UK Woman Could Get 6 Years for Sex on Dubai Beach

International Law

UK Woman Could Get 6 Years for Sex on Dubai Beach

Posted Jul 9, 2008, 10:48 am CST
By Martha Neil

A 30-year-old Englishwoman could be sentenced to six years in jail if she is convicted of having sex on a Dubai beach last week.

Allegedly caught in the act with a British tourist by a passing police officer, Michelle Palmer, who manages a publishing firm in Dubai, could be sentenced to as little as three months, if convicted, writes the London Times. She is reportedly charged with having sex outside marriage, indecent public behavior, public drunkenness and assaulting a police officer.

But because public sex is a serious offense in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates state (residents can be arrested if they are even seen kissing). Palmer is afraid she is going to be harshly sentenced as an example to others. “Because this is known everywhere, they’re going to make an example of us and we’re going to get a higher sentence," she tells the Times, saying that she is now "panicking" over her plight despite diplomatic efforts being made on her behalf by the British Foreign Office.

Palmer's alleged sex partner is in a similar situation.

Comments

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Posted by Huh? - 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, 20 hours, 44 minutes ago

“Palmer’s alleged sex partner is in a similar situation.“

Then why is the whole article about the female defendant?
Posted by J.D. - 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, 19 hours, 49 minutes ago

This is a good reminder of how far advanced human rights—and the law generally—are in Western nations compared to the rest of the world. Too many in the U.S. and the U.K. take their rights and freedoms for granted.

No folks, you are walking in dangerous jurisdictions when you travel to places like the middle east.
Posted by df - 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, 9 hours, 24 minutes ago

I am somewhat sympathetic, but my sympathy is limited by two big factors: (1) how stupid do you have to be to have sex on a beach in a middle eastern country; and (2) she’s managed a publishing firm in Dubai so has had no problem working in and profiting from this country despite how women are treated there.
Posted by E kipp - 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, 5 hours, 47 minutes ago

This would offend a lot of people I agree and can’t be ignored. However, what is more offensive is the mindless death on the roads of this country by the brain dead idiots allowed to drive on these roads. Far more obscene and immoral than what apparently happened on the beach
Posted by Jennifer - 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, 3 hours, 26 minutes ago

Sad thing about posts 2 and 3 is that you associate personal freedoms with public sex.

She would be charged with public indecency in the US too.

Who wants intoxicated couples having public sex? Nobody, regardless of what country they are in or what religion reigns supreme.
Posted by O Ajibade - 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, 1 hour, 18 minutes ago

Am sorry for young lady..but with 3years working experience in Dubai she is expected to be wiser..however the drink and may be her long time sexual loniness contibuted to the stupidity…..
Posted by J.D. - 4 months, 3 weeks, 1 day, 23 hours, 14 minutes ago

@ Jennifer.

You’re right; I realize my post is a bit off and unclear. Certainly, an American in America should be punished for the same activity.

I simply meant to suggest that some individuals have a utopian view of foreign countries that is far from reality. What the article above fails to mention is that she faces UP TO 6 YEARS in a Dubai prison. I doubt that would be the case in any American jurisdiction.

And I doubt that Dubai prisons are as plush as their American counterparts.

Maybe reality will hit home after a few years in an a/c-free, desert prison.
Posted by native new yorker - 4 months, 3 weeks, 1 day, 21 hours, 43 minutes ago

Michelle Palmer lived and worked in Dubai for three years. While there, this so-called business woman had sex in a public place, was drunk and assaulted an officer. The sex part is offensive to almost anyone of any faith with class from any country. What does having sex in a public place have to do with human rights J.D.? And US prisons are far from plush; I am certain there are laws on the books for lewdness, public drunkeness and assaulting an officer with punishments that can possbily exceed 6 years. If a African, Mexican or non-white foreigner did this on a beach in Malibu, I am sure there would be very little outcry and most locals would want to bury him or her under the jail. Now the Brit lady [sic] is afraid of being harshly sentenced? Typical.
Posted by CAF - 4 months, 3 weeks, 1 day, 20 hours, 8 minutes ago

You can’t have sex in public virtually anywhere. Why is this even news?
Posted by Adam - 4 months, 3 weeks, 1 day, 19 hours, 33 minutes ago

“Palmer’s alleged sex partner is in a similar situation.“

I like how she very obviously said “situation” rather than “position” here. You should have just gone ahead with it, Martha. We’re all adults here. ;)
Posted by J. C. - 4 months, 3 weeks, 1 day, 14 hours, 42 minutes ago

Lighten up folks; having sex is not a TERRORIST act. Everyone without some sexual hangup does it. If you don’t want to watch someone stuff hot dogs in their face while their bloated gut hangs over the top of their shorts, look the other way. Just because a majority is still obsessed with pre-sixth century attitudes towared one of nature’s grandest, most natural and most pleasurable activities (which also happens to be cost free)doesn’t justify puttting someone in prison because of someone’s else’s sexual hang-ups.
Posted by QueenCityHillbilly - 4 months, 3 weeks, 16 hours, 59 minutes ago

He must have been really hot for her to get down on the beach.

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