Man who made an appeal for charity on Fb arrested in Dubai

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In Dubai, a man who appealed for assistance for charity on Facebook was arrested for 22 days after being charged with making the appeal for fund raising without a permit. F. Scott Richards, who has British-Australian citizenship, promoted on his profile the event for fund raising in order to purchase blankets and canvas camps for Afghan refugees.

Dubai has strict laws that do not permit the raising of funds for charity if the entity is not registered in the United Arab Emirates and without the written approval of the Charities Events Department in Dubai. Those breaching the law can be sentenced to between two months and a year in prison and a €30,000 fine.

Police confirmed that Richards made use of the social media to recommend a fund-raising event run by a charitable institution in the United States that works in Afghanistan. The aim was to raise €40,000 for new camps, blankets, and clothes for children living in the Chahari Qambar refugee camp, which is situated outside Kabul. Four years ago, more than 100 children died due to cold weather.

Richards was arrested at his house on the 28th of July and is being held in custody at the police station in Al Murraqabat. He was allowed to see his wife once a week and make limited phone calls.