Man on Trial in Dubai for Attempted Murder of Alleged Childhood Abuser

A 32-year-old Gulf national is currently on trial in Dubai for allegedly attempting to murder a man he claims raped him when he was a child. The incident took place in April during the holy month of Ramadan, inside a mosque in Al Qouz, after late-night prayers.

The Dubai Public Prosecution has charged the suspect with attempted murder, accusing him of trying to strangle a 39-year-old man, also a Gulf national, whom he encountered in the mosque. The suspect has pleaded not guilty to the charge, insisting that he did not intend to kill the man.

According to official court records, the suspect spotted the 39-year-old in the mosque shortly after the prayers had ended. Allegedly, he approached the man and began strangling him, causing both of them to fall to the ground. Despite this, the suspect’s hands remained around the man’s neck until other worshippers intervened and separated them, stopping the attack.

In court, the suspect admitted to the assault but denied any intent to commit murder. His lawyer, Nasser Hashem, stated that his client acted out of trauma from the alleged abuse he suffered as a child. “My client denied in court having had any intention to kill the claimant. He maintained that he was triggered by the trauma of having been allegedly abused as a kid by the victim when he saw him in the mosque,” Hashem told *Khaleej Times*.

The 39-year-old man, who is the claimant in this case, provided a different account during police interrogation. He claimed that the suspect attacked him from behind, leading them both to fall to the ground. He also alleged that, after the attack, the suspect threatened to take revenge and kill him, accusing him of raping him in the past. The claimant, however, denied the rape allegations and stated that he had never had any prior issues with the suspect.

The claimant also submitted a medical report indicating that he had suffered physical injuries during the attack, including soreness below his left jaw and abrasions on the right side of his neck.

Following the incident, police took the suspect into custody. He was later released on the condition that he would not leave the country, as prosecutors imposed a travel ban on him. Although the claimant initially accused the suspect of issuing death threats, he later withdrew that complaint. However, he has continued to pursue charges related to the attempted murder.

The case remains ongoing, with a hearing scheduled to take place soon