To wonder why so many people don't realise the risks.

[Babbaganush]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-39208946
Dubai
An engaged couple are under arrest for having sex outside marriage, they were reported after she presented at hospital with cramping and was found to be pregnant.
I can't understand the attraction of the place but I spent a lot of time there in the mid 80s when my father worked there - that probably put me off for life!

[FrazzleRock]

I'm lost for words

[LouisevilleLlama]

I knew they had some laws which i would myself find ridiculous and outdated, but i never really thought that pregnant women or anyone that finds out they're pregnant could be arrested. i thought Dubai was seen as one of the more "tolerant" areas for tourists?

a pregnancy test at the checking in kiosk at the airport included with every flight booking!

[OuchBollocks]

Who would like to bet that they will proceed against her, as being pregnant is proof she had sex, but not against him, as there is no proof he is the father? :(

[GnusSitOnCanoes]

Ouch, not that it makes it any better, but he will be prosecuted as well. The only reason that doesn't always happen, is typically because the man has already scarpered. I feel incredibly sorry for her.

[highinthesky]

Bloody awful place.

The Middle East has never been on the side of women.

[MollyRedskirts]

Happy International Women's Day indeed!

Shit like this is why we need it.

[Pitchforktotheface]

I never understand why people don't research laws of countries hey are visiting. Yes I find many antiquated, sexist and unreasonable but they are the laws. If you don' like them, don't go. It is well known that sex outside of marriage is illegal in many Muslim countries.

[expatinscotland]

I never saw the attraction of hte place myself. I know a lot of people who work out there for the money. My dad worked in Saudi for a few years. My mum stayed home.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

I think they turn a blind eye to a lot of what happens inside the resorts - alcohol, sex etc. But once outside them, it's a different story. This is still very shocking.

[brasty]

I remember a British woman reporting a vicious rape, who was prosecuted for adultery there.

[brasty]

It is because many people get away with it that they think they will be okay. It is true tourist hotels won't report you. But lots of things can happen that means you can be prosecuted. This is why most big western firms insist employees get married if couples are travelling to work there.

[WannaBe]

Went there on holiday seven years ago. Completely soulless place, no culture (92% of the people who live there are not nationals,) and operates on slave labour. We stayed in a resort and honestly could have been anywhere in the world.

Have absolutely no desire to ever go back there.

Equally my dad worked in Saudi when I was little - was single person's contract. While he was out there someone on the sight was murdered and every expat's passport was removed and they were stuck out there for nine months. The foreign office etc became involved before they were allowed to leave the country.

I know Dubai is more tolerant than that but still....

[OhtoblazeswithElvira]

BBC said they were arrested in January Lord knows what's happening to them in prison. The South African government (he is from South Africa) has said that they cannot help because it's a matter of national law. So nobody is putting pressure to have these poor people released.

So long as these countries have oil and money they will do as they please and their wealth is built on slave labour and on our dependence on oil.

But hey it's a fab place to go on holiday

[specialsubject]

according to the news pages, they were both working there - he's been there five years. Hard to believe they didn't know the law.

Yes, it is a horrible law and will punish her much more - but that's these countries for you. They will never change.

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

I too thought Dubai was one of the more lenient countries, due to their tourist trade... clearly I'm wrong.

I remember that story about the woman who was raped too, horrific.

[ZilphasHatpin]

This is horrific. What are the punishments likely to be?

[onthettcbus]

Does this still apply if the woman gets pregnant before entering the country? I'm asking as my dsis is visiting with her partner in may and will be around 20 weeks pregnant, they are unmarried.

[brasty]

Yes it applies

[ZilphasHatpin]

How can it still apply if child conceived elsewhere (like the UK) The "crime" wasn't a crime where it happened! Surely Dubai cannot prosecute people for things people did in other countries? That is not possible surely?

[Pitchforktotheface]

onthebus if it were me, I'd tell your sister about this and if I were her I'd go. If she does choose to go, tell her to wear a 'wedding' ring.

[Pitchforktotheface]

I'd not go

[WannaBe]

Have just read the article and they were living there? Surely to God if you go and live in another country you acquaint yourself with the laws of said country? Especially if you know that many of those laws have an impact on women and couples as a whole? I thought it was common knowledge that e.g. Cohabiting was not allowed for instance and that unmarried couples should not e.g. Share hotel rooms and so on.

As an unmarried couple it would be incredibly unwise to even go there on holiday let alone live there together and have a baby.

And as for having a baby out there, if they didn't stay together residency is automatically awarded to the man and the woman could then be deported, so IMO any foreigner who goes out there to live and chooses to have children needs their head read.

[GnusSitOnCanoes]

If she needed medical attention while she was here, it could be difficult. Equally, it could be completely fine - no one asked one cared about my marital status here until I needed to register the birth. (Then I needed to show my marriage certificate.) And they are more likely to turn a blind eye if you're on a tourist not residency visa. But I guess it is still a risk.

[GnusSitOnCanoes]

WannaBe, residency is not automatically given to the father at all. I know many divorced, single mums with sole or shared custody of their kids here.

[Thegruffalowswife]

Bloody hell!!! Thank god I never plan to go there!