Yahoo News Dubai Government: Kent mother was arrested for abusing staff and travelling on expired passport - not for drinking wine
None of the charges levelled at a Kent mother arrested in Dubai related to her drinking wine, the emirate’s attorney general has said.
Ellie Holman, who is originally from Sweden but now lives in Kent, was reportedly detained in Dubai for three days with her four-year-old daughter after drinking a complimentary glass of wine on a flight from London.
The 44-year-old claimed she and daughter Bibi were initially denied food, water, and access to a toilet while being held in a cell together for three days.
But the Dubai Attorney General has released a statement outlining why Ms Holmann was detained and denying an inhumane treatment.
British tourists who like even one glass of wine should avoid #Dubai entirely. The case of #EllieHolman shows that one can be arrested for a single glass of wine, jailed and @detainedindubai. Imagine a 5 day holiday turning into months or years. The costs, loss of employment..
— Radha Stirling – CEO @detainedindubai (@RadhaStirling) August 10, 2018
The statement said she had tried to enter Dubai from London using a Swedish passport which had already expired.
The statement said: “She was advised by the immigration officer that she could not enter the country with an expired passport. She then produced an Iranian passport, and was informed by the officer that she could enter the country by issuing a new temporary visa, which allowed a 96-hour stay, and had to change her departure flight according to the new visa.
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It said Ms Holman had “refused angrily” and and proceeded to verbally insult the immigration officer and take photos of the officer using her phone.
She had been charged with profanity and photographing a government official at the border crossing which is a restricted area, it added.
The statement went on: “The woman and her child remained together in the airport security office for less than 24 hours while services were provided to them, taking into full account and consideration of her 4-year-old daughter.
“Her father received her immediately upon his arrival and they subsequently departed the country.
“The prosecution decided to drop the charges against Ellie Hollman and to deport her instead.”
Ms Holman’s case had been taken up by campaign group Detained in Dubai.
