioned that he had sent a selfie of himself wearing a “normal white shirt” just before he was arrested.

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) had informed their families about the arrests last week and were only told about the prison sentence on Sunday. Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has personally assured the families that they’re assisting the Singaporean duo as best as they can.

What’s even more outrageous is the fact that the two were not represented by lawyers in court. They can, however, file an appeal 15 days after the judgment, which will be on Sept 4.

 David Haigh of UAE legal advisory firm Haigh International Justice called for a clearer definition and application of the law — strict regulations and punishments exist despite the overt existence of gay and transgender communities and venues throughout the region.

“I call upon the UAE authorities to immediately release our clients and return them to their home,” he said.

CoconutsSingapore. “Singaporean Man and Trans Woman Sentenced to a Year in Jail Each for ‘Wearing Women’s Clothes in Public’ | Coconuts Singapore.” Coconuts, 24 Aug. 2017, coconuts.co/Singapore/news/Singaporean-man-trans-woman-sentenced-year-jail-wearing-women’s-clothes-public/.