An open letter to anyone who will listen

[alli]

Thanks all. I'm still furious about this. Hubby is telling me to forget about it, but I simply cannot let this kind of behaviour go untold. I've created a blog and am going to write to the newspapers about it. Will write to the Jumeirah group this week as well.

RAGGHHHHH So angry!!!!!!!

[Maz25]

Originally Posted by alli

Thanks all. I'm still furious about this. Hubby is telling me to forget about it, but I simply cannot let this kind of behaviour go untold. I've created a blog and am going to write to the newspapers about it. Will write to the Jumeirah group this week as well.

RAGGHHHHH So angry!!!!!!!

I really can't believe that they would not ban that woman from the park!!! How can you let someone who attacks your customers loose on the premises! She is very obviously bad for business! This totally beggars belief! Good thing she is not from my country, otherwise she would have been in serious trouble. Crimes against foreigners are not tolerated and generally carry a higher sentence!! She's single-handedly managed to tarnish the reputation of Arab people!

Do not let this horrible woman spoil your time in Dubai!

[lissette]

I think you absolutely did the right thing by not going to the police, it seems that there are three sets of laws here, on for locals, other arabic speaking countries and then expats and visitors. It most likely would have been turned around on you somehow.

I have been her for a few years now and have heard many stories like this and was the victim myself of a false accusation of 'insulting' a pet shop manager that was being cruel to her animals last week.
This resulted in my friend and i having to go down to the police station, held for several hours, having our passports confiscated indefinitely and all this without a charge being laid.
This woman had insulted us and told us that they did not want our kind here and go back to our own country!

Apparently insulting someone is a minor offence usually resulting in a fine, but they will hold onto our passports until it goes to trial! i have also been told this could take several months to go to court, especially with ramadan coming up , so i am literally stranded and unable to work or go home to see my young daughter (i need my passport to work).
All of this because a woman didnt feel that her shop animals needed to have water....

[alli]

Oh my god, that is horrible. I'm so sorry to hear that. Those poor animals. It's a shame that this country will punish those who try to do the right thing.

I'm becoming more and more disillusioned with this country as each day passes.

[hopeful]

I think its awful what has happened to both of you, but the world is full of small minded people unfortunately. I must say it does make me a little nervous that you can't even rely on the local authorities to treat you as an equal. To be honest I expect to meet people from all walks of life, with all different opinions, some who will like me and some who don't. I think the route cause of these types of behaviour is a lack of understanding and unfortunately I don't think that will ever go away. There are just some people that find it impossible to understand any other walk of life but there own - hopefully they are in the minority.

I think its a great idea alli to write to the local papers, however I would be very careful of writing the blog, or least mindful of what you put in it. Especially after reading lissett's story above. She's had her passposrt conforscated for simply comenting about animals in a pet shop not having water. Launch an online attack on this place and god knows what they could do....just be careful.

[alli]

good tip, hopeful. I'm guessing they won't find my blog, but if they do, the worst I did was call her a ham beast. I didn't swear or anything like that.

[hopeful]

Originally Posted by alli

good tip, hopeful. I'm guessing they won't find my blog, but if they do, the worst I did was call her a ham beast. I didn't swear or anything like that.

A ham beast haha, at least that made you feel better Hubby is waiting for his offer to come from hyder, AD though not dubai.

[teinesamoa]

alli I commend you on your restraint, you are a better person than me as I think I would have decked her. I am so disgusted at how you were treated but sadly I have heard horror stories like these before and even now that we live in Dubai. How scary to live in a country where if someone attacked you, verbally, physically etc then you had to think TWICE about calling the so called authorities for help. Good on you for not retaliating but also for spreading the word. I hope you get through this and start enjoying the country again!!

[cairogal]

Hopeful is right about these kind of people being everywhere. I have no doubt that there plenty of Americans who've told immigrants and guests of the country to "go back to their own country." I guess the problem is that some people have enough influence on the police to turn you reporting a violation back on you. I still say she was bluffing, but not something you want to get tangled in.

[Kansaag]

So sorry to hear about your bad experience. Unfortunately one gets this kind of attitude all over the world and not just in one particular country. This is just one incident and surely does not reflect everybody's attitude.

Put it behind you and enjoy what Dubai has to offer. Dubai is a wonderful place to live, warm friendly and helpful people and I can recommend Dubai to everybody!