A British woman and Irish man accused of engaging in sexual activities in a Dubai taxi pleaded not guilty on Thursday, in the latest case of Westerners falling foul of the Gulf Arabemirate's decency laws.
If convicted, the pair could face jail and then deportation from the United Arab Emirates, which walks a delicate line between keeping its Muslim identity and maintaining a successful tourism industry.
Rebecca Blake and Conor McRedmond both denied charges of "breach of honour with consent" and committing "an indecent act in a taxi" when they appeared in court.
They pleaded guiltyto a third charge related to consumption of alcohol, their lawyer said after the hearing, without elaborating. The judge postponed the next hearing to November 1.
There have been several cases in recent years of Westerners accusedof violating decencylaws in Dubai, the most cosmopolitan of the seven-member United Arab Emirates federation.
In 2008, a British couple was found guilty of engaging in drunken sexual activity out of wedlock, and in public on a beach. They were sentenced to three months in prison followed by deportation, but had their jail terms overturned on appeal.
In 2010, a British couple were sentenced to a month in jail and fined for kissing on the mouth in a restaurant.
Expatriates comprise more than 90 percent of the UAE's population, attracted by tax-free earnings and year-round sunshine.
Islam bans alcohol for Muslims. In the UAE, non-Muslims can drink at certain hotels and beach bars where all-you-can-drink brunches heave with revellers every weekend.
THE couple facing three years in jail forallegedly having sex in the back of a Dubai taxi today denied the charges in court.
High-flying executiveRebecca Blake and Irish welder Conor McRedmond appeared before a judge to face charges of having consensual sex - a crime punishable by jail in the Islamic United Arab Emirates- indecency and drinking alcohol.
They pleaded not guilty to the two sexcharges but admitted they had been drinking all daybefore they were arrested.
Blake, 29, who wore an Islamic hijab at her last court appearance but attended today withher head uncovered, was summonsed to stand before the judges' bench at Dubai Criminal Court with McRedmond, 28, instead of standing in the defendants' dock.
Judge Abdulaziz Mohammad Al Saadni said via a court translator:"You are charged with a breach of honour by carrying out a consensual illegal act and that ina taxi you took off your clothes on Sheikh Zayed road and engaged in an indecent act."
The pair shook their heads when the two charges - the first relating to having consensual sex and the second to stripping off in public - were read out in court.
When the translator read out a third charge relating to consumption of alcohol, Blake, who pleaded guilty, said:"I had been drinkingall day."
Mr McRedmond, of Tullamore, Co Offaly, added: "I had been drinking all day too."
Their lawyer, Shaker Al Shammary, asked to present their defence but the judge, who was standing in as a substitute, adjourned the case to give them a chance of a fair trial before a permanent judge.
Ms Blake, from Dorking in Surrey, England, and Mr McRedmond are facing a lengthy prison sentence if they are found guilty.
The pair were arrested on May 4 after a 10-hour drinking binge whena taxi driver pulled over and called on a patrolling policeman.
According to the public prosecution papers: "The Asian driver said he pickedup the couple from the Irish Village [bar]and saw them touching and kissingeach other on the back seat of the cab. He was looking at them in the mirror and decided to inform police."
Both the taxi driver and policeman are expected to give evidence
The case was adjourned until November 1.

When in Rome abide by Roman law, or get your butt hauled to jail.

Dubai is not Paris, or New York.

I am an American and I have rights!!!!




In America ONLY....

I am planning a trip to Dubai ...

Well while you're there don't get drunk and feel up some broad in the back of a taxi, or you may end up becoming that Irishmans celly.

So in Islam you cant kiss someone in public but you are free to molest any little girl you want? Talked about a messed up religion.