Brit tourist faces a year in Dubai prison for swearing and blaspheming

A British tourist is facing jail in Dubai for up to a year - for swearing and blasphemy.

Andrew Graham, 40, reportedly called the Islamic prophet Muhammad a 'terrorist' in a heated row with salesman in a Dubai shopping mall, a court heard yesterday.

He faces spending a year in a Dubai jail if he is convicted of insulting Islam.

The holidaymaker was browsing in Mall of the Emirates (pictured) when he got into an argument with Hassan Habeeb, a 21-year-old salesman from Pakistan.

Reports in the Daily Mail say that, during the row, Graham allegedly said that 'Muslims in Pakistan are not normal because they kill each other and kill people outside Pakistan'.

Mr Habeeb said he tried to tell the Brit that Muslims were 'peaceful people and are all brothers who help each other'.

In a written statement produced before the Dubai Court of Misdemeanours yesterday, the Pakistani salesman said: 'He laughed and said that I'm crazy and that prophet Muhammad was not a peaceful man but he is a terrorist.'

Mr Habeeb then reportedly became angry and tried to punch Graham, only for a customer to intervene, it was said.

The tourist was then taken to a police station and charged with swearing in public and insulting Islam.

Graham first appeared in court wearing shorts and was ordered to change into trousers by the judge on the grounds of decency. Once in the appropriate attire, he pleaded not guilty .

In a police statement, Graham said: 'I spoke with him about the problems between the Pakistani government and Taliban and I understood that the Pakistani is a supporter of the Taliban.

'I told him he was crazy because they were terrorists and they kill people and bomb each other. I didn't say anything bad about Muslims and the prophet.'

The judge released Graham on bail and will deliver his verdict on June 9.

The case once again highlights the difficulties faced by some of the one million Britons who visit Dubai each year.

Officials in the Gulf state have prosecuted several British tourists for indecent behaviour and for swearing in public over the past three years.

Last year, Londeoners Charlotte Adams and Ayman Najafi were jailed for one month by a Dubai court for kissing and fondling each other in a restaurant - a breach of strict decency laws.

The pair always maintained the embrace was only a 'peck on the cheek', but they were arrested after a local woman claimed she spotted them kissing on the lips.

They were jailed for indecency and also fined £180 for being under the influence of alcohol in a public place.

Last month, Dubai laws hit the headlines again after a British tourist was allegedly beaten to death in a prison cell for swearing in public.

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