Man jailed for dressing like woman over a ‘dare’

abu dhabi — A man, who was convicted of imitating a female after he was caught while dressed in women’s clothes, has been jailed for one month for cross-dressing.

The Abu Dhabi Appeal Court pronounced the jail sentence to the Lebanese man after he was found guilty. He said in court that he was dared by a friend to dress like a woman and walk on the street.

Official court documents stated that the convict was caught walking on the streets of the Capital when he was detained “for causing a public disturbance”.

Prosecutors said the man was dressed like a woman when he walked on the streets of the Capital to attract people’s attention.

Officers said the man was carrying a woman’s purse and “wearing feminine colours and clothes”.

A female resident, who spotted him and suspected him to be a cross-dresser, informed the police, who went to the spot and arrested the Lebanese.

The man had denied a charge of cross-dressing to attract people’s attention. “I was just responding to a challenge posed by a friend when I dressed like a woman,” said the convict.

He had argued that he had no criminal intent and that he was unaware that wearing a woman’s clothes was a crime in the UAE.

The Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance had earlier acquitted the man but prosecutors challenged the ruling at the appellate court.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com

I was just responding to a challenge posed by a friend when I dressed like a woman. I didn’t mean to attract people’s attention. I was unaware that wearing a woman’s clothes was a crime in the UAE.” The convict