A man is facing two years in prison in Dubai – after posting a negative review of a dog grooming business from his home country.
Craig Ballentine, 33, accepted a role last year in a canine salon in Dubai, where he worked for nearly six months.
Autism support worker Craig, from Belfast, was then diagnosed with fibromyalgia and needed to take days off work.
He informed his boss and sent her his doctor’s note but against Dubai employment law his they reported him as “absconded” with authorities, his lawyers say.
This led to his unemployment and a travel ban on his passport that took two months and thousands of pounds to remove, allowing him to return home to Northern Ireland.
After returning home, Craig left a Google review of the grooming centre and his former boss and the problems she had caused.
Three weeks ago, Craig visited Abu Dhabi for a short holiday with friends – and was transported to Dubai to face charges of slander under the UAE’s strict cybercrime laws.
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He is now stuck in the country, absent from his employment as a support worker with autistic people and facing two years in prison.
“We’ve seen people arrested for complaining to customer service or for leaving online reviews on hotels and rental car agencies”, said Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, who have been working to try and get Craig home.
“Craig has been advised by local lawyers there is almost zero chance of the case against him being dropped.
“When someone is offended, even if they are at fault, they can open a criminal prosecution out of spite. Craig deleted the post, apologised but still faces jail. It’s outrageous.”
“We’ve seen people arrested for complaining to customer service or for leaving online reviews on hotels and rental car agencies.”
“The UAE’s recently enacted Cybercrime laws are a nightmare for foreigners.
“It is sufficient for a complainant to simply tell police that someone posted something offensive or rude. The police don’t even need to see the actual post.
“The complainants have all the power and often demand money from the accused to close out the case.
“It’s a means for vindictive people to extort. Once a criminal case is won, they can also open civil cases for massive damages – the system incentivises it.
“Flatmates, co-workers and even spouses have abused this law and we find that it’s often foreigners who are taking advantage.
“In this case, both parties are Western and most people wouldn’t dream of opening a similar case in their own countries but seem quite happy to open them in the UAE.”
Craig told Ms Stirling in a phone call that his mother was “so upset and stressed she thought I was dead.”
Craig, who frequently volunteers in his local community, is scared and desperate to return home.
“Craig needs to get home and get to work,” said Ms. Stirling.
“It’s atrocious that authorities are allowing such frivolous criminal reports to entangle visitors in the system.
“The sheer number of cybercrime reports they receive must be significant. There are no protections or safeguards and people’s lives are being ruined.
“We have reached out to Craig’s local representative, Michelle O’Neil to implore her to make diplomatic representations to the UAE’s Ambassador and FCDO.
“We hope she can assist in the same way Ireland helped Tori Towey come home.”
