Detained in Dubai, the NGO which helped to secure Irish woman Tori Towey’s release in the summer, has called on the UK government to intervene to secure the return of 33-year-old Craig Ballentine.

Mr Ballentine, who is accused of breaching the UAE’s strict laws on “slander”, was arrested last month on his arrival in Abu Dhabi for a short holiday.

Several months prior, he had posted a negative online review of a dog grooming salon in Dubai where he worked for six months in 2023.

Mr Ballentine, who works as an autism support worker in Northern Ireland, is now stuck in the UAE, unable to leave, and facing two years’ imprisonment.

Lawyer and human rights advocate Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said: “We are pushing for diplomatic intervention in Craig’s case. Nobody should be locked up abroad or even pushed through the judicial process over an online review.

“JD Vance was very effective in helping his constituents and the government of Ireland recently secured Tori Towey’s release. We are very hopeful for a positive outcome for Craig too.”

She added: “If Craig knew it was a good idea to check his criminal status in advance of flying to Dubai, he would have found out there was a case against him and we could have dealt with it from the safety of abroad.

“The vast majority of arrests on arrival are preventable by taking this simple precaution. Travel agencies and the Foreign Office should recommend this on their websites.

“We urge citizens to get in touch with us and arrange a police check before travel. This preventative action is a life saver for many.”