An expat American has been arrested in the United Arab Emirates for comments he posted on Facebook while in the US.
Helicopter mechanic Ryan Pate wrote the Facebook post while in Florida after arguing with employer Global Aerospace Logistics (Gal) over sick leave.
On returning to Abu Dhabi from Florida, he was arrested for breaking the country's strict cyber-slander laws.
His trial is due to start on 17 March and he could face up to five years in jail and a large fine if found guilty.
Legal feeMr Pate's dispute with his employer began in December last year when he sought to extend his holiday to see a doctor about a long-standing back injury. After being told he could not extend his leave, Mr Pate posted a rant about the Abu Dhabi-based firm on his Facebook page.
In the post, Mr Pate called Gal "backstabbers" and warned other contractors about working for the firm. He also complained about life in the UAE and used a racial slur against the region's people.
He returned to Abu Dhabi in order to resign but soon after arriving he was called by police who told him to report to a nearby police station. On attending he was shown screenshots of the Facebook message and told his employer had filed charges accusing him of breaking wide-ranging Emirates laws that ban slander.
The laws were introduced in late 2012 and make it an offence to use the net to mock or deride organisations and individuals.
End Quote Ryan PateI let my emotions get the better of me"
"I never even entertained the fact that I would wind up in prison out here for something I put on Facebook in the United States," said Mr Pate.
Gal has yet to respond to requests for comment about the incident.
However, news about Mr Pate's arrest has begun to spread online and some people have posted comments on Gal's Facebook page criticising the way it has treated him.
In addition, Mr Pate's cause has been taken up by his congressman David Jolly who has contacted the US State Department and the UAE attorney general seeking to get the case quashed.
"It is deeply troubling that Mr Pate now faces judicial proceedings over an action that was done legally in his home country," said Mr Jolly.
Mr Jolly is also pushing for a meeting with the US ambassador to the UAE to get help with the case. Mr Pate's fiancee has begun an online effort to raise funds to pay his legal fees.
The US State Department said the American embassy in the country has helped Mr Pate get medical attention and legal advice. Mr Pate was arrested on 16 February and spent about 10 days in jail. He has now been released on bail prior to the trial later this month.
"I just want to apologise to everybody I dragged into this," Mr Pate said in an interview with a US newspaper. "It is embarrassing, and I never meant for this to happen. I let my emotions get the better of me."
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Facebook rant lands man in UAE jail
Dengan url
http://worldartikelku.blogspot.com/2015/03/facebook-rant-lands-man-in-uae-jail.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Facebook rant lands man in UAE jail
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Facebook rant lands man in UAE jail
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar