Will new peace deals help Miami woman detained in Dubai?

26 December 2020

Miami accountant, Danielle Jeffries, 58, had hoped she’d be home this Christmas to see her 93 year old mother who had just survived coronavirus, but she remains stuck in the United Arab Emirates. Danielle is the latest American to face the Dubai justice system where she’s been sentenced to jail, a hefty fine and deportation for petty crimes she didn’t commit.

But with the newly agreed Israel - UAE peace deals, Danielle hopes the US government will finally intervene in her case.

“The UAE is one of the USA's strongest allies in the Middle East and even more so, with the new Abraham Accord”, said Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai who is representing Ms Jeffries, “The US has previously assisted Americans who faced some unbelievable situations in Dubai, managing to have them returned home. With the new peace deals, relations between the countries are stronger than ever, and Danielle hopes this may lead to a diplomatic resolution to what has been a real life nightmare.

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“The unanswered question is whether the peace deals will improve human rights in the region or encourage nations to turn a blind eye to violations”.

“Danielle Jeffries, from the University of Pennsylvania, had no idea that working in Dubai could end up with her detention over something so petty, that she didn’t even do. Danielle had intended to start her own accountancy firm and hired a legally required, professional administrator to set it up. He didn’t do the paperwork correctly which, astonishingly, is a criminal offence in Dubai, and Danielle was held responsible for his actions even though she had nothing to do with them.

“It’s a ridiculous situation. It’s an egregious violation against a US citizen that will see her locked up if this is not diplomatically resolved. Danielle’s situation has been raised with the Emirati ambassador to the United States, Yousef Al Oitaiba, who declined to get involved. He told her to simply pay the fine, a fine she can’t afford for a crime she didn’t commit. He didn’t even mention the prison sentence. Is this really how the UAE is going to treat innocent foreign citizens of their allies? Is this how they will treat their new friends, the Israelis?”

Without evidence of wrongdoing, Danielle Jeffries has been sentenced to a fine of AED 150,000 (apx. US $40,000), three months imprisonment and deportation. She cannot pay the $40,000 fine and will therefore be stuck in Dubai indefinitely, without a work permit or ability to earn money. She will never be able to leave.

Danielle was interviewed by Radha Stirling on the Gulf in Justice Podcast.

Miami Herald: Miami Gardens Woman has been trapped in Dubai for nearly two years over alleged forgery

Danielle's friends have set up a fundraiser to help raise money for the fine. Fundraising is illegal in Dubai, so overseas friends and family have to make sure their loved one is not involved.

Listen on Spotify:

The case of Danielle Jeffries - American facing jail for opening her own business in Dubai - Detained in Dubai | Podcast on Spotify

Listen to this episode from Gulf in Justice on Spotify. Miami woman detained in Dubai for starting her own accountancy business “suffered racism”. Miami accountant Danielle Jeffries, 58, is the latest American to face the Dubai justice system where she’s been sentenced to jail, a hefty fine and deportation for crimes she didn’t commit. Detained in Dubai’s founder, Radha Stirling responded to the conviction, “Despite clear evidence of Ms Jeffries’ innocence, Dubai police allowed the PRO to change his witness testimony and subsequently prosecuted both parties on behalf of their Australian accuser. Danielle has been caught up in the shambles of a legal system, thrown from pillar to post while trying to defend herself from these charges. She has tried everything to have her voice heard by authorities, even having contacted as a last resort, the Minister of Happiness, who couldn’t understand how this had happened, expressed empathy but did nothing to help. “She spent 30 days without electricity and water, utilities she couldn’t connect in her flat while her passport was with police. She’s been battling depression, physical and psychological distress and is beside herself with worry over her 93 year old mother back in the States who she can’t visit as she used to. “The fact is, she can not pay the $40,000 fine so even if she’s arrested today and thrown in prison for three months, she still won’t be able to go home to the States. She’ll be stuck in the country indefinitely. It’s absolutely abominable that Dubai would treat investors like this. How will the city attract entrepreneurs when they can be prosecuted and jailed without evidence, then detained in the city indefinitely, with no permission to work to raise the money for their unfair fines? “Danielle Jeffries is a black woman in a Middle Eastern legal system and this in itself, will influence her access to a fair trial. The accuser, in criminal cases in Dubai, is almost always favoured and believed. Evidence is not required and a mere accusation is sufficient to achieve a conviction. Add to that the fact that she is a woman, and then that she is a black woman, and she is further disadvantaged in the judicial system. Racism and sexism are prevalent throughout the United Arab Emirates, to the point where a female rape victim will be charged with sex outside marriage, or where an Asian or African may be sentenced to death while a white Brit charged with murder, will be released in just a few years. “Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who is supporting Danielle, approached the UAE’s Ambassador to the US, His Excellency Mr Yousef Al Otaiba, but his advice was simply to pay the fine. “We are writing to the US State Department to recommend they review and increase warnings to American citizens, and business and investment groups also need to be advised. The UAE has got away lightly with actions against US citizens. We have seen the UAE government attack a US registered yacht in international waters under false pretences, with no apparent consequence, and now we are seeing the systematic abuse of American tourists, expats and entrepreneurs in the UAE. David Oliver, was detained in Dubai over a bank debt and only through diplomatic intervention, was he returned home. Melissa McBurnie was arrested recently after being sexually harassed by an Egyptian man, only released following international outrage, and now we have Danielle, who is facing jail over a document she had nothing to do with. Gulf in Justice Podcast

Miami woman detained in Dubai for starting her own accountancy business “suffered racism”.

Miami accountant Danielle Jeffries, 58, is the latest American to face the Dubai justice system where she’s been sentenced to jail, a hefty fine and deportation for crimes she didn’t commit.

Detained in Dubai Newsroom & Media Centre

Florida woman held in Dubai for almost two years over forgery

A Florida woman has been detained in Dubai for nearly two years for failure to pay a fine for a crime she says she didn’t commit.

_{Detained in Dubai is an organisation founded in 2008 by Radha Stirling, a leading human rights advocate, crisis manager and policy consultant, focusing on the UAE and the wider Middle East.}

_{Stirling is a Criminal & Civil Justice Specialist, Expert Witness, Speaker, Founder of Due Process International, Detained in Dubai, IPEX Reform, Gulf Investment Monitor and the Gulf in Justice Podcast.}

_{Veteran Middle East justice expert Radha Stirling launched her podcast Gulf in Justice in August 2020. Stirling has helped more than fifteen thousand clients over her thirteen years with organisation Detained in Dubai, which she founded in 2008. Gulf in Justice discusses up to date topical issues, interviewing a variety of guests and promoting change in the region.}

_{Detained in Dubai is an organisation that campaigns against judicial abuse in the UAE and Gulf region on behalf of expats and tourists, its founder and CEO, Radha Stirling, is the leading international commentator on the justice systems in the Gulf, a pioneer advocate for reform of Interpol, and a sought after analyst for Western policy makers. The crisis management group has a team and network of highly experienced advocates, consultants, and negotiators to assist you or your company with legal matters, whether you are in the UAE or abroad. Their top priority is helping clients secure the best possible outcome to complex UAE legal issues, regardless of how the odds are stacked against them.}