Australian woman jailed in Abu Dhabi for posting ‘bad words’ on Facebook

A West Australian woman has been jailed in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates because she wrote ‘bad words on social media’. Jodi Magi, 39, shared a photo to Facebook she had taken of a car parked across two disabled car parks outside her apartment in Abu Dhabi. Ms Magi, an artist who studied at Edith Cowan University and has been in Abu Dhabi since 2012, blanked out the licence plate number and did not post anything identifiable.

No one’s talking to me. No one’s telling me what’s going on. I’m pretty scared.

Jodi Magi told media

She tried to voluntarily deport herself earlier this month and pay the $3600 fine, however authorities refused. When she arrived at court to pay her fine she was arrested and jailed. The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to an Australian woman detained in Abu Dhabi. But she said the local embassy only recommended that she seek help from a lawyer.

Odd News Woman jailed