A British woman has been detained in Dubai after a flatmate reported her private WhatsApp message to the authorities.
In these messages, the British woman says: ‘F*ck you,’ to her Ukrainian flatmate. It’s reported this was caused by a fight between them over WhatsApp. The fight arose over use of the dining room table when working from home back in October 2020.
According to the United Arab Emirates penal code, this expletive is a crime, as it ‘disgraces the honour and the modesty’ of the speaker. Basically, in Dubai, what this woman has said is illegal.
Everyone fights with their flatmates – but this particular fight becomes more dramatic when you find out when the flatmate took her revenge.
The British woman had planned to leave Dubai and return to the UK after getting a new job. Yet, she was stopped by the airport authorities when as she attempted to leave. They told her she was not allowed to leave the country because the police already had a case against her.
Speaking to The Sun, the woman said that this was the first she’d ever heard of the case, and that she was shocked to learn of it.
“The messages were from months ago, and only now, when I’ve shipped all my belongings, booked a flight, and when my visa is about to expire, do I even find out about this case.”
Despite her surprise – and for what most of us would think a minor issue – the British woman finds herself facing up to two years in prison, plus thousands of pounds of fines.
That’s got to be one message she regrets sending.
For more ridiculous fights – with disastrous consequences, check out this Parish Council meeting that got out of hand.
