Houston woman being held in Dubai for screaming in public

A Houston woman who traveled to Dubai for a vacation is currently being held in the Middle Eastern nation after she was arrested for allegedly screaming in public. In an interview with FOX 26, Tierra Young Allen’s mother said authorities charged her daughter with the aforementioned offense after she screamed back at a man who had initially yelled at her.

She has since been in custody for two months. “It also could result in prison time. So it’s very scary,” Allen’s mother, Tina Baxter, said. Baxter said the incident occurred after her daughter and her friend got involved in an accident, adding that the vehicle they were riding in had been rented by Allen’s friend.

Baxter said things later escalated after her daughter returned to the rental company for her ID, credit card, and other items she left at the establishment. “She found out she could only receive those items if she paid an undisclosed amount of money. She dealt with a very aggressive individual a young man there who was screaming at her,” Baxter said.

The woman’s mother also said her daughter got in trouble for screaming back at the man. “She is in jail for one reason and one reason alone, she raised her voice. In that country, a female is not even allowed to raise her voice. If she raises her voice it’s punishable by jail time,” Community Activist Quanell X said. 

“It’s been very emotional. There are some days I stay up all night crying,” an emotional Baxter said. She also said her daughter’s passport has since been withheld, preventing her from returning to her home country. She also said an investigation into the incident has been launched.

“It’s very frightening. The longer she’s been there the more reality has started to kick in,” she said.

“They have a strict law system that is really based on theocracy,” Quanell X added. “Laws and customs are very different, so be aware of your actions to ensure they don’t offend” if you’re in the United Arab Emirates.

“In our opinion, she did not commit a crime. Don’t punish women for doing the same thing a man can do in Dubai. It’s not fair and it’s not right. I’ve reached out to Dubai Consulate. I’ve reached out to the American Consulate there in Dubai,” Quanell continued. 

“I have also reached out to the US and UAE embassies. I’m still awaiting responses.”