This is the emotional moment a Brit who faced two years in a Dubai jail for writing a negative online review about his employer was reunited with a friend as he returned to the UK.
Craig Ballentine, 33, from Cookstown, County Tyron, Northern Ireland, landed in Dublin on Thursday morning in time for Christmas after his travel ban was lifted.
Footage shows an emotional Ballentine arriving on Irish soil as he is greeted by his friend Sean at the arrivals hall.
His release came after several politicians highlighted Ballentine’s case, including Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill.
Upon Ballentine’s return, O’Neill said: ‘I am delighted to hear the news that Craig has arrived back in Ireland. It has been a difficult few months for him and his family who were concerned for his safety.
‘My office was happy to assist in any way we could throughout this ordeal. I hope that Craig can now enjoy time at home in the company of his family and friends who have supported him throughout this difficult situation.’
Ballentine had accepted a role last year in a Dubai canine salon where he worked for nearly six months.
While in Dubai, Mr Ballentine was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and needed to take days off work.
Craig Ballentine made an emotional return to Ireland after being detained in Dubai
Craig was greeted by a friend at Dublin airport when he arrived on Irish soil yesterday morning
“The last two months have been overwhelming, but getting home is a Christmas miracle.”
Cookstown man Craig Ballentine returns home after being detained in Dubai for two months. pic.twitter.com/L4z3xBlmtN
— BBC News NI (@BBCNewsNI) December 20, 2024
He informed his boss and sent her his doctor’s note but according to Dubai employment law his employers reported him to the authorities as ‘absconded’, his lawyers say.
This led to his unemployment and a travel ban that took two months and thousands of pounds to remove before he could return home to Northern Ireland.
After returning home, Ballentine, who is an Autism support worker, left a Google review complaining about the Dubai grooming centre, his former boss and the problems she had caused.
Ballentine later visited Abu Dhabi in October this year for a short holiday with friends.
But suddenly, he was taken to Dubai to face charges of slander and was again stuck in the country, facing two years in prison due to the United Arab Emirates’ extremely strict cyber laws.
Upon his return yesterday, Ballentine told BBC Northern Ireland said it was a ‘Christmas miracle’ to be able to make it back home in time for the festive period.
‘The happiness kicked in when I just arrived at Dublin Airport, when I saw Dublin from the sky, that was it’, he told the broadcaster.
It comes as British teenager Marcus Fakana, 18, faces a year in a hellhole Dubai prison over a holiday fling while visiting the UAE.
Craig Ballentine (pictured) accepted a role last year in a Dubai canine salon where he worked for nearly six months. When he returned to the UK, he wrote a scathing review about his employer
When he returned to Dubai in October for a holiday with friends, he ended up detained due to extremely strict cyber laws in the UAE
Fakana, of Tottenham, north London, enjoyed a holiday romance with the 17-year-old girl at the Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah – but her mother reported him to the authorities after finding birth control pills in her daughter’s luggage.
He was originally accused of rape, but it is not clear whether the accusation of rape originally came from the girl’s mother or was due to a misunderstanding or mis-translation by police officers, but the term ‘raped by force’ in Arabic appeared on the initial police report.
But he was cleared after police reviewed hotel CCTV footage which showed the girl going into his hotel bedroom at 4am.
However, the fact that she was 17 put her under Dubai’s age of sexual consent and Marcus was convicted of having under-age sex and will spend one year behind bars.
Conclusion:
Craig Ballentine’s case highlights the importance of understanding the laws and regulations of the countries we visit. While Ballentine’s experience was traumatic, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of being aware of our surroundings and respecting the laws of the land.
FAQs:
Q: What happened to Craig Ballentine?
A: Craig Ballentine was detained in Dubai for two years after writing a negative online review about his employer. He was eventually released and returned to the UK.
Q: Why was Craig Ballentine detained in Dubai?
A: Craig Ballentine was detained in Dubai due to the country’s strict cyber laws, which prohibit online defamation.
Q: What is the age of sexual consent in Dubai?
A: The age of sexual consent in Dubai is 18 years old.
Q: What happened to Marcus Fakana?
A: Marcus Fakana, a British teenager, was convicted of having under-age sex in Dubai and will spend one year in prison.
About The Author
