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Australian woman arrested in Abu Dhabi for 'bad words' on Facebook Australian woman arrested in Abu Dhabi to be deported soon, says Julie Bishop
(about 5 hours later)
An Australian woman arrested in the United Arab Emirates for “writing bad words on social media” says she is unsure what will happen to her. An Australian woman arrested in the United Arab Emirates for “writing bad words on social media” should be deported soon, Julie Bishop has said.
Jodi Magi, 39, allegedly posted a photo on Facebook of a car parked across two disabled spots outside her Abu Dhabi apartment. Jodi Magi, 39, was sentenced for a cyber crimes offence after reportedly posting a photo on Facebook of a car parked across two disabled spots outside her Abu Dhabi apartment.
The ABC reported that a complaint about the post landed Magi in an Abu Dhabi court, where she was found guilty of “writing bad words on social media about a person” and told she would be deported. Magi appeared in an Abu Dhabi court on 12 July to pay a court-ordered fine and was taken into custody pending deportation to Australia.
The foreign minister told reporters on Tuesday she expected Magi to be deported in “a very short time” and Australian consular officials were providing support to her and her husband.
She said it would not be appropriate for her to go into the details of the incident while Magi was still in detention.
Earlier Magi said she was unsure what would happen to her and accused the Australian government of failing to help her.
Magi told the ABC the government appeared interested only in its trade relationship.
“I was under the impressions that embassies were in countries to help citizens in times of difficulty,” she said.
“No one is talking to me, no one is telling me what’s going on,” she said on Tuesday.“No one is talking to me, no one is telling me what’s going on,” she said on Tuesday.
After being detained, Magi said she was driven around in a car for about four hours. After being detained, Magi said, she was driven around in a car for about four hours.
“And they were about to put me in male lock-up and then they turned me away – no one knows what to do with me. I’m pretty scared.”“And they were about to put me in male lock-up and then they turned me away – no one knows what to do with me. I’m pretty scared.”
Magi told ABC radio the Australian government only appeared interested in its trade relationship.
“I was under the impressions that embassies were in countries to help citizens in times of difficulty,” she said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has been contacted for comment.