Need a great excuse to get arrested?
Try sunning yourself topless as a female or nude for either gender in the United Arab Emirates and that very well may be the result. According to the Associated Press, the local gendarmes have made 79 recent arrests for topless and nude bathers to prevent "disturbing familes enjoying the beach."
To be sure it takes a lot of Chutzpah to reveal all in a conservative Muslim country (no commentary on the Muslim religion....it is what it is). Having said that, it seems that the UAE wants it both ways. Nearly 80 percent of its population is made up of ex-pats and it markets itself as a tourist destination with its beaches, sand, water and even booze in the restaurants and hotel bars. And yet it wants to maintain an extremely conservative view toward nudity and anything that smacks of sex.
It follows that some of these foreign types may want to shed clothes, maybe all of their clothes, in the face of big-time heat.
At the same time, the local authorities are exhibiting big-time heat "in response to numerous complaints" by those offended by displays of nudity and toplessness.
Certainly, the reaction of the UAE to mere nudity is much more enlightened and restrained than others Muslim cousin countires....Try sunbathing in the nude in Iran....NO don't try sunbathing in the nude in Iran.
In some ways the UAE is struggling with topless and nude sunbathing in much the same fashion as the US and UK. They all need to lighten up and eventually embrace the heaven-on-earth quality of nude recreation. Sure beats waiting to munch on white raisins in heaven.
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