Elizabeth (21 years old) is imprisoned in Dubai

This week, American student Elizabeth Polanco de los Santos (21 years old) was sentenced to one year in prison in Dubai.

the reason? She allegedly “touched” the arm of an airport security guard.

The accident occurred on July 14.

According to the legal group Detained in Dubaiwho is helping the 21-year-old in the emirate, Los Santos, was on holiday in Turkey with a friend.

They refer to the 21-year-old as a hard-working student and employee.

“After losing her 44-year-old father and undergoing surgery, she needed some relief. I decided to go to Istanbul for a few days with a friend. Unfortunately, they chose to stop in Dubai instead of Paris on their way back home. They were scheduled to spend no more than ten hours in the city», writes the group of lawyers in one press release.

– Afraid and exploited

But at the airport, things went wrong for the young American. In conjunction with the surgery she had previously undergone, Los Santos wore a compression waistband.

During security screening at the airport, the 21-year-old was asked to decompress. She was moved to a back room, write to the lawyers in the book “Detained in Dubai”.

Moreover, they claim that the guards speak Arabic among themselves, making fun of Los Santos. When she finally needed help putting the compression garment back on, the women allegedly refused to help.

Confronted with the site, the 21-year-old describes an uncomfortable and helpless situation.

“I felt uncomfortable, afraid, embarrassed, and exploited,” she tells the legal group, adding that the women gave her what she describes as an “ugly look.”

Cancer patient Natalia (44 years old) did not get food

When no one in the room wanted to help Los Santos with the waist compression procedure, the 21-year-old started calling her friend. That must have been when Los Santos came across the female security guard’s arm.

– Cumbersome process

After several hours of “detention” at the airport, the 21-year-old was forced to sign papers in Arabic to be allowed to leave the room, according to the lawyers.

When she was later ready to board the plane that was supposed to take her friends to New York, Los Santos was told that she had been prevented from leaving – and that she could not leave the emirate until the case was dealt with in court. .

The report indicates that Los Santos “assaulted and insulted” a security guard at Dubai Airport.

The American then had to stay in Dubai and has spent the past eleven weeks staying in various hotels.

On August 24, the court decided to fine Los Santos FC 10,000 UAE dirhams, equivalent to 29,600 Norwegian kroner, as stated in an updated report by Detained in Dubai. press release.

-Dangerous place to visit

The prosecution appealed the ruling, and this week the 21-year-old was sentenced to a year in prison – after what was described as a “cumbersome legal procedure”.

Elizabeth intended to stay in Dubai for six hours, but now she has been there for several months and has lost $50,000 in housing expenses and legal fees, says lawyer and human rights activist Radha Stirling.

She is the founder of Detained in Dubai, which specializes in legal issues in the Middle East. Furthermore, she says Los Santos missed large portions of the semester.

– Doesn’t Dubai want the airport to be a transportation hub that people want to choose? She’s not the only American citizen caught up in the country’s underdeveloped justice system.

Afraid of prison

In August, Tierra Young Allen (29 years old) was able to return to the United States after spending several months in Dubai. The reason was that the 29-year-old shouted at an employee at a car rental company.

American Peter Clarke has been banned from leaving after blood tests showed traces of marijuana – which he claims he smoked legally in Las Vegas before entering Dubai.

according to New York Post The Los Santos case has been reported to the US State Department.

– A very sad message

-US citizens should be aware that Dubai is a dangerous place to visit. Any country where an unproven allegation can lead to long prison terms is an unacceptable option for tourists. Sterling says Dubai must work hard to stop this type of legal violation.

According to the legal group, Los Santos now fears being housed in the notorious Al Aweer prison, despite the Dubai detention center calling for her immediate release.