Irishman has travel ban and faces jail in Dubai over sending 'threatening' emojis

A 39 year old property renovator from County Wicklow, Stuart Quiney is facing jailtime in Dubai over sending offensive/threatening emojis to an acquaintance who he says took his possessions without permission.

Stuart arrived in Dubai in January 2022, as he accompanied a friend to set up his new life. A Belgian resident helped Stuart's friend get an apartment by providing his local ID.

Stuart stayed in Dubai for two months with his friend to get away from the Irish winter, he intended to return to visit his friend again so he left a number of his personal possessions at the apartment. While Stuart and his friend were away, the previously mentioned Belgian resident allegedly let himself into their apartment and removed all their possessions.

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Understandably upset, Stuart hoped to recover his items, including personal items and sentimental gifts from his grandmother. Stuart said after having a number of legal letters ignored "I don’t really mind the clothes, it’s just those things that were my grandmother’s and a gift from a friend that is very important to me."

He was back in Ireland after his grandmother was diagnosed with dementia and being moved into a home, the news hit him very hard. Crisis manager Radha Stirling, the founder of Detained in Dubai said "She is his best friend. He dealt with the pain by drinking alcohol, something he only does once or twice a year. In a drunken state, he must remembered the theft of his other grandmother’s gift, reached for his phone and sent some emojis (eg. ninja man and blood drop) to the Belgian."

Stuart told Ms Stirling that he drinks "very rarely" and it was "completely out of character for me. I've never been in trouble with the law."

Stuart then went to visit his friend once again in Dubai on the 6th of September, he was taken in custody and transported to Al Barsha police station and told he was not allowed to leave the country.

After 12 weeks, Stuart, is still stuck in Dubai and is set to see a prosecutor. He could face several years in prison over strict laws in relation to offensive or threatening text messages, regardless of the context, even if expressed sarcastically or jokingly between friends.

Stuart is still currently in Dubai fearing he may not make it home for Christmas.

The full story was posted on the Detained in Dubai website and can be found HERE.