A British grandfather has been stranded in Dubai after being arrested for trespassing while asking a New Year’s party to turn down their music.
Ian and Carol McKellar were visiting their daughter and granddaughter in the UAE over the New Year.
Ian went to complain about loud music at a nearby New Year’s Eve party that was “rattling the windows”. After knocking on the front door he went into the back garden where he was chased out and down the street by three men and a woman, the host.
The next day, police knocked on the door accusing him of trespassing and arrested him. The neighbours refuse to drop the charges.
His family hoped the matter would be resolved and could come home but Carol has told the BBC that Dubai Police have proceeded his case to court.
She said: “The police have completed their investigations. Ian has been given a new case number and we’ve been told the case will be going from a complaint case to a court case.
“We’re very upset. I just want him home. His sister has decided to fly over to see him as we are so worried about him, mentally and physically.”
The 74-year-old retired economics professor faces up to a year in prison, despite his wife desperately appealing to politicians, lawyers and the British embassy for help.
Ms Mackeller told the Times: “If Ian goes to prison, I just know he could not survive that. I am dreading never seeing him again. We just need somebody to help us.”
She fears her husband, who has a stent in his heart, is in danger of “sinking into a deep depression”.
The couple, from Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire, live on a UK state pension and have already spent £8,000 on legal fees.
A spokesman for their Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire, Andrew Bowie, said: “Andrew has engaged with the Foreign Office after being contacted by Mr McKellar, and has given details of his case to the relevant minister.
“Andrew’s office are giving Mr McKellar’s family advice and support, and are working to help get him the medical help he needs.”
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said: “This is a very sad situation. Nobody would ever imagine that a polite request to turn the music down would result in a travel ban and criminal prosecution.
“Again and again, we are reminded that a simple trip to Dubai can indeed be a one-way ticket. If the case isn’t dropped, Ian will likely end up in prisons notorious for human rights violations, and he simply doesn’t deserve it.”
