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Scott Richards has been held in Dubai with charge since July 28
A 42-year-old man has been arrested in Dubai and held without charge for three weeks after sharing a charity post on his Facebook page.
Scott Richards, who holds both British and Australian citizenship, promoted a charity drive to buy blankets and tarpaulins for refugees in Afghanistan.
Strict new laws prohibit the operation of any charity not registered in the United Arab Emirates.
Mr Richards has been denied bail and access to legal representation.
Laws created last year prohibit donations or advertising fundraising campaigns without prior written approval from the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai.
Penalties for violating the law include prison terms between two months and one year and a fine of up to 100,000 dirhams (£20,000, $27,000).
Blankets for children
Mr Richards, who grew up in the Australian city of Adelaide, has been working in Dubai as an economic development adviser.
Police have confirmed he recommended on social media a crowd-funding campaign run by an American charity which works in Afghanistan.
The crowd-funding campaign seeks $35,000 for “new tarpaulins, blankets, warm clothes and socks, and sleeping bags” for children at the Chahari Qambar refugee camp on the outskirts of Kabul.
More than 100 children froze to death at the camp four years ago.
Mr Richards was arrested at his home on 28 July and has been held at Al Murraqabat Police Station.
He has been able to see his wife once a week and make limited phone calls.
‘Indefinite detention’
Mr Richards’ mother, Penelope Haberfeld, said her son has only been able to change his clothes once every seven days and has to pay for water.
“It’s the indefinite detention, it can go on for months, years,” she told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Radha Stirling, chief executive of British-based group Detained in Dubai – which helps foreigners abroad – warned that under the UAW judicial system Mr Richards could be held indefinitely.
“It can be months before he is officially charged and a court date will only be assigned once they agree to prosecute,” Ms Stirling said in an online statement.
The BBC has asked the UAE Embassies in London and Canberra for comment.