Approach cops if parents violate human rights of their kids

The UAE provides every resident in the UAE the right to exercise personal liberty once he or she attains the age of majority

Can a 28-year old female expat under the sponsorship of her parent be held against her will in the UAE? She has been denied access to any means of communication with acquaintances - who could have helped her - for past the six months. If she were to lodge a complaint with the police, would it benefit her? As far as I am concerned, it seems like an abuse of parental privilege. I am unaware of the emirate that issued her visa. Do the same laws apply to Dubai and Sharjah? As I am not related to her, how can I assist her?
Pursuant to your questions, we assume that your acquaintance is an unmarried woman residing in the UAE under the sponsorship of her father. The UAE provides every resident in the UAE the right to exercise personal liberty once he or she attains the age of majority, provided it is not against morality and the prevailing laws of the UAE. As an unmarried female, the guardianship and maintenance of your acquaintance shall be with her father. It should be noted that the federal laws of the UAE are applicable to the entire UAE relating to personal status. Article 171 of the Federal Law No. 28 of 2005 states: "Any person who reaches maturity age and is in full mental capacity and not being interdicted of his legal capacity shall have full competence to practise his rights stipulated for in the law."
If your acquaintance feels that her personal liberty and human rights are violated by her parents, she may file a complaint at the nearest police station or can approach the human rights department in the emirate she resides. 
Ashish Mehta is the founder and Managing Partner of Ashish Mehta & Associates. He is qualified to practise law in Dubai, the United Kingdom, Singapore and India. Full details of his firm on: www.amalawyers.com. Readers may e-mail their questions to: news@khaleejtimes.com or send them to Legal View, Khaleej Times, PO Box 11243, Dubai.

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