"'Fuck off!' is not a curse where I come from," Canuck tells Dubai court

The United Arab Emirates is a country [group of states, surely! Ed.] in which Islam is the dominant religion [the ONLY religion, surely! Ed.] Thus they have very strict laws against blasphemy, and even, it appears, against obscenity.

An unnamed Canadian man is on trial this week on a misdemeanor charge of having sworn at an Arab (Egyptian) local, a representative of Etisalat, a UAE-based telecoms giant. The service technician told a court in Dubai, "When I attended his complaint pertaining to one of our services and told him that there had been a delay, he got angry. Then he told me 'Fuck you' -- twice! -- and told me to shut my mouth!"

In his defence, attorney Uday al-Kazwini told the court his client admits using the phrase "fuck off" when speaking to the client services worker. However, he said, "My client is a Canadian citizen and 'fuck off' is not an insult in Canada ... but 'fuck you' is a curse and an insult. 'Fuck off' is commonly used when a person expresses themselves metaphorically and asks another person, who angered them, to walk away."

The defendant told the court he became frustrated with the worker's attitude when he visited the Etisalat counter at Mirdif City Centre to complain about not receiving his bills. The trial continues.

Walt wonders if the unnamed defendant is really a Canadian. Wouldn't a true son of the Great Not-so-white North have said, "Fuck off, eh, hoser!"?

Tourists are subject to local laws

The Burj Dubai is open for business. And I do mean "open" since the greater part of the office and commercial space still hasn't been leased out.

But never mind. Even if it isn't quite as grand as the architects planned (right) it's still a triumph for someone with a huge edifice complex.

In case you're tempted to visit, let me remind you that Dubai is a Muslim country [statelet, surely. ed.] and if you visit you will be subject to its laws.

Here's an example of Islamic justice, Dubai-style. A 23-year-old British woman is awaiting trial on serious charges, after reporting to Dubai cops that she had been raped on New Year's Eve by a waiter at a 5-star hotel.

No, she is not charged with being a victim -- a bit much even for sharia law -- or enticing or entrapping the alleged rapist. That would be a bit much. Rather, she is charged with having drunk alcohol and having had sex in the hotel with her fiancé.

Puzzled? Oh, I forgot to tell you that the British citizen was of Pakistani origin...and a Muslim. It seems imbibing intoxicants and fornicating fiancés, though technically illegal in Dubai, are winked at for us infidels, but still forbidden to Muslims. The woman and her fiancé (also a Muslim) are thus in big trouble with the mullahs.

"The woman confessed that she had sexual intercourse with her fiancé and that she had alcohol," said a cop involved with the case. "We cannot just ignore such a terrible offence."

Footnote: If you decide to go to Dubai anyway, possibly on a shopping expedition, Walt recommends Emirates airlines. Seriously.