A Belfast man is facing a two-year prison term in Dubai after posting a negative review online about a dog grooming business. Craig Ballentine, 33, worked at a canine salon in Dubai for nearly six months before health issues, including a fibromyalgia diagnosis, led him to take medical leave. Despite providing his employer with a doctor’s note, he was reported as “absconded” to authorities, resulting in unemployment and a travel ban, according to his lawyers.
According to a New York Post report, the travel ban cost Craig thousands of pounds and took two months to lift before he could return to Northern Ireland. After his return, Craig posted a review criticizing the grooming center and his former employer, which set off the current legal predicament.
Three weeks ago, during a short holiday in Abu Dhabi, Craig was detained and transferred to Dubai to face slander charges under the UAE’s stringent cybercrime laws. This has left him stranded in the UAE, unable to return to his job as an autism support worker, and facing a potential two-year prison sentence.
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, is advocating for Craig’s release. “Craig has been advised by local lawyers that there is almost zero chance of the case against him being dropped,” she said. Despite deleting the review and issuing an apology, Craig’s case persists.
Craig, who regularly volunteers in his local community, expressed deep concern over his situation, saying that his mother was extremely distressed, fearing the worst.
Stirling has urged local representatives and diplomats to intervene, emphasizing the urgency of Craig’s return to Northern Ireland.
