An Ohio Air Force veteran and his brother were sentenced to four months in a notorious Dubai prison following a yacht drinking incident.
The families of the brothers detained in Dubai are in touch with Ohio Sen. JD Vance's office.
In June, two Ohio brothers, one of whom is an Air Force veteran, were given four months in a Dubai prison for consuming alcohol on a yacht, which is illegal in the United Arab Emirates.
Radha Stirling, CEO of human rights organization Detained in Dubai and an advocate for Joseph and Joshua Lopez, claims that the brothers were drugged and robbed on the same night as the drinking that landed them in jail, and they are requesting assistance from U.S. lawmakers, including Republican Ohio Sen. JD Vance. The allegations of drugging have not been officially confirmed yet.
"Sen. Vance's office has been in touch with the State Department, the UAE Embassy in the US, and the constituents' family, according to Vance spokesperson Parker Magid, who told Planet Chronicle Digital that Sen. Vance is closely monitoring the ongoing legal proceedings."
The Lopez brothers are appealing their sentence, claiming they were "victims of scams while on vacation in Dubai."
Stirling stated that despite the marketing of Dubai as a safe tourist destination, local criminals are targeting tourists with the apparent support of law enforcement.
The State Department acknowledged the recent arrests of the Lopez brothers to Planet Chronicle Digital.
"We are committed to helping U.S. citizens abroad and are closely monitoring the situation. However, due to privacy concerns and other factors, we cannot provide any additional information at this time. It is important to note that U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the countries they visit or reside in, regardless of whether those laws align with U.S. law."
Neither the UAE Embassy nor the UAE tourist police provided a response to Planet Chronicle Digital's inquiries.
The UAE has a Level 2 travel advisory from the State Department due to the threat of terrorism. The State Department's website for the UAE states that alcohol is limited in certain private areas, and public drunkenness and driving under the influence are considered serious offenses.
Those caught committing alcohol-related crimes are often held in custody for extended periods before their court appearance. The consequences may include severe prison sentences, significant fines, and, for Muslim citizens, whippings.
The State Department highlights the country's "tight" regulations on drugs, public morality, photography, social media usage, and LGBTQ-related activities or inclinations.
If the brothers' appeal fails, Joseph, a 24-year-old father and veteran, and Joshua will face months in Dubai jails known for human rights violations.
Dubai is attracting visitors, but they are facing unjust charges for crimes they did not commit. Last year, Tierra Allen was targeted by a rental car company, Elizabeth de las Santos was targeted by an immigration officer, and Peter Clark was detained for residual hashish found in his blood that he had legally smoked in Las Vegas weeks before flying.
She is urging the United States to raise travel advisories for Americans visiting Dubai.
She stated that they would not only be robbed and extorted, but they would also likely end up in prison.
Planet Chronicle' Mollie Markowitz contributed to this report.
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