STUDENT FACES COURT HEARING IN DUBAI

The Christchurch student held in Dubai on drugs charges will face a
preliminary hearing today to determine whether she has to face a full
trial.

Mariam Shafeek, 21, was arrested at Dubai airport one week ago after
being found with 0.2g of marijuana.

Her mother, Seham Ayad, has travelled to Dubai and managed to see her
on Tuesday.

"She's very low, she's getting very thin, she was in tears
constantly," she said.

"They are testing her and taking a lot of blood without saying what
it's for."

Ayad said she was worried about the hygiene in Shafeek's nine-woman
cell as many inmates were HIV positive.

Her daughter told her she was never leaving New Zealand
again.

Shafeek's lawyer initially told Ayad her daughter would probably only
spend a week in jail before being returned to New Zealand.

When she arrived in Dubai his story changed and Ayad no longer knew
when the matter would be resolved.

The usual penalty for marijuana possession in the United Arab Emirates
is four years in prison.

She said the New Zealand consulate could help by putting pressure on
the Dubai authorities to speed along the trial process.

"It all depends on tomorrow's hearing. If it's referred to the courts
I have no clue how long that will take. I'm not leaving without taking
my daughter with me," she said.