British Tourist beaten to death in Dubai Police cell
Discussion
Godzuki said:
I worked there for a good few years, and never had a problem. As with most Middle Eastern countries, justice is 'brutal' to say the least, but if you just be normal, and use a bit of common sense, you'll be fine.
My mate worked in the area for a good few years and my wife and I stayed in the same hotel as the deceased.As you say, you need to be fully aware of the cultural differences - one of which is that the sort of low-life, scummy behaviour which we have to tolerate here every day is, well, not tolerated there - and the consequences of any 'argument' with the local authorities. That aside, there do seem to be rather too many people 'falling down' stairs in Dubai police custody.
The only other factor worth bearing in mind is that, as yet, the full story of what he is alleged to have done is not necessarily clear. Being able to afford a suite (there are no rooms) in the world's first "7 start" hotel does not grant you status as a saint any more than it absolves you of responsibility for your own actions. We'll have to wait and see - witnesses may appear in time to talk to the press and/or authorities - although we may never find the truth.
Digga said:
As you say, you need to be fully aware of the cultural differences - one of which is that the sort of low-life, scummy behaviour which we have to tolerate here every day is, well, not tolerated there - and the consequences of any 'argument' with the local authorities.h.
We tolerate the scummy behaviour from ours, and their "faceless" culture - hijabs, niqabs, tents whatever although that puts us at a disadvantage if we have to deal with them. Charming.Pints said:
"Nuke them from orbit" is bandied about plenty on here, but it's quite apt for this. Wipe this country off the map.
That's a tad disproportionate, no?Digga said:
As you say, you need to be fully aware of the cultural differences - one of which is that the sort of low-life, scummy behaviour which we have to tolerate here every day is, well, not tolerated there - and the consequences of any 'argument' with the local authorities. That aside, there do seem to be rather too many people 'falling down' stairs in Dubai police custody.
The only other factor worth bearing in mind is that, as yet, the full story of what he is alleged to have done is not necessarily clear. Being able to afford a suite (there are no rooms) in the world's first "7 start" hotel does not grant you status as a saint any more than it absolves you of responsibility for your own actions. We'll have to wait and see - witnesses may appear in time to talk to the press and/or authorities - although we may never find the truth.
This. There's no excuse for what has happened but the sort of behaviour that's shrugged off by UK police will only result in a beating there.The only other factor worth bearing in mind is that, as yet, the full story of what he is alleged to have done is not necessarily clear. Being able to afford a suite (there are no rooms) in the world's first "7 start" hotel does not grant you status as a saint any more than it absolves you of responsibility for your own actions. We'll have to wait and see - witnesses may appear in time to talk to the press and/or authorities - although we may never find the truth.
Puggit said:
Digga said:
witnesses may appear in time to talk to the press and/or authorities - although we may never find the truth.
Witnesses or 'witnesses' ?I was trying to convey the idea that someone who saw whatever it was that this guiy was doing, that led to the authorities being called may, in due course, materialse - either to talk to the press or to the authorities. Equally, they may not (or may be hushed-up) but only time will tell.
There may be more to it than is first reported than just simply "swearing".
Bill said:
There's no excuse for what has happened but the sort of behaviour that's shrugged off by UK police will only result in a beating there.
That's the positive spin on things. "Cultural" is the term used for a lot of scummy behaviour in the UK, and yet it doesn't seem to happen in many arab states. The negative spin is that we bend over backwards to 'tolerate' those of different cultures in the UK, and yet when we are abroad that tolerance is not extended to us.
Oli.
Mermaid said:
4Q said:
Wow.
And it'll all get swept under the carpet...
No doubt our Foreign Secretary will And it'll all get swept under the carpet...
Edited by Mermaid on Thursday 14th April 16:08
zcacogp said:
That's the positive spin on things. "Cultural" is the term used for a lot of scummy behaviour in the UK, and yet it doesn't seem to happen in many arab states.
The negative spin is that we bend over backwards to 'tolerate' those of different cultures in the UK, and yet when we are abroad that tolerance is not extended to us.
Oli.
You've lost meThe negative spin is that we bend over backwards to 'tolerate' those of different cultures in the UK, and yet when we are abroad that tolerance is not extended to us.
Oli.
I meant that answering back, cockiness and being aggressive seem (my experience being limited to the likes of Police, camera, action 
) to be shrugged off by the BiB here.Bill said:
You've lost me I meant that answering back, cockiness and being aggressive seem (my experience being limited to the likes of Police, camera, action ) to be shrugged off by the BiB here.
... all undesirable things that are tolerated here but wouldn't be tolerated in places like Dubai / UAE etc. Which is why behaviour in public is generally so much better there than here. You're spot on. I meant that answering back, cockiness and being aggressive seem (my experience being limited to the likes of Police, camera, action ) to be shrugged off by the BiB here.My point is that we seem to tolerate a large quantity of bad behaviour from people from abroad in the UK, deeming it to be 'cultural'; although that tolerance was clearly not reciprocated in the case of Mr Brown.
Oli.
zcacogp said:
My point is that we seem to tolerate a large quantity of bad behaviour from people from abroad in the UK, deeming it to be 'cultural'; although that tolerance was clearly not reciprocated in the case of Mr Brown.
Thats a bit of a generalisation for the whole Emerati community. s1962a said:
Thats a bit of a generalisation for the whole Emerati community.
Dubai, and Abu Dhabi are very relaxed, compared with the rest of the region, however that isn't to say that infractions will not be dealt with harshly. As someone said, there is alcohol, hookers, speeding, and it is very western. Just don;t cross that line, and any intelligent traveler should know where the line is in ANY country they go to.s1962a said:
Mermaid said:
We tolerate the scummy behaviour from ours, and their "faceless" culture - hijabs, niqabs, tents whatever although that puts us at a disadvantage if we have to deal with them. Charming.
Have you actually met any Emeratis in the UK? But this is not just about that one state, applies equally to Saudi, Bahrain and otherszcacogp said:
My point is that we seem to tolerate a large quantity of bad behaviour from people from abroad in the UK, deeming it to be 'cultural'; although that tolerance was clearly not reciprocated in the case of Mr Brown.
I'm not convinced that their failure to put up with (and I'm not suggesting this is necessarily the case here) a gobs
te counts as intolerance.
Godzuki said:
Dubai, and Abu Dhabi are very relaxed, compared with the rest of the region, however that isn't to say that infractions will not be dealt with harshly. As someone said, there is alcohol, hookers, speeding, and it is very western. Just don;t cross that line, and any intelligent traveler should know where the line is in ANY country they go to.
So, pray tell, exactly which line do I not need to cross to ensure that I won't be beaten to death in a police cell? It hardly seems a proportionate punishment for any crime, no matter how 'harshly' these 'infractions' are dealt with.
deckster said:
So, pray tell, exactly which line do I not need to cross to ensure that I won't be beaten to death in a police cell? It hardly seems a proportionate punishment for any crime, no matter how 'harshly' these 'infractions' are dealt with.
I never said that this crime, or what happened was proportionate. However, as with any country you have to be careful when visiting. Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff