British tourists in Dubai risk being ‘charged’ for ‘attempted suicide’

British tourists in Dubai face ‘attempted suicide’ charges, it has been warned. A 28-year-old Irish woman has been charged with “attempted suicide” by a Dubai court, with politicians and campaigners calling for her release.

Tori Towey, 28, faces criminal charges in Dubai for “attempted suicide” and drinking. Mrs Towey was hospitalized with serious injuries after an alleged attack by her husband, Politicians reported.

Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald said: “Her passport has been destroyed. A travel ban was imposed on him and he went to the authorities to seek protection many times, but to no avail. But following a particularly severe beating in which her husband repeatedly tried to slam doors on her arms and break her limbs, she escaped upstairs and tried to take her own life.

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“The system there, instead of protecting this woman, who is an Irish citizen, chose instead to detain her, to charge her. Tori wants to come home. Simple as that. She’s a Roscommon woman, she wants to come home.

“And I ask now, as an absolute emergency, that we have a statement from this house, that you intervene, that the ambassador is called in, and that it be made absolutely clear to the authorities in Dubai that no woman should be treated in this way. . And an Irish citizen, an Irish woman, will not be treated that way.”

Radha Stirling, chief executive of the human rights organization Detained in Dubai, which is helping the Toweys, said: “It is amazing that the authorities did not intervene to protect Tori, given the condition her body was in when she was admitted to the hospital for the first time.

“Worse than failing her, the authorities in Dubai banned her from traveling and kept her in the country when she tried to escape. The UAE used to charge rape victims with “sex outside of marriage”. He now accuses victims of domestic violence of “attempted suicide” and alcohol consumption. Dubai Police need to be educated on victim care.”

Tori was allegedly attacked and left with severe bruising and other injuries in a violent incident. Simon Harris, the taoiseach, told the Dáil he was ready to “step in” on the matter. Harris said she was not aware of the case, but noted her situation had been raised with the foreign minister by Sinn Féin.