DUBAI: A Bahraini woman beat a man with her shoe after he stopped her in a mall in Dubai and asked her for sex, she told the Dubai Court of First Instance this week.
The 28-year-old Algerian man, who was visiting Dubai, has been jailed for six months for molesting the woman and cursing at her in public.
The woman, a Bahraini lawyer, 43, was walking around the mall when the man asked her to stop and allegedly propositioned her, Gulf News reported.
She removed her shoe and started beating him and filmed the incident on her mobile phone to show the police.
According to the ruling, the accused, who entered a not guilty plea, will be deported after serving his jail term.
In court, he said: “I did not molest her. She cursed my mother and I slapped and pushed her.”
However, the woman’s lawyer said that she beat him over his alleged inappropriate comments.
“He called out to me saying ‘please ... please stop’. I ignored him and continued walking. Then he called me again and I stopped. He told me that he wanted to get to know me and have sex with me … I took off my slipper and hit him. He then cursed me and also cursed Arabs. I yelled at him to draw other shoppers’ attention … but no one intervened. I put my slipper back on and walked away … he took me by surprise and touched me twice. Thereafter I filmed him with my mobile and then he ran away,” she said.
The ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days, the newspaper reported.
Woman beats man with shoe after he ‘made lewd advances’ in Dubai mall
Woman beats man with shoe after he ‘made lewd advances’ in Dubai mall
Essex man takes on charity endurance challenge for children in Gaza
- Mark Watson, 63, is undertaking a “virtual Sumud” journey from his Essex home town in Harlow to Gaza, covering 2,287 miles
LONDON: A man in England has launched a demanding charity challenge to raise funds for children affected by the war in Gaza.
Mark Watson, 63, is undertaking a “virtual sumud” journey from his Essex home town in Harlow to Gaza, covering 3,680 km running, walking, swimming, cycling and rowing.
He is raising money for Medical Aid for Palestinians, a UK-based humanitarian organization that provides healthcare to Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied territories.
“I have felt helpless day after day seeing images of countless children in Gaza with broken bodies and missing limbs and witnessing their unbearable suffering,” Watson said on his JustGiving page.
“I have been inspired by the courage of those who took part in the global sumud flotilla and all of the activists who have put their lives and freedom at risk supporting the Palestinian people and so I am raising funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians.
“My challenge is to complete a virtual sumud from Harlow, where I live, to Gaza. Running, walking, swimming, cycling and rowing I will cover the 2,287 miles as quickly as I can.
“I am an unfit, overweight 63-year-old, so I’m not going to break any records, but the Arabic word Sumud means steadfastness and perseverance, and I will give it my all.
Watson added: “I hope to be joined by people I love and admire along the way, so please support my fundraiser. Every donation, however small, will help save the lives of Palestinians.”
As of Jan. 3, his fundraising effort had reached 12 per cent of its £5,000 ($6,733) target.
The war in Gaza began after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on southern Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign in Gaza, which local health authorities say has resulted in the deaths of more than 71,000 Palestinians, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and a severe humanitarian crisis.
International aid agencies have repeatedly said that children are among the most affected, facing injury, displacement, malnutrition and limited access to medical care.
Watson said he was inspired by activists and humanitarian efforts supporting Palestinians and hopes his challenge can make a small contribution to saving lives.
