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                      US Woman on Trial for Insulting UAE

   by VOA News

   A 25-year-old American woman appeared in court Monday after being held
   in Abu Dhabi for seven weeks for allegedly insulting the United Arab
   Emirates while waiting for a taxi outside the airport.

   The unidentified woman told the court she did not know why she was on
   trial. She has been in custody since February 23.

   Government-owned daily The National reported that the women claims she
   was approached by two men who spoke to her in a manner she did not
   like. "The men tried to help me. I had another flight to catch at 1:29
   am. I refused to engage with them and nothing happened," The National
   quoted her as saying.

   The woman has asked the court to allow her to pay a fine and be
   released. A verdict is scheduled for May 2, the local paper reports.

   Although liberal on many other issues, the UAE has strict laws
   governing expression. Defamation is treated as a criminal offense and
   insulting the UAE's leaders or the nation itself often comes with a
   prison sentence and heavy fine.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-woman-on-trial-for-insulting-uae/3
   280020.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-woman-on-trial-for-insulting-uae/3280020.html