A man who was charged in Dubai over allegations he sent "threatening" emojis from Ireland to a Belgian man has been freed.
According to Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai, Stuart Quiney, a 39 year old man from Co Wicklow, is currently flying from Dubai to Dublin on his way home.
Ms Stirling said that she is "absolutely ecstatic" that Mr Quiney's "nightmare is over."
Mr Quiney, a property renovator from Laragh in Co Wicklow, had faced being jailed in Dubai after being accused of sending threatening emojis from Ireland to a Belgian acquaintance who he claimed took his possessions without his permission.
In January 2022, Mr Quiney accompanied a friend to Dubai to help him with his move. He was introduced to a Belgian resident who helped his friend get an apartment by providing a local ID.
Mr Quiney stayed with his friend for two months, and left some belongings in the apartment when leaving as he had hoped to return a week later.
However, he claims the Belgian let himself into the apartment while Mr Quiney and his friend were away, and allegedly removed all their personal belongings without permission.
Some of the items allegedly taken included sentimental gifts from his late grandmother.
"I came over in June last year and sent him a few messages, basically saying I wanted my things back or I would go to the police but I got no reply again," Mr Quiney said.
Upon returning to Ireland, Mr Quiney found out that his "best friend," his grandmother, was ill and being moved into a home.
Ms Stirling said that Mr Quiney "dealt with the pain by drinking alcohol, something he only does once or twice a year.
"In a drunken state, he must [have] remembered the theft of his other grandmother’s gift, reached for his phone and sent some emojis (eg. ninja man and blood drop) to the Belgian.”
Mr Quiney did not think anything of it when booking his next flight to Dubai, but when he arrived in the country on September 6th, he was immediately taken into custody, transported to Al Barsha police station and told he could not leave the country.
He was advised that he could face several years in prison under strict laws that prohibit rude, offensive or threatening messages, even is expressed sarcastically, or jokingly between close friends or loved ones.
"These were serious allegations and it was touch and go but after an intense few weeks of work, we were able to get Stuart home with just a AED 10,000 fine."
She stressed that "the public should be aware that Stuart was lucky to get away without going to prison.
"His ordeal could have been prevented had he instructed a UAE Police Check before travel and we’d encourage repeat visitors to investigate their status before booking.
"The UAE Cybercrime Laws are so vague that almost everyone visiting the UAE is already in violation before they arrive," Ms Stirling said.
"The UAE applies its laws extraterritorially so visitors can be charged with online communication made from outside the country, even years before travelling to the Emirates.”
Mr Quiney told Ms Stirling before boarding his flight that he could not wait to get on the plane.
"It has been an emotional rollercoaster the past month. [I will] Probably feel the relief when I’m in the air. Thanks again for what you have done for me. Myself and family will be forever grateful to you and your team. I’m still a bit on edge until I’m actually in the air”.
Mr Quiney is expected to arrive in Dublin on Wednesday evening, just in time for Christmas, after more than 13 weeks.
He stayed with friends on the travel ban, and relied on financial support from his family since he could not work.
Ms Stirling urged the public to contact Detained in Dubai as quickly as possible after an arrest.
