Dubai Upholds Month in Jail for Kissing Brits

A Dubai appeals court today upheld a one-month prison sentence for a British couple convicted of kissing in a restaurant. The pair landed in court after an Emirati woman complained about the public kiss, which the couple insisted was just a peck on the cheek. They were arrested in November and convicted of inappropriate behavior and illegal drinking.

Ayman Najafi and Charlotte Adams—both in their 20s—each face a fine of 1,000 dirhams (about $270), and will be deported after serving their sentences. The couple has 30 days to appeal the ruling. The sentence is not unique: Last month an Indian couple was sentenced to three months in jail for exchanging steamy texts. In 2008, two Britons accused of having sex on the beach got three months in jail, though their sentences were later suspended. (More Dubai stories.)