AnotherWorld

Im curious. I've heard all the stories. Immediate imprisonment for uncertain amount of time. Give birth in jail. Baby taken from mother. One story: Baby sent to one of the sheikh's foster homes and if female, raised to eventually become his housemaid/servant/whatever including sexual favours (yes! These are the crazy stories people here have told me!).

So what is the real truth and punishment for mother, father and child?

girlabouttown

Like with most things here I guess it depends who you are and who finds out.

Someone I actually know had a housemaid who became pregnant and only told her as she was about to deliver on the bathroom floor. The housemaid was taken to hospital where she was shackled to the bed and her baby was removed from her immediately after the birth. She is currently in prison. The husband (of the woman I know) was arrested and held in custody until it was proved that he was not the father.

The National has an article in it today which states many of the woman serving prison sentences are there because they had sex outside marriage.

AnotherWorld

THAT is a disturbing story. Just when the UAE comments on the UN's human rights report released about it.....

Any idea what her sentence was and how long ago she delivered?

bimcnorth

An expat or local woman found pregnant and unmarried may be arrested or repatriated unless she marries the man who fathered the baby. Or she could eventually face a prison term and should the baby be born during that time, it's to be sent to a relative but if no such relative is available the baby is kept in another area of the prison.
If you are pregnant and attend a hospital you have to provide your marriage certificate.

The Shariah laws in general are stricter for Muslims as the judges assume that they ought to know the score..

Jammy_Dodgers

We are in the same position, the wife was 4 months pregnant when we got married out here in Dubai.

AnotherWorld

You had the kid and noone said anything about conception dates etc? Or have you not even been asked for marriage certs etc so far?

busybee2

and nothing was said.... you were lucky as sometimes and only sometimes they will work out in the hospitals etc when you got married/pregnant etc.

Jammy_Dodgers

The baby has not been born yet.
He is due any day now.
What will happen is that the hospital will not issue the birth certificate until they see our wedding certificate.

I guess i will not know what happens until then

AnotherWorld

...she'll be right Can't you ask trusted doctor?

Confucius

I thought you already got married and everything is taken care of...Unless it was during Halloween...

Jim Smith

Usually after a certain period her tummy begins to protrude?!!

Shadya

I hope all goes well for you and Kristy.

camel jockey

My friend from our Dubai office has to get transferred back to the UK. She went to the doc's where they did ask for her marriage certificate, she told them she would provide soon. This was only 2 months ago.

Hello.Kitty

I haven't yet been asked for a marriage certificate for any of my antenatal visits, but I have been with Mr Kitty and our daughter on some of them. We're not planning on giving birth over here though.

I wonder how much just wearing a wedding ring reassures them?

weescot

I know an Embassy doctor for significant Western country. Their policy is to medically evacuate any unmarried female staff that fall pregnant, as even female diplomats will be thrown in jail as the UAE law stands on this "charge".