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Arkansas grad in Qatar prison for life
Posted on 4/10/16 at 11:34 am
Posted on 4/10/16 at 11:34 am
I'm sure most of you are fully aware of this, but I seem to have missed the boat. Poor family.
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John W Downs was born in San Antonio Texas in 1955. He attended school in Rogers AR eventually graduating from the University of Arkansas in 1978 with an undergraduate degree in Physics and with his graduate degree in Geology in 1983.
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After establishing himself in the oil business John moved his family to Qatar in 1996 and thus began a journey that would forever change his life and those he loved. John was arrested in 2005 for espionage working in Qatar for Qatar Petroleum. After a questionable trial, where the proceedings were conducted in Arabic, John W Downs was given a life sentence. With subsequent appellate proceedings, which only highlighted the corrupt judicial system in Qatar, John currently resides in the Qatari Central Jail outside of Doha and fills his days with scholarly endeavors; writing, reading and learning languages.
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Posted on 4/10/16 at 11:45 am to ocelot4ark
Stories like this make me never want to leave the US. I'm sure the food, scenery, people, and experiences to be had are awesome, but I'm scared to face the judicial system of anywhere outside of America.
Posted on 4/10/16 at 12:00 pm to Jon Ham
Hell, I'm scared enough of the judicial system INSIDE of America.
Posted on 4/10/16 at 1:31 pm to ocelot4ark
I'll never understand why anyone would want to move to anywhere in the Middle East. I spent 6 months in Saudi and I wouldn't trust them, and they're our supposed Allie.
Posted on 4/10/16 at 4:08 pm to Jon Ham
I'd be happy to visit the UK. Canada? Been there twice, great place to visit.
Australia and New Zealand? Sure, be great to see both countries even though everything in Australia is venomous and everything in New Zealand is a sheep.
The rest of the world, and in particular the Middle East? I can go to my grave in the sure and certain knowledge I am better off without having gone there. `
Australia and New Zealand? Sure, be great to see both countries even though everything in Australia is venomous and everything in New Zealand is a sheep.
The rest of the world, and in particular the Middle East? I can go to my grave in the sure and certain knowledge I am better off without having gone there. `
Posted on 4/10/16 at 6:13 pm to ocelot4ark
You know, not to say it was just and all.. but he apparently tried to sell information on a natural gas project to a foreign embassy.. and his defense was that he was entrapped..
Posted on 4/10/16 at 6:51 pm to Arksulli
I traveled throughout Syria for a couple months and it was pretty cool. Before the civil war, obviously. Also spent a week in Jordan and it was very nice.
This post was edited on 4/10/16 at 6:52 pm
Posted on 4/10/16 at 8:53 pm to ocelot4ark
This post was edited on 5/31/16 at 4:06 am
Posted on 4/10/16 at 8:56 pm to pioneerbasketball
I will contribute $5 to the Pio relocation fund
Posted on 4/10/16 at 9:01 pm to ocelot4ark
Sucks for him, I'm sure he was warned about corruption in Qatar and the Obama administration
Posted on 4/11/16 at 4:36 pm to beebefootballfan
(no message)
This post was edited on 5/29/16 at 8:59 pm
Posted on 4/11/16 at 5:11 pm to Pigfeet
If he was warned about corruption in the Obama administration I would be very surprised, since he was arrested in 2005.
Posted on 4/12/16 at 9:22 am to ocelot4ark
Went to highschool with his daughter so I've read on it before, sad stuff
Posted on 4/12/16 at 3:15 pm to hogbody
That has got to be about the worst feeling in the world.
Posted on 4/12/16 at 9:45 pm to ocelot4ark
What was the crime(s) that he was charged with?
I never understood why westerners would want to go to the middle east. The laws are written against foreigners. Heck, some of them won't even recognize a western marriage; yep, they could just take your wife.
I never understood why westerners would want to go to the middle east. The laws are written against foreigners. Heck, some of them won't even recognize a western marriage; yep, they could just take your wife.
Posted on 4/13/16 at 10:42 am to Jon Ham
quote:Central and Western European laws and sentencings are much, much more lenient than our own. Plus unless you really screwed up, you can just bribe the judges in most middle eastern, south american, or asian countries. 10,000 dollars is more than many of them make in a year. Unfortuantly small micro states like Qatar are extremly wealthy, so that doesn't work there.
I'm scared to face the judicial system of anywhere outside of America.
Posted on 4/13/16 at 11:02 am to HogFanfromHTown
quote:
Central and Western European laws and sentencings are much, much more lenient than our own.
I would not be surprised if that that dude who killed 70 people in Norway a few years back will end up walking free before he dies.
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On 24 August 2012 Breivik was adjudged sane and sentenced to containment—a special form of a prison sentence that can be extended indefinitely—with a time frame of 21 years and a minimum time of 10 years, the maximum penalty in Norway.[116] Breivik did not appeal and on September 8 media announced that the verdict was final.[117][27]
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Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:24 pm to ocelot4ark
Thanks for sharing this story. His actions were foolish but I really do hope he will not have to spend much more time in prison.
This post was edited on 4/16/16 at 12:33 am
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