News (Media Awareness Project) - New Zealand: 'I Was Horrified That I Was In Prison' - Christchurch Student |
| Title: | New Zealand: 'I Was Horrified That I Was In Prison' - Christchurch Student |
| Published On: | 2007-02-06 |
| Source: | Press, The (New Zealand) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-12 16:04:20 |
'I WAS HORRIFIED THAT I WAS IN PRISON' - CHRISTCHURCH STUDENT
A horrifying 10-day ordeal in a Dubai prison felt like "10 years",
Mariam Shafeek says.
Shafeek arrived at Auckland International Airport yesterday after a
holiday with family in Egypt ended in her arrest in Dubai on the way home.
"It's extremely good to be back. It hasn't really sunk in yet," she
said last night.
The 22-year-old Christchurch student was arrested at Dubai Airport on
January 25 after being found with 0.2g of marijuana in her purse.
She spent 10 days in Dubai's al-Markapet women's jail as police and
lawyers discussed her case and her Auckland-based mother fought for
her release.
"It felt like so long. Time dragged so much. I was absolutely shocked
and horrified that I was in prison," Shafeek said.
She was released from jail on Saturday night (NZT) and the drug
charge against her was dropped, although it was not clear why.
"I didn't want to question it. I just wanted to get out," she said.
If she had been found guilty on the charge, Shafeek could have faced
four years in prison under United Arab Emirates law.
She denied any knowledge of the marijuana and was not sure how it got
in her bag, despite suggestions it was a "jealous" friend of her cousin.
"It was the first time I had seen it. When I was staying in Egypt I
moved around a lot, so it could have been anyone really," she said.
Shafeek tested negative to marijuana in police tests and she said she
did not smoke the drug.
An airport worker found the marijuana during a routine bag
inspection, she said.
"It was inside a jewellery box. She asked me what it was and I said,
"I don't know'. She asked me if it was mint. I just said, 'I don't know'."
Shafeek said her mother, Seham Ayad, helped her "heaps" and was
instrumental in her release.
"Without her I would probably still be in there. From inside, I
couldn't do much. They gave me the phone for 10 minutes a day," Shafeek said.
Shafeek will return to Christchurch tomorrow so she can resume the
final year of her medical imaging degree at the Christchurch
Polytechnic Institute of Technology.
She said she would not be returning to Dubai "anytime soon".
A horrifying 10-day ordeal in a Dubai prison felt like "10 years",
Mariam Shafeek says.
Shafeek arrived at Auckland International Airport yesterday after a
holiday with family in Egypt ended in her arrest in Dubai on the way home.
"It's extremely good to be back. It hasn't really sunk in yet," she
said last night.
The 22-year-old Christchurch student was arrested at Dubai Airport on
January 25 after being found with 0.2g of marijuana in her purse.
She spent 10 days in Dubai's al-Markapet women's jail as police and
lawyers discussed her case and her Auckland-based mother fought for
her release.
"It felt like so long. Time dragged so much. I was absolutely shocked
and horrified that I was in prison," Shafeek said.
She was released from jail on Saturday night (NZT) and the drug
charge against her was dropped, although it was not clear why.
"I didn't want to question it. I just wanted to get out," she said.
If she had been found guilty on the charge, Shafeek could have faced
four years in prison under United Arab Emirates law.
She denied any knowledge of the marijuana and was not sure how it got
in her bag, despite suggestions it was a "jealous" friend of her cousin.
"It was the first time I had seen it. When I was staying in Egypt I
moved around a lot, so it could have been anyone really," she said.
Shafeek tested negative to marijuana in police tests and she said she
did not smoke the drug.
An airport worker found the marijuana during a routine bag
inspection, she said.
"It was inside a jewellery box. She asked me what it was and I said,
"I don't know'. She asked me if it was mint. I just said, 'I don't know'."
Shafeek said her mother, Seham Ayad, helped her "heaps" and was
instrumental in her release.
"Without her I would probably still be in there. From inside, I
couldn't do much. They gave me the phone for 10 minutes a day," Shafeek said.
Shafeek will return to Christchurch tomorrow so she can resume the
final year of her medical imaging degree at the Christchurch
Polytechnic Institute of Technology.
She said she would not be returning to Dubai "anytime soon".
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