As Americans, a lot of us really underestimate the freedom that the “Land of the Free” really gives us. Imagine being arrested for sending somebody a message about wrongdoing they committed against you. British man Yaseen Killick found himself in this exact situation when a simple purchase led to a few nights in jail.
As a 29-year-old working in real estate in the Middle East, it was, of course, obvious Yaseen needed a vehicle to get around. So when he and his wife came across a VW Golf for $8243 US dollars, it seemed like a stroke of luck. However, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Just hours after their purchase of the vehicle, it broke down.
Understandably. after finding out the vehicle was written off, Yaseen sent an angry message to the car dealer simply stating “How do you sleep at night?” via WhatsApp. I’m not sure about you, but I’ve heard worse at 2 A.M outside of my window.
This simple message would ultimately lead to a few not so cozy nights in a Dubai Jail as when Yaseen and his wife, Robyn, in an attempt to return home via plane, were stopped in at the airport. Yaseen spent 3 whole weeks there where he states “It was a nightmare. The Prison conditions were horrible.” and “I was treated appallingly- all for sending a WhatsApp Message.”
What’s the lesson here? Remember other countries aren’t as free when it comes to speech as the U.S and Britain are.
If you want to hear about more ridiculous arrests, click here.
