British-Iranian Woman Faces Jail In U.A.E. For Facebook Insult

RFL/RE – A British-Iranian woman is facing two years in jail in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) for allegedly insulting her ex-husband’s new wife on Facebook, a campaign group says.

The Detained In Dubai campaign group said Laleh Shahravesh, 55, was arrested at Dubai airport in March after flying there to attend her ex-husband’s funeral.

The group said she faced up to two years in jail and a fine of £50,000 ($65,000) for two Facebook posts she wrote in Persian while living in Britain in 2016.

In one post, Shahravesh said: “I hope you go under the ground, you idiot. Damn you. You left me for this horse.”

Detained In Dubai said her ex-husband’s new wife, who lives in Dubai, reported the comments.

Under the U.A.E.’s cybercrime laws, a person can be jailed and fined for making defamatory statements on social media.

The British Foreign Office said it was supporting the mother of one, who lives in London.

Based on reporting by BBC and The Guardian