Kissing Britons lose their appeal and now face one month in Dubai prison

TWO Britons convicted of kissing in public had their one-month prison sentence upheld by a Dubai court yesterday.

Ayman Najafi, 24, and Charlotte Adams, 25, were arrested by police in the Gulf resort last November after a woman complained they had been seen kissing on the mouth in a restaurant, breaching Dubai's strict decency laws.

They were sentenced last month when a judge at Dubai's Misdemeanours Court heard written evidence from a 38-year-old mother who complained to police.

She said she was offended by their behaviour at the Jumeirah Beach Residence, where she was dining with her daughter.

The judge dismissed Najafi's claim he had merely kissed Adams on the cheek and sentenced both to a month in jail followed by deportation.

The pair were bailed pending yesterday's appeal which has now been rejected.

Najafi and Adams attended yesterday's hearing, but did not speak.

Their lawyer, Khalaf al-Hosany, told the court in a previous hearing that they kissed on the cheek as a greeting and "never intended to break the law".

The couple have 30 days to appeal yesterday's ruling in a higher court.

Their lawyer said Najafi and Adams were not in a relationship, but knew each other before they met in Dubai.

Najafi worked for a marketing firm in Dubai and Adams was visiting the Muslim city-state with a Western outlook that has become famous for its beaches, ever-taller skyscrapers and anything-goes attitude.

Najafi said after the case: "It's very harsh, based on contradictory evidence.

"The courts haven't called on any of our witnesses who are prepared to testify that this didn't happen."

The couple decided not to start their sentence immediately, but the Dubai authorities are holding their passports so they are unable to return to Britain. Foreign Office advice for Britons going to the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is part, warn travellers to be wary of breaching local customs.

A statement on the FCO website reads: "Britons can find themselves facing charges relating to cultural differences, such as using bad language, rude gestures or public displays of affection."

Cosmopolitan Dubai has the most relaxed social codes in the conservative Gulf, but authorities enforce strict decency laws and regularly crack down on people accused of pushing the limits, which can include everything from wearing a mini skirt to losing one's temper in traffic.

In 2008, two Britons accused of having sex on the beach were jailed, though their sentences were later suspended.

Vince Acors, 34, of Bromley, south-east London, and Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, were initially given three-month sentences for unmarried sex and public indecency, but these were suspended on appeal.

Acors and Palmer were seen having sex on Jumeirah Beach in the early hours of 5 July 2008 after meeting at a champagne brunch in a five-star hotel.

A police officer said he had warned them about their behaviour, but returned later to find them having sex on a sun lounger.

They had denied having unmarried sex and public indecency, but admitted being drunk.

Palmer, who was working in Dubai as a publishing executive, was sacked after the allegations emerged.

Acors had been visiting the country at the time.

Last month, an Indian couple were sentenced to three months in jail for exchanging text messages.