Public kiss woman denounces 'hypocrisy'

Charlotte Adams was arrested with Ayman Najafi last November after a local woman complained they had been seen kissing on the mouth in a restaurant.

Ms Adams, an estate agent, and Mr Najafi insisted they had given each other only a peck on the cheek but were sentenced to a month in prison by a Dubai court last month.

The 26-year-old, from Mersea Island, Essex, served 23 days and was freed on Friday and deported.

Mr Najafi, a management consultant from north London who has lived in Dubai for the past 18 months, is understood to be continuing his fight against the conviction after being backed by his employers.

Ms Adams spoke of her relief at being reunited with her family, including twin brother Christopher and sister Emma, 20.

She said: "It is such a relief. I've thought of nothing else for the last few months. I love (Dubai) and it makes me sad that I'll never come back, although I think I'd struggle to ever feel free here again.

"The laws need to evolve to match the culture here. At the moment, it's all just hypocrisy."

She said hotels in Dubai regularly offer free alcohol, particularly to women, though drinking in public is still officially illegal in the Gulf state.

"Everyone gets so drunk they forget where they are, particularly the Westerners, which is when their behaviour can become dangerous legally."

Ms Adams met Mr Najafi through friends insisted it was nothing more than "flirting".

In 2008, two Britons accused of having sex on the beach were sentenced to three months in jail, although their sentences were later suspended.