A Texas woman is being trapped in Dubai for allegedly breaking morality laws in the United Arab Emirates.
Tierra Young Allen, from Houston, is known online as the “Sassy Trucker.” The 29-year-old social media influencer has nearly 200,000 followers on TikTok, more than 50,000 followers on Instagram, and over 40,000 subscribers on YouTube.
On her social media accounts, Allen talks about her life as a truck driver. Allen enrolled in truck driving school when she was 18, according to a 2021 CNN article.
In May, Sassy Trucker hinted that she was moving to Dubai. On TikTok, she boasted she very well be the first female truck driver in Dubai.
Allen was reportedly in a car accident in Dubai on May 16. She attempted to retrieve personal belongings from the car that was impounded, including her credit cards, debit cards, phone, and passport. However, the rental car agency allegedly prohibited her from obtaining her personal items until she paid money to the clerk.
Allen allegedly screamed at the rental car agent. She was then arrested for “screaming.”
Allen is receiving assistance from Radha Stirling, CEO and founder of Detained in Dubai – an international nonprofit organization that helps “foreign victims of injustice in the United Arab Emirates.”
According to CBS News, “Reports in Arabic media said the rental agency had offered to drop its case against Allen if she paid approximately $5,700.”
Stirling said, “Tierra is the latest American tourist to get caught up in what is a common rental car extortion scheme. Rental car agencies are notorious for opening criminal cases against visitors with the promise to drop the case if they are paid off. The prevalence of blackmail is damaging to the UAE’s tourism and investment sectors and Dubai’s government needs to crack down on this abuse of process.”
“She was told at the police station (Bur Dubai) that she has been accused of ‘shouting,’ which under the UAE’s laws is illegal under ‘offensive behavior,’ which is an unclear and subjective regulation, but warrants up to two years in prison, a fine and deportation,” Stirling told CBS News.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State told CBS News that it was aware Allen was “unable to depart Dubai,” adding it was “providing all appropriate assistance.”
The spokesperson said, “The Department remains in regular communication with her and her family.”
The office of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told KRIV, “We have spoken to the family of Tierra Young Allen and have contacted the Department of State about the case. Sen. Cruz will continue to gather details and engage on this case until Ms. Allen is returned home to her family.”
Allen must stay in Dubai while authorities decide if they want to prosecute her or not, said Stirling. She added that Allen could face up to two years in prison, deportation, and a fine.
The Houston Chronicle reported, “Even if Allen is found innocent, the court process could take six months or more, Stirling said.”
Allen’s mother, Tina Baxter, told NewsNation that her daughter is “definitely depressed, she’s scared, she’s confused – I’ve never seen her this depressed in her whole life.”
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