But after al-Menhali was handcuffed at gunpoint at an OH hotel last week and accused of belonging to ISIS, that traditional dress has fueled an worldwide controversy: on Saturday, the United Arab Emirates, where al-Menhali is from, advised citizens traveling overseas to “preserve their safety” and avoid wearing the white robe, called a kandura, headscarf and black headband.
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Last week, Ahmed Al Menhali was arrested in OH after a receptionist in a hotel he was attempting to check in to called police, mistakenly claiming he might be a terrorist.
Mayor of Avon Bryan Jensen and Police Chief Richard Bosley apologised to Al Menhali late on Saturday in a meeting in nearby Cleveland arranged by CAIR and televised by WEWS, Cleveland’s ABC affiliate.
The United Arab Emirates summoned on Sunday a senior USA diplomat to protest the “abusive treatment” of a UAE citizen as it advised citizens to avoid wearing national attire overseas.
Following the incident, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reportedly urged Emiratis not to wear national dress when travelling overseas amid concerns Al Otaiba’s attire may have been a factor in his arrest.
UAE officials said Sunday that travellers from the Arab country should “refrain from wearing the national dress” in public places while visiting the West “to ensure their safety” and said that women should abide by bans on face veils in European countries, according to news reports from Dubai.
The Avon Police Department and the town’s mayor have since apologized to the man and called the incident “very regrettable”. Al-Menhali, who has suffered a heart attack in the past, then appears to feel unwell and is taken to hospital.
“The apology is a great step to make a better [relationship] between the Muslim community and the police; also to give a better example [for] police when they deal with different cultures”, Al Menhali said through his translator.
“We are consulting with lawyers and will decide where to go from there”. In footage of the incident, Mr Menhali can be heard saying: “Don’t do this, I’m a tourist”. I hope.the person that made those can maybe learn from those’. He was handcuffed by the police and later hospitalized in Avon, Ohio, on Wednesday.
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Marriott International, which owns Fairfield Inn & Suites, told CNN that they express regret over what occurred and are working closely with the Avon hotel’s staff to prevent a similar situation. He had several injuries from the arrest when the officers forced him on his back.
