UAE warns against wearing traditional clothes abroad

The incident, which was recorded on police bodycam video, spurred the UAE government to take the unusual steps of summoning a United States diplomat for a meeting and advising its citizens not to wear the traditional headscarf and full-length white robe while traveling overseas.

Al-Menhali, 41, was detained at gunpoint on Wednesday while wearing a traditional white kandura, or ankle-length robe, and headscarf after a hotel clerk raised suspicions he could have links to the Islamic State group.

Shortly after being handcuffed, al-Menhali fainted and had to be taken to a local hospital.

Officers reportedly blamed the incident on a miscommunication.

On Satuday, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned Emiratis that, for their own safety, they should avoid wearing traditional garments when traveling overseas. It came from an official government Twitter account used to provide advice to Emiratis traveling overseas. A day later, the ministry also issued travel advice to Emirati citizens, urging them to respect bans of the full-face veil where they are in place. However, it didn’t refer to the OH incident.

The married father of three described being shocked when they came at him and said he suffered several injuries during the arrest.

It was, al-Menhali said, like a “terrible dream” that makes him “angry”. “Grab his hands, cuff him up!” Menhali was visibly confused and said, “What is this?” In footage of the incident, Mr Menhali can be heard saying: “Don’t do this, I’m a tourist”. They tossed at least one of his cellphones into the bushes.

The officers immediately removed handcuffs from the man and attempted to explain the situation.

He had been in the US since April for medical treatment after suffering a stroke, according to the paper.

The statement also welcomed visitors from the United Arab Emirates as well as other countries to Avon, and said the “very unfortunate incident does not reflect our community”. “They pressed forcefully on my back”.

“What I want to show the American people, this society – this is our dress”, he told NBC News, adding that he felt “injured” deep in “my soul”.

“I always wear my traditional clothes during all my travels and never encountered such a thing”, he said.

Both the Avon police chief and the mayor apologized to Al-Menhali for the incident.

“You can put onlookers and our own officers in unnecessary danger if you report untrue information”, Bosley said.

The city is now reviewing its policies, WEWS reported.

According to Avon Mayor Bryan Jensen, two emergency calls were placed by relatives of a female clerk at the hotel who were unnerved by Mr Menhali’s appearance.