The good news is that the strange list of fifty-seven occupations barred from sponsoring family members has at long last been changed.
It was always strange to me that sales people, mechanics, butchers, drivers, tailors, cooks and many more were discriminated against on the basis of their profession, regardless of how much money they earned. Putting a minimum wage requirement on sponsoring makes sense to me, to ensure that the family can be looked after, but to ban people from from having their family with them based on their occupation I don't understand.
Anyway, the ban is lifted provided that the would-be sponsor lodges a deposit of Dh5,000 per sponsored person. That's a lot of money to them but at least they now have the option.
The other story is about a Pakistani visitor who'll be spending ten years in Al Slammer, was fined Dh50,000 and will be deported after his jail term. He'll be pleased to be deported I should think, to get the hell out of here.
His dastardly crime? He was convicted of drug running. He brought in 123 grammes of...wait for it...poppy seeds.
Back in January last year I posted this pic...
Bagels sold in Spinneys smothered in grammes of...wait for it...poppy seeds.
I must have a look to see if they still have them on sale.
I haven't read about the Drug Squad raiding Spinneys. Or anybody from Spinneys heirachy languishing in Al Slammer. Why not?
Is it a law that needs changing? I think so.
My earlier posts are here and here. Today's stories in Gulf News are here and here.
6 comments:
very interesting!!!
a quick search online and I found this on wiki
"In the United Arab Emirates, where the drug law is especially stern, at least one man was reported to have been imprisoned for possessing poppy seeds obtained from a bread roll."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_poppy
its called Opium Poppy seeds.. i dont know what is that but it seems banned in UAE
this was posted back in 2008
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article3333905.ece
while I blame anyone to carry any form of drug throw any airport with out holding proper prescription.. I still find it very annoying reading such articles about Dubai jailing people for ridiculous small amounts of drugs that a person clearly not aware of the law... I believe confiscation the drug and a fine will be enough for very tiny portions and the case can be completed and wrapped in the airport.. no need to screw someones life in jail for that
Well, as is so often the case, there has been a... wait for it... clarification. An article in The National just clarified that none of this good news has actually happened.
http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100928/NATIONAL/100929382/1010
http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100928/NATIONAL/100929382/1010
It appears this is the dreaded "clarification". They've been quite fast this time.
small amounts of drugs?? My God... poppy seeds, which I often used in Germany to bake "Mohnbrötchen" and "Mohnkuchen". Poppy seeds may have a light sedative effect, but even coffee and tea are more powerful drugs!
Carmen
I just found your blog and am having fun reading. So poppy seeds are illegal? How funny. Have safe travels to Oz.
Where i can find it in Dubai?
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