Jamil Ahmad, 23, gestured towards the driver ‘in frustration’ near the Dubai Financial Centre on September 8. Pictured: A file photograph of heavy traffic in the city
A British tourist could be jailed in Dubai after giving the middle finger to another driver he claims cut him up on a busy road.
Jamil Ahmad, 23, gestured towards the driver ‘in frustration’ near the Dubai Financial Centre on September 8.
He was arrested at the airport two days later and then detained for two days at the notorious Bur Dubai police station – where another Brit, Lee Bradley Brown, was killed in 2011.
Jamil, who works as an IT consultant for the British government, was on his summer holiday with his wife.
She was forced fly alone to their home in Leicester and leave him in the country on bail. He faces a six-month prison sentence.
Jamil said: ‘As a reflex I may have lifted my hand in frustration at the other driver.
‘Work has not taken it the best way as they are severely short staffed and not under control anymore.
‘I am worried about running out of money before I even get to court. No one plans to spend two months (or more) in hotels in Dubai’.
Lobby group Detained in Dubai is appealing for the charges to be dropped.
Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai and Managing Partner of legal advisory Stirling Haigh, said: ‘It is illegal for anyone to display what could be argued to be offensive or insulting behaviour.
‘We have dealt with a number of cases where traffic frustration has led to detention. We caution visitors and expats that they could face criminal charges for behaviour that would be common in their own countries’.
Traffic in the city can be chaotic at times with roads full of foreign drivers from countries like India, Egypt and Pakistan and lane discipline is almost non existent.
The hand gesture is considered a public obscenity crime and carries a jail sentence of not less than six months, with many foreigners being imprisoned on similar charges.
If Jamil is found guilty he has two weeks to appeal the decision in an effort to reduce the sentence.
Detained in Dubai had previously defended a Danish man in a similar case who was fined
Ms Stirling added: ‘We hope that the courts in Dubai are lenient with their sentencing and issue him with a fine at worst. Having to go through this stressful time, awaiting a potential sentence and paying highly, is punishment enough’.
‘If a local resident has driven recklessly and suspects another driver is going to report them, it is a common tactic to open an obscenity case against the other party.
‘By doing so the local resident hopes that both parties agree to drop their cases or that the prosecutor will disregard the evidence of the other party.
The hand gesture is considered a public obscenity crime and carries a jail sentence of not less than six months, with many foreigners being imprisoned on similar charges. Pictured: An aerial view of Dubai from the sea
‘By this tactic the reckless driver can avoid being charged, despite the unsuspecting tourist or expat potentially being jailed for something they didn’t do.
‘People who find themselves in this situation suffer incredible stress, fear and emotional turmoil. They are facing an uncertain situation with potentially grave outcomes in a completely foreign location.
‘They have been detained and questioned in a foreign police station and asked (or forced) to sign documents or confessions in Arabic.
‘Their hopes are dashed when they realise their own government can’t assist and are left trying to negotiate the legal maze alone, often without the ability to pay for a lawyer. There is no legal aid or public defender.
‘We have helped people facing these unbelievable situations for ten years. Having this help and support is of tremendous use and comfort to people facing court proceedings.’