The Brit stuck in Dubai after sending a swear word in a WhatsApp message to her housemate has said she's 'frightened to death' over what will happen to her.
The unnamed woman, from south west England, had lived in Dubai without any trouble since 2018, but decided to return home permanently to be closer to family and to start a new job.
However, after shipping all of her belongings, she was pulled aside by airport authorities and told she could not leave, as there was a police case against her after a former housemate lodged a complaint.
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The team at aid organisation Detained in Dubai expect that, without intervention, the woman 'will be dragged through the slow legal system'.
"She no longer has an apartment, and will face difficulties with loss of employment, legal and accommodation fees," a statement added.
Speaking to Detained in Dubai, the woman said she feels 'frightened to death' as her visa expires in a few days.
Through tears, she said: "This is like the nightmare all over again at the thought of losing my job.
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"They cannot send a report until the forensics compiles the report of my phone (even though I said I said the word and did not deny it the prosecutor still needs that apparently) but no one seems to know when that report will be done. I call every day.
"I've told them I have no apartment and no job here and no money and that my visa expires 12 Feb - they just don't understand. I'm banging my head against a brick wall. No one cares."
The woman, a human resources manager in her 30s, had messaged her housemate to say she planned to use the dining table when working from home, but the discussion somehow escalated and she used a swear word.
She eventually forgot about the disagreement - which happened some months ago - but the row resurfaced when she tried to leave the country to return to England.
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Radha Stirling, Detained in Dubai CEO, said the British consular office and the UAE's Ambassador to Britain have been approached - adding that, without help, the woman is 'likely to spend months in the UAE, awaiting judgment which may or may not be a prison sentence'.
Stirling said: "This is a terrifying situation for anyone to face. She had to attend several different police stations, where staff have limited English and communication is difficult. Every officer seemed to have a different take on what would happen to her, how long it would take and if she'd be allowed to go. Most people find this experience traumatising.
"The police confiscated her passport and her mobile phone to gather the evidence. The police took the woman's statement which admitted the rude word, but they still feel the need to process her phone through their forensic department, a process in itself, that can take weeks or months."
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She added: "When the UAE first published their Cybercrime Laws, we realised they were the single biggest risk to visitors to the country. The broadness in scope essentially criminalised everyone, and gave practically limitless sentencing discretion to judges. A private WhatsApp message to a friend, colleague, or ex partner can land you in jail. Even more unimaginable is the extraterritorial element. You do not even have to be in the UAE when you send the message. This is extremely dangerous for visitors to the country."
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: World News, UK News, News, Dubai