US social media influencer is facing Dubai jail term for screaming.
A social media influencer, Tierra Young Allen, has been detained in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (The U.A.E.), for over two months after being charged with “the crime” of screaming and is now facing jail time.
Issues began in April, after Young, 29, got into an altercation with a rental company. Young and a friend had been involved in an accident with a vehicle from the company.
Young had returned to the company to pick up some of her valuables but was slammed with a bill she never saw coming. In no time, an argument began, which eventually ended with Young screaming, immediately violating one of the country’s laws on noise in public spaces.
Tina Baxter, Young’s mom in an interview with Fox 26, recounting her child’s ordeal disclosed that her daughter could now be facing prison time for the crime.
“It’s very scary,” says Baxter, who explained how things took a different turn when her daughter went to the rental car company to retrieve her ID and credit card amongst other items left in the car.
“She found out she could only receive those items if she paid an undisclosed amount of money. She dealt with a very aggressive individual, a young man there who was screaming at her.”
Baxter continued saying her daughter eventually yelled back, which ended in her being charged with “the crime” of screaming.
The argument was captured on a surveillance tape which will be used during the trial.
Authorities in Dubai have since seized Allen’s passport and imposed a travel ban on her while the matter is being investigated.
Popular American activist and leader of the New Black Panther Nation in Houston, Quanell X, who has been involved with Young’s case, explained that the strict laws of the system governing the country are heavily influenced by theocracy.
Quanell X further explained that the country frowns upon raised voices, especially for women, this act is deemed unacceptable.
“They have a strict law system that is based on theocracy. She is in jail for one reason and one reason alone, she raised her voice. In that country, a female is not even allowed to raise her voice. If she raises her voice it’s punishable by jail time,” Quanell X explained.
“In our opinion, she did not commit a crime. Don’t punish women for doing the same thing a man can do in Dubai. It’s not fair, and it’s not right.”
