DUBAI // A maid drank pesticide in an attempt to end her life after being told she could not return home to care for her sick child, Dubai Court of Misdemeanours heard on Monday.
Indian Z T, 35, told prosecutors she had begun working for an Emirati family in March, but in July she was informed by her family that her child was ill.
Her sponsor, however, turned down her request to return home to care for the child, the court heard.
“They refused and told me that I had to pay them Dh3,000 in order to be allowed to leave,” the maid said.
Z T said she became so desperate that on the morning of July 15, she drank pesticide with the intention of killing herself.
“Later that day I was sick and unable to move,” said Z T, who was taken to hospital for treatment before being referred to public prosecution on charges of attempted suicide.
Z T confessed to the charge in court last month. “I just wanted this to be over so I can go home to my child,” said the maid, who was give a one-month suspended jail sentence.
It was not clear if ZT was given permission to leave the UAE.
salamir@thenational.ae
Neighbourhood Watch
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Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
City's slump
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W - N Forest, 3-0
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D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
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The%20Roundup
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Scores
Wales 74-24 Tonga
England 35-15 Japan
Italy 7-26 Australia

