Briton fined AED3,000 for insulting Ramadan

Wednesday, 20 July 2011 12:50 PM

A British expat has been fined AED3, 000 for insulting Ramadan on a social networking site and calling her colleague a dictator, it was reported Wednesday.

The 31-year old woman, who admitted posting a status update on her Facebook page expressing her dislike for Ramadan, was charged at the Dubai Court of Misdemeanours on Tuesday, according to The National.

The colleague of the accused, an Egyptian woman, said in a statement to the court that she had seen a “disrespectful” status update about Ramadan on September 4 last year.

“I told her to not say such things about the holy month as she was in a Muslim country,” she was quoted as telling prosecutors by the paper.

The accused responded by calling the woman stupid and ignorant and saying she was a closed-minded dictator and a follower of bin Laden, said the newspaper.

Police referred the accused to prosecutors eight months later on charges of insulting a religious creed. That charge was dismissed before being referred to the court on insult charges.

Judge Mohammed Ahmed Shoaib fined the accused AED3,000.

Dubai police officials warned last month that non-Muslims risk arrest if they are caught eating in public during Ramadan, when consuming food and drink is banned under UAE laws between sunrise and sunset.

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Posted by: Tran y Blick Monday, 5 September 2011 3:16 PM[UAE] - UAE

I think the point is being missed here, the woman was fined for insulting her co-worker not for her remarks about Ramadan.

To quote

Police referred the accused to prosecutors eight months later on charges of insulting a religious creed. That charge was dismissed before being referred to the court on insult charges.

Why are people so quick to look to be offended?

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Posted by: Umm Omar Sunday, 4 September 2011 3:47 PM[UAE] - UAE

At Morten,

1. A status update is NOT an opinion and nor is an insult.
2. Opinions should be shared in discussions where people have been invited into.
3. Laws are NOT opinions. When laws are set in any country, like not eating before sunset inpublic during Ramadan, they are to be adhered to and are punishable if broken.
4. When we communicate (it whatever shape or form) we do it to succeed (passing on valuable information or knowledge) in sending a message accross.
5. To communicate successfully, one should consider the audience being addressed, the content of the message and the tone being used.

The UAE judicial system credible and fair that many residents including Western expats trust. People living in the Muslim /Arab world have agreed to live within these set systems upon deciding to settle in these countries.

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Posted by: Akram Saturday, 3 September 2011 2:06 PM[UAE] - Qatar

If you are a guest in a country, you should respect the customs and follow the laws of that country. If you disagree with or dislike these customs and laws, then you should head back home.

I assume expats left their home countries and settled in UAE because they got something they couldn't get back home. Let's keep that in perspective.

Posted by: sonnydubai Sunday, 4 September 2011 5:47 PM[UAE] - uae

Very true Akram, shame your opinion is not shared by the "guests" that the UK allows to live in its towns and cities each year......

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Posted by: A Good Friend Saturday, 3 September 2011 12:42 PM[UAE] - Qatar

3000 AED fine and lose of one "friend" on facebook !!! The british lady was no good in criticizing other religion's traditions (irrespective of the country she lives in) but the other lady also is no better - reporting her friend/ FB buddy to authorities on a silly discussion on religion...

That's why google plus is putting circles of friend to filter :-)

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Posted by: Essa Friday, 2 September 2011 9:31 AM[UAE] - UAE

Why does this happen in Dubai? Freedom of expression does not mean freedom of insolence. Dubai should deal severely with such offenders because such cases are on the increase. Dubai should not become the haven of Islamophobics. Such offenders MUST be sent home.

Posted by: gordon robertson Saturday, 3 September 2011 12:42 PM[UAE] - dubai

I cant believe those comments.
The comments themselves are intollerant.

If a crime is commited then punishment is set according to the severity of the crime.

othwerise you would be deporting everyone.

An illegale immigrant poses more risk to a country, they are not insured, they are unable to get legal employment with all its legal implications. Health, criminal, housing, protetcion from abuse etc.

How is it possible to compare those two?

Posted by: Kohinoor Friday, 2 September 2011 8:38 PM[UAE] - Dubai

If a labour overstays, he is banned from reentering the country even if he is alone a breadwinner of his family. But, if someone violates religious and cultural norms, he pays only 5% of his salary and walk away to do it again.

Why not deportation and lifetime entry ban?

Posted by: Mazen Friday, 2 September 2011 2:07 PM[UAE] - Saudi Arabia

@ Essa

I could not agree with you more! If expats / tourists do not want to obey the laws and customs of the host country then they should be taken to the airport, put on a plane and barred from reentry...

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