The mother of an NI man arrested in Dubai after leaving a negative online review has pleaded with the authorities to let her son come home.
Autism support worker Craig Ballentine (33) was detained when he arrived in Abu Dhabi to visit friends three weeks ago.
He was then transported to Dubai to face charges of “slander” under the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s cybercrime laws.
The strict legislation prohibits any form of online criticism.
The Cookstown man left a negative online review relating to a dog grooming centre where he had been working when the centre recorded him as having absconded following a period of sick leave.
Mum Margaret Ballentine said the situation had left her suffering “sleepless nights and anxiety”.
“I am very worried for my son and I’m calling on the Foreign Office to help him and for the UAE Ambassador to see that the charges against my son are just very silly,” she said.
Craig (left) pictured with friend Sean Morgan
“This has all been so stressful. The thought of Craig going to prison over a Google review is just horrendous, we are all suffering sleepless nights and anxiety. It’s just not something I ever imagined possible.
“How can someone be so vindictive as to lock another up over a negative social media review? Why couldn’t she just ask him to take it down? Why criminalise someone and try to jail them? This is going too far.
“He didn’t use bad language, he just expressed his views which is what you’re supposed to do on review sites. We call on the government, the Foreign Office and Dubai authorities to please let our son come home.”
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Craig’s friend Sean Morgan said he had been treated “appallingly” and that more awareness was needed on Dubai’s laws for those travelling.
“Craig is the kindest man you’ll ever meet. He’s always volunteering and helping others. He has been treated appallingly and he just doesn’t deserve it,” he said.
“I’m doing everything I can to help get him home. I’m asking people to share his story and raise awareness. We need to do more than that though, we need tourists to be aware they could be jailed for an internet post.
“They need to know this before even booking a flight. Why aren’t these nightmare stories all over the travel advisory website, the newspapers and travel agencies.”
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai
Radha Stirling, CEO of advocacy group Detained in Dubai, said she was pushing for diplomatic action in Craig’s case.
“Nobody should be locked up abroad or even pushed through the judicial process over an online review,” she said.
“JD Vance was very effective in helping his constituents and the government of Ireland recently secured Tori Towey’s release. We are very hopeful for a positive outcome for Craig too.”
It comes after NI First Minister Michelle O’Neill – who is Craig’s local MLA – said she was “monitoring” his case.
A Sinn Fein spokesperson said: “Ms O’Neill’s office will closely monitor the case and will stay in contact with the family to provide support and advice.”