UAE bloggers protected by Journalists' Association

A new article says that UAE bloggers will be protected from prosecution by a union of sorts, provided (of course), they follow a code of ethics:

"Bloggers and "virtual" journalists have the right to be protected by the Journalists' Association, provided they abide by the ethics code, including stating of facts and sources of information, avoiding defaming without tangible proof, or provoking hostility arising from religious, sectarian or race discriminations," Yousuf said.

Mohammad Yousuf, President of the UAE Journalists' Association, also said that full-time, dedicated bloggers will be allowed membership of the association.

So the question is really, who is a "full-time, dedicated" blogger? Again, in previous debates regarding this, does it include personal blogs that ocassionally do political commentary and controversial topics, or only those that are "journalistic"? And what is considered "provoking hostility arising from religious, sectarian or race discriminations"? Expats whining about locals, or vice-versa, or both? Does all of this also include comments?

It seems like a step in the right directon for sure, but certain things still seem a bit vague to me.

Sheikh Mohammed speaks out

It's a very rare thing indeed to hear the man speak. And when he does, it's worth a listen. An Embiz24/7 special covers the entire online interview with the press held on Saturday, as well as report on the current crisis:

"I believe that no preventive measures, neither in the UAE nor any other country in the world, would have provided the desired immunity from the ramifications of the global financial meltdown...Our position is far better than other countries, and encouraging economic indicators have just started to emerge."

I personally think this a step in the right direction, considering the recent barrage of articles on the 'dark side' of Dubai.

Oh, as a side note, he also says there's no income taxes anytime soon. Yeay.

40 cross-dressing tourists arrested

Gulf News has the story.

Related items:

Public decency in the UAE

Dubai police chief urges residents to respect sensitivities in public

Decency chokes under skimpy outfits

79 people arrested for indecency at Dubai beaches

UAE law against indecency in public

Expat woman caught on beach fired from work

Expatriate faces jail for lewd car sticker

Dubai cracks down

AP:

Westerners were getting too racy on the beaches of this Persian Gulf tourist haven, and a police crackdown on topless sunbathing, nudity and other indecent behavior has resulted in 79 arrests in recent days.
...
The city is installing signs warning tourists in Arabic, English and several other languages not to sunbathe topless or change clothes in public, said Abdullah Mohammed Rafia, an official with the Dubai Municipality whose office is overseeing the public awareness campaign.
...
"I understand that I have to respect the rules of the country," said John MacLean, a British tourist on holiday with his girlfriend. But, he added, "I am not sure if I can kiss her or touch her in public."

A bad position to be in

The Telegraph:

The 30-year-old is thought to have been charged with having sex outside marriage - considered an offence in Dubai - as well as indecent behaviour in public, being drunk in public, and assaulting a police officer.
...
When the pair were allegedly found having sex by a policeman, he is said to have let them off with a caution. However, later, after the couple were discovered in the same position, they were arrested, and Miss Palmer is said to have become aggressive.

Kipp Report has many more details.

Backwards, Backwards

Let's just go back to the days of the Salem witch trials... or cross the border into KSA or Iran.

Judges Debate Deportation Order...

In short, some of the powers that be would like to deport expatriates for showing the middle finger. Perspective please!!

Moreon Grooverider

The Times of London picks up the story

Although Grooverider is known primarily as a DJ and presenter, he is also a recording artist under his artist name and the “Codename John” moniker. He also runs one of the most prestigious drum-and-bass imprints: Prototype Recordings. Local legal experts said that the high profile of Grooverider made the issue an important test case for local authorities.

Ram Nath, the music promoter who organised the show, said that he warned Mr Bingham of the strict laws of the country before his departure from London. “I sent a fax to him explaining all of our laws, including what he could and could not bring into the country. Unfortunately, he was booked by police before he got out of the airport,” Mr Nath said.

More than a thousand fans were left disappointed after paying £25 for a ticket to the show, according to Mr Nath. He plans to sue Mr Bingham’s London management company for losses. The BBC has declined to comment on the case.

Someone tell me this isn't true

I cannot believe what I have just read.

Highlights:

The Federal Sharia Court of First Instance in Ajman earlier sentenced................... Abdul Aziz - in his fifties .... to death ..... guilty of having sexual relationships with his stepdaughters. .............

