Australian Woman To Be Deported From UAE Over Facebook Post
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, July 14 (UPI) — An Australian woman was jailed Monday and threatened with deportation from the United Arab Emirates over a Facebook post that used strong language.
Jodi Magi, 39, in February posted a picture on Facebook criticizing an individual who parked across two handicapped parking bays near her apartment. The post did not identify the individual responsible but did lead to a police complaint that landed Magi a court date in June.
Magi was charged with “writing bad words on social media” under the UAE’s Cyber Crime Law. She was fined $2,700 and told she would be deported.
When Magi went to pay the fine in Abu Dhabi on Monday, she was arrested and incarcerated by authorities who said her deportation was pending. Magi said she is scared and has no understanding of the charges that have been levied against her, claiming she just used the Internet.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Tuesday that Magi’s deportation is imminent and that consular officials were supporting Magi and her husband since her sentence was handed down May 25.
However, Magi says her appeal to the Australian embassy for assistance has produced only limited help.
Magi, a graphic artist originally from Perth who has been teaching graphic design to women in the UAE since 2012, has received various messages of support on her Facebook page.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the enforcement of harsh UAE laws even on its foreign visitors is normal practice in the country.
Human rights group Amnesty International says that this is indicative of a larger restriction on free speech. The group adds that non-Arabic speakers in the UAE have formerly been forced to sign documents written in Arabic, potentially leading to convictions on charges they don’t understand.
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