DUBAI: A British-Australian dual national living in Dubai who wanted to raise money for Afghans who fled their country’s long war has been detained for weeks over promoting a charity, his supporters said on Friday.

Scott Richards’ case appears to be the first prosecuted under a new law that regulates charities amid regional concerns about cash donations reaching extremists.

However, his supporters warn the regulations can be applied to anyone wanting to do good by donating to international causes or even talking about them online. “I’m shocked and horrified. It’s heartbreaking because you’re trying to do something so simple to make a positive difference just to help,” Richards’ brother, Brett Richards, said.

“Relieving suffering was the only goal Scott had.” Richards, who grew up near Adelaide, Australia, and is married with two children, remains held at a Dubai police station. He appeared at a brief hearing on Thursday.

He was arrested on July 28, apparently over his support of the Zwan Family Charity in Afghanistan after advising the local government there, his brother said.

Since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan following the Sept 11, 2001, terror attacks, a number of small charities have set up in Kabul to aid those maimed or left homeless by the country’s decades of war.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2016