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Call to execute arrest order on editors in ex-Miss Lebanon case

DUBAI - Lawyers for former Miss Lebanon, Joelle Behlok, said that following the Dubai court rulings in the libel case filed by Behlok against Ahmad Al Jarallah, Editor of both Kuwait-based Al Siyassah and Arab Times newspapers, and the second libel case filed against Othman Al Ameer, of London-based Al Sharq Al Awsat newspaper, both men should be arrested the moment they set foot in the UAE.

The Dubai Court of First Instance recently sentenced Jarallah to six months in prison and the Dubai Appeal Court upheld a three-month jail term passed against Al Ameer, for libelous content published in news reports making false claims against Behlok.

Dr Habib Al Mulla, lawyer for Ms Behlok, told the Khaleej Times on Saturday that although the courts in Dubai have awarded Dh 3,000 in damages as temporary compensation in the case against Jarallah, Ms Behlok has still to decide whether to proceed with a civil suit against the two publications and the two journalists and demand more money. He said that proceeding with the case is going to be expensive.

"Following the Dubai court decision against both men, Interpol could issue an international all-points-bulletin and have them arrested where ever they happen to be. This is what should happen. But will the local authorities where these men happen to be carry out an arrest order against the two journalists, that is another matter," Dr Al Mulla said. He said that initially when the case was brought before the courts in Dubai there were questions raised as to the jurisdiction of the local courts to try the case against the Kuwiati editor and Saudi journalist, but the Dubai Supreme Court ruled that the case for libel against the two men can proceed as the impact and shock the plaintiff suffered took place in Dubai when Ms Behlok read the news report on the Al Siyassah web site while she was in Dubai.

The case goes back to March 22, 2002, when Ms Behlok was in Dubai on business. While she was surfing the Internet, she glanced at the last page of the web site of the Kuwaiti Arabic language daily Al Siyassah newspaper and was shocked to find a news report about her with the provocative headline: "The arrest of Lebanon Beauty Queen, Behlok, in Dubai".

According to the document issued by Ms Behlok's lawyer detailing the complaint, the text of the news report falsely claimed that Ms Behlok was arrested in Dubai at a suite of a hotel where she allegedly was in the company of a UAE businessman when he suffered a serious heart attack and died. The news report claimed that Ms Behlok was detained in Dubai for questioning.

"Of course, Ms Behlok asserts that these claims are totally false and both newspapers had offered to print corrections but we decided to proceed with the court case," Dr Al Mulla said.