A European and an Asian man have been sentenced to six months in jail and ordered deported from the UAE for hugging and kissing each other in public. But the two men denied the charges and appealed the sentence at another court in Abu Dhabi.
An eye witness testified in court that he saw the two kissing each other on the mouth but the European insisted he kissed his traveling Asian friend on the head to bid him farewell.
“The witness said he was driving past the two when he saw them kissing,” the Arabic language daily Alkhaleej said.
“He told court he was not sure of what he saw, so he returned and took a closer look to see that they were kissing on the mouth.”
The prosecution, based on that testimony, charged the two with committing indecent act in public place, prompting the court to sentence them to six months in prison and ordering their deportation of the UAE after completing their jail terms.
At the appeals session on Monday, the defence lawyer requested court to acquit his clients and annual the previous sentence. The court adjourned hearings for sentence on March 27.