...or they think you must be a terrorist....
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A UAE(Dubai) citizen was violently arrested last week in Avon, Ohio.
Ahmed Al Menhali, an Emirati businessman was visiting the Untied States, and the front desk clerk of the Fairfield Inn contacted her sister and her father and expressed concern and panic. Both her sister and her father called 911, and the police responded in four minutes.
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All of this was a complete misunderstanding: the clerk heard the man speaking in Arabic and became scared. There was no pledging allegiance to ISIS at all, merely speaking in Arabic. The clerk expressed concern over having multiple phones, which for international people is extremely common, as they have a local prepaid phone and their phone from their home country. He was using the phones to call other hotels since the Fairfield Inn was apparently fully booked due to the coming Republican National Convention.
The police department and the mayor of Avon have issued public apologies to Ahmed Al Menhali, who was visiting the United States for medical tourism, to receive treatment following a stroke. He then collapsed during the arrest and had to be taken to a local hospital.
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As a result, the UAE has issued a public warning for their citizens to avoid the traditional dress for fear of their safety.
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Translation: Note the citizens traveling abroad not to wear the uniform when traveling, especially in public places so as to preserve their safety
Mr Menhali detailed his experience saying, “They were brutal with me…They pressed forcefully on my back. I had several injuries and bled from the forceful nature of their arrest.”
The United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry expressed “discontent over the abusive treatment by the Ohio police of a UAE citizen”
When looking at footage of the arrest, it is very aggressive. Mr Menhali is extremely calm and relaxed through the entire incident, which makes you wonder why such heavy-handed tactics were used.
Ahmed Al Menhali is speaking with his lawyers and considering the future course of action.