Tyrone man detained in Dubai over Google review

A Northern Irish man is facing two years in a Dubai jail over a Google review. Autism support worker, Craig Ballentine, was arrested three weeks ago after arriving in Abu Dhabi to visit friends.

We understand that following his arrest he was transported to Dubai to face charges of slander under the UAE's strict cybercrime law which bans any form of online criticism.

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai who aids people facing legal difficulties in the Gulf States, is supporting the Cookstown native. Craig told Ms Stirling: "Mum was so upset and stressed, she thought I was dead".

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Ms Stirling warns his case "will send shockwaves to tourists and expats who feel safe posting online from the safety of their own countries" and has appealed to NI First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Craig’s local representative "to make diplomatic representations to the UAE’s Ambassador and FCDO".

"We hope she can assist in the same way Ireland helped Tori Towey come home."

Ms Stirling added: "Craig has been advised by local lawyers there is almost zero chance of the case against him being dropped. Craig deleted the post, apologised but still faces jail. It's outrageous."

We understand the online post that sparked his arrest was about a place in Dubai where Craig had worked for six months last year. Detained in Dubai report that Craig was diagnosed with fibromyalgia while working there and after informing his boss and sending a doctor's note, it is understood that the employer registered him as "absconded" with authorities which caused him a legal nightmare.

As a result, the group says he was left unemployed and trying to remove a travel ban from his passport so he could return home to Northern Ireland - a fight which took months and cost Craig thousands.

Following the furore, Craig is understood to have left an online review about the place he worked and his ex-boss, noting the issues he faced and had no idea that several months later, he would face prosecution.

According to Detained in Dubai, Craig has since removed the post but after flying out again to visit friends is now stuck in the country, absent from his job as an autism support worker and is facing two years in a Dubai jail.

Ms Stirling says: "We’ve seen people arrested for complaining to customer service or for leaving online reviews on hotels and rental car agencies.

"The UAE's recently enacted Cybercrime laws are a nightmare for foreigners. It is sufficient for a complainant to simply tell police that someone posted something offensive or rude. The police don’t even need to see the actual post.

"Craig needs to get home and get to work. It’s atrocious that authorities are allowing such frivolous criminal reports to entangle visitors in the system. The sheer number of cybercrime reports they receive must be significant. There are no protections or safeguards and people’s lives are being ruined.

"We have reached out to Craig’s local representative, Michelle O'Neill to implore her to make diplomatic representations to the UAE’s Ambassador and FCDO. We hope she can assist in the same way Ireland helped Tori Towey come home."

UK Foreign Affairs, the DFA in Ireland and NI's Executive Office have been contacted for comment.

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