British man arrested in Dubai for carrying anti-depressants

[muon]

What other jobs would be excluded then? Teachers, nurses, anything involving driving?

Couldn't be a pilot for an airliner for example.

I'm pretty sure gun control laws in many countries can exclude people suffering from mental illnesses.

edit: There is nothing to say the guy was armed om this case though.

 

[dowie]

Couldn't be a pilot for an airliner for example.

I'm pretty sure gun control laws in many countries can exclude people suffering from mental illnesses.

AFAIK pilots can get exemptions and AFAIK it doesn't automatically preclude you from say holding a shotgun certificate in the UK either.. it depends on the individual., your GP's let etc..

this is all a bit moot anyway as national gun laws don't apply to international waters

 

[Vonhelmet]

How did he manage to get 6 months in one go? These days repeat prescriptions only allow a month a time to be requested, plus an additional month for holidays. My surgery will supply a full 12 months worth of prescriptions, but they can only be used one at a time. If I try collecting them too quickly the pharmacy get twitchy and check up.

My doctor will give me two months worth of antidepressants without batting an eyelid.

 

[Narj]

What other jobs would be excluded then? Teachers, nurses, anything involving driving?

Crikey I wasn't expecting such a barbed response. In this case there's no confirmation that there is access to weapons but even so, I'd not expect to be allowed anywhere near them with depression as there'd be no guarantee I'm taking my meds.

You're as likely to be a danger to yourself as you are to others IMO in that situation.

Of course that doesn't mean society should write you off and it's unlikely to be an issue in most professions. I'm just pointing out that there's something called mitigating risk.

 

[Amp34]

However plenty of people (including people who've been there a few times and will happily trot out the mantra about "different culture, stick to their rules") are still pretty naive re: the actual rules and these can be enforced arbitrarily.

Perhaps you take some tourist pictures, you see a nice palace and take a picture of it... ah but you didn't realise it belonged to Sheik XYZ ... you get arrested for taking a holiday picture... perhaps the palace/embassy/govt building was just in the background of your picture... still a risk.

Your hotel serves alcohol, as a tourist it is illegal for you to drink alcohol, this isn't something the travel advice or hotel will generally tell you.. and 99.9% of the time you'll be fine so long as you're not wandering around drunk outside the hotel... you're still breaking the law though and you could still be arrested for consuming alcohol.

I've spent a bit of time in the region, I've never personally had any issue at all.. I'd not however play down the risks there... you have got more chance of being arrested there IMO and plenty of times it could be for something trivial that you didn't even realise was illegal or even for essentially no reason at all.

Honestly most of that isn’t specific to Dubai, or even the Middle East. Many of those are exactly the same “risks” you take when visiting much of Africa and parts of SE Asia, Central and South America, especially the photo one.

Yes, these is a risk if you’re naive and assume the country you visit is the same as the UK, but to portray it as only an issue with one part of the world is rather naive in itself. That’s basically what you’re doing Dowie, with your bimonthly “look at the horrible thing that’s happened in Dubai/UAE tourist destination”.

Now perhaps the issue here is that most people don’t visit most of Africa, SE Asia and the Americas to realise this - while Dubai and the UAE are considered more of a “normal” tourist destination - but that doesn’t take away from the fact it’s the case throughout much of the world.

 

[Uther]

Crikey I wasn't expecting such a barbed response. In this case there's no confirmation that there is access to weapons but even so, I'd not expect to be allowed anywhere near them with depression as there'd be no guarantee I'm taking my meds.

You're as likely to be a danger to yourself as you are to others IMO in that situation.

Of course that doesn't mean society should write you off and it's unlikely to be an issue in most professions. I'm just pointing out that there's something called mitigating risk.

Actually I agree with this. There's usually some heavy weaponry on those ships.

 

[dowie]

Honestly most of that isn’t specific to Dubai, or even the Middle East. Many of those are exactly the same “risks” you take when visiting much of Africa and parts of SE Asia, Central and South America, especially the photo one.