The four girls were sentenced to 80 lashes each. Those sentences have already been carried out.

They were charged with 'allowing' their stepfather to have sex with them. The girls reportedly gave birth to 11 children by the man.

One of the girls was eight months pregnant when they were arrested in 2005, according to police.

The women now aged between 21 and 26 told the judge their stepfather used to threaten them with a knife, forcing them to surrender to him.

Oh, and there's more:

the younger daughter aged 15 was planning to marry an Emirati, but her stepfather refused.

With the help of her fiance, she reported the case to police accusing her stepfather of incest and fathering children with her sisters, and that he also wanted to have sex with her.

So. Let's do the maths, shall we?

He married their mother twelve years ago, when the girls were between 9 and 14 - and the youngest would have been 3.

Let's do a little thinking, shall we? If he's trying to start with the youngest when she's 15, perhaps that has been the pattern with the others? Unless of course, this is the one who had the wits and nerve to hold him off a bit longer?

Howsoever, let us say, for the sake of argument, that you are Stepdaughter Number One, aged 15, and Mummy and nice shiny new StepDaddy have been married a whole year, when Mr Shiny comes at you with - Oh look! - a nice shiny knife - demanding sex. What do you do?

Well, you're 15, which makes you a big girl now: confident, resourceful, mistress of your fate, and ..........ah..... alone in the house. You just say no, don't you? Of course you do, and then he smiles understandingly, puts the knife away, and tells you you're a good girl to know the difference between right and wrong, and stand up for your personal standards.

And he's just an old silly-billy.

If, on the other hand, you allow your mother's forty-something husband to do what he wants, then obviously, you want it too. ("Oh StepDaddy, what a big knife you have." smirk). You also want a baby - babies! - lots of babies! Just think how you'll enjoy the baby showers! The excitement of clandestine, they'll-imprison-and-lash-me-if-they-ever-find-out-about-this, childbirth, in the cosy, loving care of Mummy, your role model for female empowerment.

How you'll brag to your sisters, tell your friends, and look forward to each romp, each birth.
How jealous you'll be when he starts 'courting' Sisters Number Two - and Three - and Four - and Five.

And of course, they'll be just as keen as you were, because they are also just desperate to have sex at knife-point with their step-father; thus terminating their childhood, ruling out marriage, and committing themselves to living a shameful, criminal lie that can only end when StepDaddy dies or the police find out and put you all in a proper jail.

But then, won't it be fun when you girls have eleven babies to play with? Fun, fun, fun!

Unless Miss Priss, sister number 5 spoils it all. Don't you just hate whistle-blowers?


That's it, isn't it? Innocent or guilty.

Pop Quiz! (Please scroll down: I can't close this gap.)

Either

A		B
You say no	or	You willingly surrender at knifepoint
You're honourable	or	You must be culpable
You live happily ever after in the family home with knife-waving-but-otherwise-harmless StepDaddy, who will obviously respect your wishes	or	You're a very bad girl
You and your sisters make a free decision to remain inviolate	or	You all choose to have illicit sexual relations with your mother's husband, and to have eleven children by him

If you ticked A, that's lovely, and just what any judge in the land would expect.

If you ticked B, then of course you deserve 80 lashes each, you wilful, self-indulgent sluts.

And pity poor StepDaddy, who has been sentenced to death by stoning.

I know I do.

Headline: "Expats with GCC licences to take fresh driving test"

Khaleej Times:

Shihab Hamad Bu Shihab, Manager of Driving Licences at the RTA, said the step had been taken to unify the driving styles of these drivers with those in the UAE to make the country's roads safer for motorists.

Bu Shihab said the new rule was implemented on January 15 this year. The official did not explain why passport holders of these countries, including Oman and Kuwait, would still be allowed to convert their licences to the UAE's, after paying Dh100. "Licence holders from these 36 countries will have to attend a minimum of 21 classes before qualifying for a driving test conducted by the RTA," the official noted.

My emphasis.

Previously drivers with a valid license from some countries - like the US - could acquire their UAE license without taking a test, let alone lessons. The end of special treatment, I guess.

I do wonder to whose standard of driving are styles being harmonized.

Gulf Today: One man, 38 phones and a bill of 624,000

It's all here.