A UK citizen has been sentenced to three months in jail in Dubai after “insulting” airport staff who were slow to bring his mother a wheelchair.
The unnamed man was originally issued a Dh 10,000 (£2,150) fine, but his appeal against this failed and his punishment was extended to a jail term on 6 November.
An airport employee told the court that the man swore at her after she had explained the airport’s wheelchair policy to him, telling him that “a wheelchair would be made available before boarding the bus”.
“When I tried to explain it to him, he insulted me using very bad language. I told the traveller that using such offensive language is not allowed at Dubai airport but he responded that he didn’t care.”
The employee then called the police, and a case was filed against the man in Dubai’s Criminal Court. Following an appeal, which he lost, the fine was escalated into a jail sentence, followed by immediate deportation.
Assault is not free speech.
Did he hit the person, or just was rude, and inconsiderate? If it’s the former. Sure, but if it’s the later, then that’s just unfortunately stuff you deal with when you’re in customer service.
Why should anybody be forced to tolerate verbal assault?
Because they are not 5 years old and bursting into tears when someone does it. Get a grip dude, the world isn’t full of nice people dancing around the campfire, someone bitching at you for whatever reason out of your control is a normal day in the life of any customer service worker.
You are not harmed by mean words.
Apparently the Emiratis had the good sense not to take such a position, hence the legal consequences for vile and abusive language.
Sounds like another day in an authoritarian hell hole if you ask me, but language like that would get me locked up there. Cheers from Canada, fascist!
Because it’s part of their fucking job.