Yes, these is a risk if you’re naive and assume the country you visit is the same as the UK, but to portray it as only an issue with one part of the world is rather naive in itself. That’s basically what you’re doing Dowie, with your bimonthly “look at the horrible thing that’s happened in Dubai/UAE tourist destination”.

Now perhaps the issue here is that most people don’t visit most of Africa, SE Asia and the Americas to realise this - while Dubai and the UAE are considered more of a “normal” tourist destination - but that doesn’t take away from the fact it’s the case throughout much of the world.

I think that is a bit naive tbh... photography is just one issue... sure there are other backwards countries in the world - I've not tried to claim otherwise... however Dubai is trying to market itself as a tourist destination and people do get caught out over there as the rules aren't so obvious... for example there will be alcohol available in your hotel even though it is illegal for you...

As for my supposed bimonthly thread on "look at the horrible think that's happened..." the last time I posted about something like this was the woman who got arrested in Egypt and I agreed with the Egyptians!

 

[jamoor]

I think that is a bit naive tbh... photography is just one issue... sure there are other backwards countries in the world - I've not tried to claim otherwise... however Dubai is trying to market itself as a tourist destination and people do get caught out over there as the rules aren't so obvious... for example there will be alcohol available in your hotel even though it is illegal for you...

As for my supposed bimonthly thread on "look at the horrible think that's happened..." the last time I posted about something like this was the woman who got arrested in Egypt and I agreed with the Egyptians!

I've been to numerous touristy countries where you can't take photos of sensitive areas.

I was in Seoul hiking the city wall and decided to take a picture of the city from the wall. Out of nowhere a Korean military solider appeared and told me to delete the photo as it was of the president's palace or something.

 

[Rroff]

I've been to numerous touristy countries where you can't take photos of sensitive areas.

I was in Seoul hiking the city wall and decided to take a picture of the city from the wall. Out of nowhere a Korean military solider appeared and told me to delete the photo as it was of the president's palace or something.

My dad was in Germany on business once - took some pictures out of his hotel room window - few minutes later couple of military police types were knocking on the door. Turns out it was partially overlooking a military complex.

This was back in the day pre-digital - interestingly they did actually process the roll of film and sent on the photos and negatives of anything that wasn't "sensitive".

 

[dowie]

I've been to numerous touristy countries where you can't take photos of sensitive areas.

I was in Seoul hiking the city wall and decided to take a picture of the city from the wall. Out of nowhere a Korean military solider appeared and told me to delete the photo as it was of the president's palace or something.

so what?

 

[jamoor]

so what?

So getting in Trouble for taking pictures of the wrong thing certainly isn't backward.

 

[dowie]

So getting in Trouble for taking pictures of the wrong thing certainly isn't backward.

depends on the context... you can also get in trouble in western countries too - likewise you can get arrested for being drunk and disorderly in the UK... it isn't necessarily the same though

 

[muon]

depends on the context... you can also get in trouble in western countries too - likewise you can get arrested for being drunk and disorderly in the UK... it isn't necessarily the same though

In this case it pretty much is. In the UAE you can't take pictures of military buildings, government buildings and airports.

http://uae-embassy.ae/Embassies/uk/Content/678

Taking Photographs

Normal tourist photography is acceptable in the UAE but visitors should avoid photographing women without their permission. It is forbidden to photograph military, government and airport buildings and facilities.

There are reasons why they do this.

Even in London police started using their powers controversially to prevent photography after 7/7 at times in the City.

 

[dowie]

In this case it pretty much is. In the UAE you can't take pictures of military buildings, government buildings and airports.

[...]
There are reasons why they do this.

hmm

two Bangladeshis arrested for taking photos at a racing circuit... except the judge wasn't sure if it was illegal or not and the prosecutor doesn't know if a sign prohibiting photography was displayed or not.. still they probably enjoyed their time in a UAE jail... totally like the UK, this stuff happens to foreigners watching motorsport at Silverstone all the time...

https://www.thenational.ae/uae/courts/clarity-needed-on-anti-photo-laws-judge-1.411002

ABU DHABI // A senior judge yesterday ordered prosecutors and police to clarify whether it was against the law to take photos at Yas Marina Circuit.

