Ian MacKeller, a 75-year-old British grandfather, is potentially facing imprisonment in Dubai for alleged trespassing. The incident occurred when he asked his neighbors to reduce the noise

during their New Year's Eve party while babysitting his granddaughter at his daughter's home in the UAE.

Mr. MacKeller, who had traveled to the UAE to visit his daughter and assist in caring for his granddaughter, approached the neighbors after the noise level became disruptive. Despite a request to lower the volume, the situation escalated, and an altercation ensued. According to Mr. MacKeller, he was pushed around during the confrontation.

Subsequently, the host of the party filed a police complaint against Mr. MacKeller for trespassing. This complaint has led to a travel ban, preventing him from leaving the country. If convicted, he could potentially face several years in prison.

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, is working with Andrew Bowie, MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, to seek Mr. MacKeller's release. Stirling criticized the practice of preemptively filing police reports, emphasizing the need for legislative changes to prevent such abuses of the criminal justice system.

Mr. MacKeller, who was initially scheduled to return to Scotland on January 10, remains stranded in the UAE, separated from his family and unable to receive medical treatment. Stirling emphasized the severity of the situation, highlighting the potential consequences of a simple request leading to imprisonment in Dubai. Photo by Katzenmeier, Wikimedia commons.