Avoid National Dress Abroad: UAE to Citizens After Man Held in US

An Emirati national, wearing traditional Arab robes, was arrested in Ohio as he was suspected of being a jihadist.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (L), Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and UAE’s Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. (Photo: Reuters)

In a statement posted by its foreign ministry on Twitter, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) urged citizens “not to wear the national dress during their travel, especially in public areas, to ensure their own safety”.

Earlier on Wednesday, a 41-year-old, Al Menhali, visiting United States for medical treatment, was wearing a white robe and Arab headdress when he was arrested at a hotel in Cleveland, Ohio.

An employee of the hotel suspected he had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), apparently in a phone call.

The foreign ministry expressed “discontent” to the US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, Ethan Goldrich and demanded clarifications over the detention of the Emirati businessman suspected of being a jihadist.

Goldrich “apologised” for the incident, pledging to get clarifications from authorities in the state of Ohio, WAM, UAE’s state news agency said.

They were brutal with me. They pressed forcefully on my back. I had several injuries and bled from the forceful nature of their arrest.

Al Menhali told <i>The National Daily</i>.

After confirming that Menhali posed no danger, the policemen let go of him, who said he collapsed and needed treatment.

Menhali had been in the US since April for treatment, after a brain stroke he suffered last year, said Emarat Al-Youm, another UAE daily.

(With inputs from PTI.)