"As a rule, a person is allowed to take photographs anywhere unless there is a sign stating that it is illegal, or unless it is customarily known that it is illegal to take photographs in the area," Chief Justice Shehab al Hammadi told prosecutors in the State Security Court.

Two Bangladeshi residents of Abu Dhabi, KM and SM, appeared before the court charged with illegally taking photographs at the motorsport racetrack. The two men are free on bail.

Chief Justice al Hammadi asked them if they had seen any signs prohibiting photography, and they replied that they had not.

The Chief Justice asked the prosecutors if there was a sign at the venue, a premier tourist attraction, indicating that photography wads banned.

"I do not know," the prosecutor said. "I will check with the person who wrote the report."

The judge then ordered prosecutors and police to clarify the issue.

 

[muon]

hmm

two Bangladeshis arrested for taking photos at a racing circuit... except the judge wasn't sure if it was illegal or not and the prosecutor doesn't know if a sign prohibiting photography was displayed or not.. still they probably enjoyed their time in a UAE jail... totally like the UK, this stuff happens to foreigners watching motorsport at Silverstone all the time...

https://www.thenational.ae/uae/courts/clarity-needed-on-anti-photo-laws-judge-1.411002

http://www.amateurphotographer.co.u...-photographer-reveals-his-street-photos-21858

I suggest you read about the misuse of Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_Act_2000#Section_44_2

Go to any photography forum and see how many people were affected. Cameras confiscated and/or photos deleted. If you resisted you were arrested. Like in link above some people arrested anyway.

 

[dowie]

http://www.amateurphotographer.co.u...-photographer-reveals-his-street-photos-21858

I suggest you read about the misuse of Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_Act_2000#Section_44_2

Go to any photography forum and see how many people were affected.

Again with the false equivalences... I'm well aware that sometimes the police are a bit twitchy re: photographers... it isn't really the same though. The idea that our photography laws are as restrictive as those in the UAE is laughable.

 

[muon]

Again with the false equivalences... I'm well aware that sometimes the police are a bit twitchy re: photographers... it isn't really the same though. The idea that our photography laws are as restrictive as those in the UAE is laughable.

So basically because UAE is a bit less liberal than the UK when it comes to public photography you will kick up a fuss.

My point was that police in the UK misuse their powers. I have no doubt it happens in the UAE. In your link a judge is upholding the law it sounds fairly, asking for evidence on prohibitions.

You have an agenda. Plain for anyone to see.

 

[jamoor]

Again with the false equivalences... I'm well aware that sometimes the police are a bit twitchy re: photographers... it isn't really the same though. The idea that our photography laws are as restrictive as those in the UAE is laughable.

You should see them in Germany, they are far worse.

 

[dowie]

So basically because UAE is a bit less liberal than the UK when it comes to public photography you will kick up a fuss.

a bit??? LOL

I'm not kicking up a fuss... it was a comment about just one of many areas where tourists/visitors can easily trip up and get themselves in trouble over there

 

[Amp34]

I think that is a bit naive tbh... photography is just one issue... sure there are other backwards countries in the world - I've not tried to claim otherwise... however Dubai is trying to market itself as a tourist destination and people do get caught out over there as the rules aren't so obvious... for example there will be alcohol available in your hotel even though it is illegal for you...

As for my supposed bimonthly thread on "look at the horrible think that's happened..." the last time I posted about something like this was the woman who got arrested in Egypt and I agreed with the Egyptians!

There are plenty of other countries that like to line themselves up as tourist destinations as well, in fact many have been for far longer than Dubai which is a relative newcomer on the block. Again, there’s nothing unique about this with regards to the UAE. So yes, naive to single it out, unless it’s as a way of reminding people that because it has shiny tower blocks it’s just the same as all those other holiday destinations many people go to (and have for decades) without the same sparkle.

Ok, you’re right, you don't normally post the threads, rather derail pretty much every thread where Dubai is discussed with the same argument you’re putting across in this thread.