July 18th 2023.
Tierra Young Allen, a 29-year-old Houston trucker-turned-TikTok influencer, had plans for a dream vacation in Dubai - but it quickly turned into a nightmare. For almost two months, she has been detained in Dubai, unable to return home, and all because of a crime that's unheard of in most places: screaming in public.
According to Fox 26 Houston, Tina Baxter, Allen's mother, says her daughter's passport has been confiscated. Baxter explained what happened: they had rented a car, and after getting into an accident, Allen went back to the rental car company to get her ID, credit card, and other items. But the individual in charge demanded an undisclosed amount of money in exchange for them, and when Allen refused, he got aggressive and started screaming.
Community activist Quanell X has been working with Allen's family to get her back home. He believes Allen is being punished for using her voice - a crime that apparently isn't tolerated in Dubai, where women are expected to remain quiet. There's even surveillance video of Allen raising her voice, so she could face prison time.
It's a heartbreaking situation for Allen's family. In November 2022, she had posted a video of herself test driving a Mercedes-Benz truck in Dubai, where she was the first female to do so. But now, her passport has been confiscated and she's on a travel ban list that prevents her from leaving the Dubai/United Arab Emirates. Baxter says it's been an emotionally draining time, and the longer Allen is stuck in Dubai, the more reality starts to kick in.
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