British Woman Faces Six Years in Prison for Beach Sex - Political Fever

RSDavis · #1 (**permalink**) 09-05-2008, 01:07 AM

British Woman Faces Six Years in Prison for Beach Sex
by RS Davis
The Freedom Files

Hello Freedomphiles! Michelle Palmer is accused of having sex on the beach, which is pretty hot, and not really a big deal, unless you happen to be in Dubai at the time. With a verdict coming down on Monday, the 36 year old Brit is facing six years in a Dubai prison.

She claims that she and her boyfriend were merely hugging and kissing, and considering that in Dubai, a woman showing her ear is public nudity, I can see how there might be something lost in translation.

Barred from speaking out about the case, Ms Palmer has had to endure a litany of rumor and innuendo in silence, charges that she threw a shoe at the policeman who arrested her, and had a Mel Gibsonesque rant against Islam.

Unable to take it any more, she passed a note to a close friend and asked her to share it with the media. The Times Online reports:

The note insists that there was never "any slur on Islam" or "any abuse/attack/hitting with shoe". Nor had any caution been given before her arrest. It further states, contrary to reports, that the prosecution had genetic evidence of the couple having intercourse that "her DNA is negative".

The stress of the case has pushed Ms Palmer to the brink: "She has been in hospital [suffering] from panic attacks, on antidepressants and stayed in hiding for seven weeks. She's a paranoid, scared wreck due to false allegations printed and she's lost the job she loves," the note said, which was credited to "a close friend".

She also says that they were handed transcripts and statements to sign, but had no idea what they said because they were in Arabic.

Guilty or innocent, it raises an interesting question - Does your government have a responsibility to protect you from being railroaded in a kangaroo court for violating a stupid law that can put you in a foreign prison for years? Or is that just one of the risks of traveling abroad?

xjoe3x · #2 (**permalink**) 09-05-2008, 03:11 AM

I really do feel sorry for her. 6 years for sex. Did she actually harm anyone? No, but yet there goes 6 years. That is just sad.

malrenalds · #3 (**permalink**) 09-05-2008, 03:17 AM

Where is the guy during all of this?

malrenalds · #4 (**permalink**) 09-05-2008, 03:17 AM

I say The British army should go get her.

Space_Coyote · #5 (**permalink**) 09-05-2008, 03:49 AM

**** them and **** their backwards customs. SAS raid, get her out, and kill anybody who tries to stop them. Show the Arabs how "uncivilized" and "immoral" infidels handle their ****.

To answer the question; yes, it is the job of your government to help you out of jams overseas. In fact, embassies in most countries have people whose sole task is to assist traveling citizens.