Two Ohio brothers, one an Air Force veteran, have been sentenced to spend four months in a Dubai prison for an incident involving drinking on a yacht in June, a crime in the United Arab Emirates.
Radha Stirling, CEO of human rights organization Detained in Dubai, claims the brothers were drugged and robbed on the same night as the drinking incident that led to their imprisonment. Stirling is advocating for the brothers and seeking assistance from U.S. lawmakers, including Republican Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
The State Department has confirmed that it is aware of the Lopez brothers' arrests and is monitoring the situation closely. U.S. citizens are reminded that they are subject to the laws of the foreign countries they visit or reside in, even if those laws differ from U.S. law.
The UAE has strict laws regarding alcohol, public decency, drugs, photography, social media usage, and LGBTQ-related activities. The State Department has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the UAE due to terrorism threats and warns that alcohol consumption is limited in certain private areas. Public drunkenness and driving under the influence are considered serious offenses with potential hefty penalties.
Stirling alleges that the Lopez brothers were targeted by scammers while on vacation in Dubai and are appealing their sentence. She emphasizes that Dubai is not as safe for tourists as it is marketed and urges the U.S. to increase travel warnings for Americans visiting the city.
If the brothers' appeal is unsuccessful, they could face months in Dubai jails known for human rights abuses. Stirling highlights previous cases of tourists facing unjust charges in Dubai and warns of potential extortion and imprisonment for visitors.
