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posted by n1 on Monday March 09 2015, @04:55PM   Printer-friendly
from the fighting-crime dept.

AP reports that Ryan Pate, a helicopter mechanic, took to Facebook while in Florida after a dispute over sick leave with his company and when he returned to Abu Dhabi last month, he was told to report to the police station, where he was arrested for breaking a United Arab Emirates law on slandering his employer. Pate 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 offense to use the net to mock or deride organizations and individuals. Pate spent about 10 days in jail and is now free on bail awaiting a March 17 trial. His supporters say he faces up to five years in prison and a steep fine if convicted. "I just couldn't register it in my head because as an American growing up in the United States, the First Amendment right is just ingrained in my brain," says Pate. "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."

Pate's congressman, Rep. David Jolly, intervened on his constituent's behalf, lobbying the State Department and Emirates officials for help. In a letter to the Emirati attorney general, Jolly emphasized respect for the sovereignty of the country, but argued because the posts occurred while Pate was on American soil, those laws shouldn't apply. "It is deeply troubling that Mr. Pate now faces judicial proceedings over an action that was done legally in his home country," says Jolly. Speaking via phone from his apartment in Abu Dhabi, Pate was remorseful. β€œI just want to apologize to everybody I dragged into this,” he said. β€œIt is embarrassing, and I never meant for this to happen. I let my emotions get the better of me.”

 
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 09 2015, @05:36PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 09 2015, @05:36PM (#154996)

    I agree with your conclusion. My main point was actually to say that sometimes we don't choose our engagements with places like the UAE. Our western paymasters decide for us when there is clearly money to be made.

    The way that press release reads to me is that we should be thankful for what the UAE does for us, with all their money buying our exports and investing in our country, they are trying to reform the US, not the west trying to reform the UAE. Thats what I take away from it.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 09 2015, @05:42PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 09 2015, @05:42PM (#155006)

    I didn't read it that way at all. The US economy is a behemoth compared to any other individual country, much less one as small as the UAE, such that any praise of the UAE is basically throwing them a bone. When you are the 800lb gorilla, you can afford to be exceptionally magnanimous.

    • (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 09 2015, @06:02PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 09 2015, @06:02PM (#155017)

      It's not that the UAE is a large country or wealthy by US standards, it's about having as many 'friends' as possible in the region, those who are compliant with western interests. UAE, like Saudi Arabia are our allies in that region, that (for UAE) is valuable beyond what their own economy actually involves . It's a friendly gateway into the region as a whole to develop our economic resources, and pressure/lobby other less friendly governments through these middle-men. There is no rush to change the social/political situation compared to the economic one because social and political reform could lead to the wrong people being elected.

  • (Score: 4, Informative) by TheGratefulNet on Monday March 09 2015, @05:52PM

    by TheGratefulNet (659) on Monday March 09 2015, @05:52PM (#155010)

    I would quit a job before being compelled or forced to travel to a country like that.

    if a company is forcing you to travel there, leave that company. you are literally risking your life doing this.

    --
    "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by isostatic on Monday March 09 2015, @05:59PM

      by isostatic (365) on Monday March 09 2015, @05:59PM (#155014) Journal

      According to the paperwork, I do risk my life for work, but that's because I consider the ends worthwhile. Many of my collegues risk far more than me, one got hit by shrapnel in Syria a few months ago, and other was pinned down in a firefight, I've had colleges who have been kidnapped, and sady sometimes people die.

      On the other hand my company never forces me to go to these places.

      However is far rather go to the gaza/Israel border during a war, or go to erbil or kabul, than go to Dubai. I treat Dubai just like any other hostile country. Although if you smugle a bottle of whisky into Pakistan you'll get a slap on the wrist, not the death penalty.

      • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Monday March 09 2015, @06:06PM

        by bob_super (1357) on Monday March 09 2015, @06:06PM (#155020)

        > Many of my collegues risk far more than me, one got hit by shrapnel in Syria a few months ago,
        > and other was pinned down in a firefight, I've had colleges who have been kidnapped, and sady sometimes people die.

        Don't worry, the ones still alive will be sought after, to fill empty chairs on opinion/news shows.

      • (Score: 2) by M. Baranczak on Monday March 09 2015, @07:24PM

        by M. Baranczak (1673) on Monday March 09 2015, @07:24PM (#155046)

        What's your job?

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 09 2015, @08:29PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 09 2015, @08:29PM (#155066)

        Although if you smugle a bottle of whisky into Pakistan you'll get a slap on the wrist

        With the sharp edge of a machete/sword/axe?

      • (Score: 2) by kaszz on Monday March 09 2015, @11:26PM

        by kaszz (4211) on Monday March 09 2015, @11:26PM (#155168) Journal

        Alcohol isn't the issue. It's the obsession about drugs. So slap on the wrist with alcohol, but what about drugs? (like heroin etc)

    • (Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 09 2015, @07:20PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 09 2015, @07:20PM (#155044)

      I would quit a job before being compelled or forced to travel to a country like that.

      if a company is forcing you to travel there, leave that company. you are literally risking your life doing this.

      It is so weird you just randomly decided to tell us that.
      Plus, its pretty much false.
      The UAE has executed only 2 people in the last 5 years, one for murder [arabnews.com] and the other for raping and murdering a 4-year old. [thenational.ae]

      Dubai is actually a very popular tourist destination, [dubaitourism.ae] with roughly 10 million visitors each year, over two thirds of which come from outside the middle-east.

      I'm not saying its a great place, much of it is built and run using modern slavery, [vice.com] I'm just saying your characterization is over the top.

      • (Score: 3, Insightful) by TheGratefulNet on Monday March 09 2015, @10:42PM

        by TheGratefulNet (659) on Monday March 09 2015, @10:42PM (#155133)

        its not over the top. I could not disagree more with the attitude, morals and methods of the moslem-based countries. if anything went wrong, I would NOT want to have to dig myself out. no way in hell would I even put myself in such a position as to have to even think about such things.

        why? why go there! its not like there are things there that I need or can't live without.

        life is short enough and there are so many things to do in this world, going to an arab country (even to transit thru) is at the very bottom of my list.

        (and I'm quite sure many of the folks from that region feel exactly the same about my country. and that's just fine with me, too.)

        --
        "It is now safe to switch off your computer."