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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: 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.

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  • (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)