The Dubai Appeals Court has upheld a verdict against a British couple convicted of kissing in public while under the influence of alcohol.
While the hyperbole and verbiage generated by this case in the British tabloid press is predictable and inflammatory, the reality is that the pair were convicted after a fair judicial process.
Visitors to Dubai must realise they are afforded the same rights and freedoms as everyone else. With those rights and freedoms comes a duty to respect the cultural traditions and laws implemented so that the UAE remains a haven of respect for all.
The couple was convicted not of merely pecking on the lips, but of acting in a manner which went above and beyond the normal social exchange one would expect. Their consumption of alcohol no doubt lessened their inhibitions.
