British man faces jail in Dubai over charity Facebook post

A British man has been arrested in Dubai for posting a fundraising link on his Facebook page.

Scott Richards, who also has Australian citizenship, was detained by police after sharing a link to an online fundraising page aimed at delivering blankets and clothes to refugees in Afghanistan.

"Strict new laws prohibit the operation of any charity not registered in the United Arab Emirates," the BBC reports. Donations or advertising fundraising campaigns without prior written approval from the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department was made a criminal offence last year.

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The 42-year-old has now been charged with the offence, after spending 22 days in detention. He faces up to a year in prison for the crime as well as a maximum fine of 100,000 dirhams (£20,000).

An economic development adviser, Richards moved to Dubai from Adelaide with his wife and two children. His family claim he is being poorly treated and could be detained for months or even years without trial. The UK Foreign Office says it is providing consular assistance.

"His wife is under extreme stress," his mother Penelope Haberfield told the BBC. "She can only take the clothes to him once a week. She takes him money so that he can buy water and extra food."

Radha Stirling, from the group Detained in Dubai, told ABC News that new laws and arbitrary detentions are common in the UAE. "There are constantly expats falling foul of the law," she said. "There are so many laws, it's so different, but UAE doesn't make any effort to inform expats."