British Man, 21, Faces Death in UAE

RomanNose · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:40

Robbo said:
That depends how you look at it. Selling drugs can destroy many lives as a knock on effect.

The point is that the guy must be literally retarded to have taken such a risk.

That said, I doubt he'll get the death penalty.

Equally though, you could say that the people who purchase know what they are doing to themselves.

Halfmad said:
He's not in the UK, doesn't matter what we think of the penalty as he's not here.

Well this is a topic about the penalty, why can't we compared it to the UK?

Castiel · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:41

He knew the risks, he made a decision, he has to live with the consequences....or not as the case may be.

That doesn't make it proportional or right in respect of our laws and morality, but ultimately he has to take responsibility for his own actions, however severe that may be.

grudas · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:41

RomanNose said:
He sold hardly anything though, you wouldn't even get charged in the UK for that. Well maybe you would but it's still not much.

How do you know how much he sold?

dowie · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:41

rather silly thing to do in a country that, despite the modern appearance, still has a political/legal system not too far removed from when the inhabitants were a bunch of simpletons herding camels in the desert...

Yes the sentence is ridiculous, hopefully he'll get let off following diplomatic intervention, hopefully the press headlines will serve as a warning to others considering doing something as stupid as this 21 yr old, hopefully the natives will one day progress to form a more civilised society which doesn't involve resorting to the death penalty for petty crimes.

LordSplodge · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:41

Robbo said:
Predictably, the druggies are all in here saying it's silly to kill someone for selling a plant. Hah. Not quite that simple.

I'm not pro-drugs, in fact I have seen what they can do to people first hand. However I am far more opposed to the death penalty.

dowie · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:42

Robbo said:
Predictably, the druggies are all in here saying it's silly to kill someone for selling a plant. Hah. Not quite that simple.

How is it not silly? I'm not a druggy and think cannabis smokers are silly - I'll still maintain that its also pretty dumb to kill someone over it too.

^TANK^ · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:43

Robbo said:
That depends how you look at it. Selling drugs can destroy many lives as a knock on effect.

The point is that the guy must be literally retarded to have taken such a risk.

That said, I doubt he'll get the death penalty.

Well its a safe bet whatever the outcome is he will not be breaking the law again.

RomanNose · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:43

grudas said:
How do you know how much he sold?

It says in the article, or is that talking about the 19 year old? Wording is poor.

yoyo50 · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:44

life ban and fine or something, not killed over a ridiculous small amount

RDM · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:45

Very unlikely he will get the death penalty, however he was a very stupid man for doing what he did where he did.

SpeedFreak · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:45

I am not saying I support the punishment but he can't be surprised. He should have been aware of the law and chose to ignore it.

Robbo · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:46

LordSplodge said:
I'm not pro-drugs, in fact I have seen what they can do to people first hand. However I am far more opposed to the death penalty.

Fair enough, but surely you must agree that the man in this case was monumentally stupid to have risked his life selling drugs in a country with such harsh punishments?

I don't have any sympathy for him. He's either mentally ill, in which case we will be able to make sure he doesn't get the death penalty so it's not as bad. Alternatively, he knew exactly what he was doing, and was risking his life to make more money by drug dealing in another country with strict laws.

Just to clarify, I'm not saying whether I support the death penalty or not.

RomanNose · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:50

Though he was 21, it's quite feasible he didn't know about UAE law on drugs if he didn't watch/read the news which is quite common around that age.

Robbo · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:51

Moses said:
You basically are.

You've basically said you support the death penalty, if it's the law in a given country.

No, I'm saying you should respect the laws in that country in order to keep yourself alive.

Woden · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:52

jsmoke said:
I think it's barbaric who is anyone to give that kind of sentence for possessing a plant.

The judge appointed by the legal system of that state. He was selling illegal drugs in a country well known for executing drug dealers. He may well get the Darwin award for this.

Robbo · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:52

Moses said:
Herp derp.

Yes, which supports what I said? :confused:

DragonWoLf · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:53

HAz said:
One less dealer on the streets, only a good thing.

This.

RomanNose · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:54

Woden said:
The judge appointed by the legal system of that state. He was selling illegal drugs in a country well known for executing drug dealers. He may well get the Darwin award for this.

Assuming he knew about the laws, it's quite possible he didn't know.

Robbo · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:54

Moses said:
No, it supports what I said .

No, it doesn't.

dowie · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:55

Robbo said:
Fair enough, but surely you must agree that the man in this case was monumentally stupid to have risked his life selling drugs in a country with such harsh punishments?

I don't think anyone has said that what he did was a good idea - you'll find that everyone has said it is pretty stupid....

I don't have any sympathy for him. He's either mentally ill, in which case we will be able to make sure he doesn't get the death penalty so it's not as bad. Alternatively, he knew exactly what he was doing, and was risking his life to make more money by drug dealing in another country with strict laws.

Just to clarify, I'm not saying whether I support the death penalty or not.

I've got some sympathy for him - he's facing a ridicules sentence for what is a relatively minor act in real terms - how do we even know he's not himself a victim of entrapment - yes he'd still have to be dumb enough to agree to commit the crime after being enticed but I wouldn't have too much confidence in the local police on this.... for all we know any of the 4 people mentioned in the article could have been the source of the drugs and any of the others could have been charged as a result of introducing that person to the undercover cop. This is the same country that arrested a tourist over a poppy seed found in the treat of his shoe.....