Ayman Najafi, 24, will appear in court alongside a 25-year-old female British tourist to appeal against a one-month prison sentence.

In a phone call to his distraught mother on Saturday, Mr Najafi said: "I haven't done anything wrong mum, hopefully I will clear my name and then I can come back."

The pair were allegedly seen kissing on the mouth in a restaurant, breaching Dubai's strict decency laws. They were arrested by police in November last year and appeared in court last week.

According to reports, a judge at Dubai's Misdemeanours Court heard written evidence from the 38-year-old mother who initially 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 Mr Najafi's claim that he had merely kissed the woman on the cheek and sentenced both defendants to a month in jail followed by deportation.

The Britons were bailed pending Sunday's appeal against the sentence. The Dubai authorities are holding their passports so that they cannot leave the country.

Mr Najafi has been working for marketing firm Hay Group in Dubai for about 18 months.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that a British national was arrested in Dubai on November 27. Consular assistance was provided at the time."

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20100314/tuk-p...ce-6323e80.html

Is this the country that is praying for tourism to fill the gap left by it's rapidly diminishing oil supplies?

Ayman Najafi sounds to be Lebanese - probably origins in Christian-Lebanese society, but he should still know the rules in Muslim society.

When I was first married it was to a Spanish girl in Franco's time. Even in the middle of Madrid we did not hold hands or do anything else in public - because the local mores were very conservative.

This still applies in many countries, Muslim or otherwise.

Here in Vietnam it is not usual to hold hands or kiss in public.

Less unusual in Singapore, but still not common.

Why can't people try to control themselves in public, especially in countries with conservative regimes?

I have no sympathy with the guy - who is resident there - and little for the woman - who (maybe) drank a little too much alcohol.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/...restaurant.html

(The link is to the Daily Telegraph - of course - which gives a touch more detail)