A text message calling someone a name or swearing in public can easily spark criminal cases in the United Arab Emirates - some things that tourists may not realize until it is too late.
A Houston woman known online as the "Sassy Trucker" has been stuck in Dubai for months after an altercation at a car rental agency, the latest case showing the limits of speech in this skyscraper-studded city-state.The case against Tierra Young Allen, 29, comes as the seven sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates have rules that strictly govern speech far beyond what's common in Western nations.
But toward the end of Allen's trip, a rental car driven by a friend she was with was involved in a crash on April 28, said Radha Stirling, who runs a for-hire advocacy group long critical of the UAE called Detained in Dubai. After the crash, Allen tried to retrieve personal items still inside the car from the rental agency, sparking an altercation, Stirling said.
Typically, police place travel bans on those involved in such cases until a resolution is reached. Police take statements from both parties, then determine whether they should be forwarded to prosecutors. Cases are resolved by the complainant dropping the case, the two parties agreeing to a settlement or going to court. The police hold Allen's passport, Stirling said.
"We take seriously our commitment to assist U.S. citizens abroad and are providing all appropriate assistance," the State Department said. "The Department remains in regular communication with her and her family. We will continue to monitor her case closely."
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