Dubai - An American woman who has been in custody for seven weeks in Abu Dhabi for allegedly insulting the UAE and its leaders appeared in court on Monday, local media reported.
The unnamed woman, 25, is charged with “insulting the country and its leaders through verbal assault,” English-language daily The National said.
She told the court that she was waiting for a taxi at Abu Dhabi airport when two men approached her and did not like the way she spoke to them.
The woman told the court she not know why she was on trial. The case is being treated as a misdemeanour.
“The men tried to help me. I had another flight to catch at 1.29am. I refused to engage with them and nothing happened,” the paper cited the defendant as saying.
The woman said she has been in custody since February 23. She asked the judge if she could pay a fine and go.
A verdict is set for May 2, the paper said.
AFP