Two Day Magazine

I think we have reached a point where we have to start asking ourselves, is someone else’s personal belief infringing on my life? And, the answer to that would be, DUH.

According to http://www.reuters.com, a British pair was caught publicly kissing (how utterly scandalous) in Dubai and now they face up to a month in jail in the Gulf Arab emirate for indecency after Dubai’s version of a soccer mom apparently claimed that her son had to witness said act and told his flabbergasted mother about it! Oh, the horror!

This scandalous pair, a British man who lives in Dubai and his female friend, were arrested back in November on these insane accusations of kissing and touching ‘intimately’ in public and (gasp) they were consuming alcohol, as well! What constitutes as ‘intimate’? Were they humping each other in public or were they (more likely) holding hands or touching each other’s shoulders or back? And, who the hell is this kid? All of the sudden children are the moral police of Dubai?

The couple’s lawyer launched an appeal on Sunday, claiming there was no inappropriate kissing or humping, and that the two were ‘just friends.’ Sure, just the way Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler are ‘just friends’.

The lawyer, Khalaf al-Hosani, states (if I was this lawyer, it would be hard to say this without rolling my eyes or feeling like I had been transported back in time, this is so absurd!) “There was no lip kissing. It was just a normal greeting that is not considered offensive.” He also added that the complainant’s testimony was contradictory.

The mother of the British man said her son, Ayman Najafi, vowed to clear his name.

“My Ayman is a good boy. He is very wise and mature. I can’t believe it.” said his mother, Maida Najafi, who was quoted in The Independent. “He knows the rules over there. He would never do that. He wouldn’t even do it over here. (In London)”

They are free on bail and were fined 1,000 dirhams ($272) for consuming alcohol. They are to be deported after completing their jail time.

Can I just interject for one moment and say that this whole situation is absolutely insane? What have we become as a people? We are no longer allow to love? We are no longer allow to kiss? Where is this going to lead? Their neighbors won’t even allow men and women to openly mingle. Is that was is next for Dubai?

Dubai’s foreign population has grown enormously in the last ten years or so, as plenty of expatriates flock to the Gulf Arab tourism and trade hub to enjoy tax-free earnings and beautiful weather.

These rapid changes have been challenging to the native population, which is now swamped with foreigners, running amok, apparently.  They are concerned that the fast paced growth is threatening their social and deeply conservative religious identity.

Things have been getting weird for a while. In 2008, a British couple escaped going to jail after a court found them guilty of having out-of-wedlock drunk sex (come on, who hasn’t? If that’s a crime, most adults in the US would be in jail!) and to make it more salacious, they were on a public beach! Those two sound like a lot of fun!

They were sentenced to three months in prison followed by deportation, but managed to have it overturned on appeal. (I sense, ‘bribe’ coming to mind on that one.)

In another case earlier this year, a British couple (what’s up with all these horny Brits?) who shared a hotel room escaped trial in Dubai for having sex out of wedlock by producing a marriage certificate. Shady, shady. Wonder who faked that one for them?

Let’s review. People (or children for that matter) in Dubai are spying on other people who are kissing, drinking booze or engaging in private activity. These people are then sent to jail and/or deported after paying a fine.

 Gee, I can’t imagine where this witch hunt could lead. Once again, you can’t legislate morality. I am getting really sick of people’s private beliefs spilling over into the public sector. If Dubai wants to play with the big boys and make fuck loads of money off of Westerners, then they have to start understanding that not all people are interested in their brand of crazy. I know, I know, (cue whining) ‘But you’re in their country...’

Whatever! Money is green everywhere, right? If you are happy to take the infidels’ money, then deal with the fact that we kiss, we drink and we like sex. If you want to ban us from visiting, fine. But, this is a global economy. You can’t throw us all in jail. This is getting out of control. And, not just in Dubai. I see the same nonsense happening right here in the USA. When private religious belief starts to control public outcomes, you start to see infringements on people’s rights, and the manipulation of history. (I’m talking to you, TEXAS!)  

Please, someone, anyone, bring back rational thought!