A heated verbal altercation with Iraqi Mahmud Rasheed caused British man,  Simon Andrews, 56, to supposedly let loose with the nonverbal "international sign of disapproval" towards Mahmud. 

Rattled by the (supposed) gesture, 18 year old student, Mahmud,  ran and complained to police and Mr Andrews was arrested for outraging public decency last August. Mr Andrews has been banned from leaving the country ever since as he awaits trial.

A brief background as to how 'flipping off" or "giving the one finger salute" or "the highway salute" or just plain old 'the finger" came into being:

 The finger

"It is identified as the digitus impudicus (impudent finger) in Ancient Roman writings^[1] and reference is made to using the finger in ancient Greek comedy to insult another person. The widespread usage of the finger in many cultures is likely due to the geographical influence of the Roman Empire and Greco-Roman civilization.

Another possible origin of this gesture can be found in the first-century Mediterranean world, where extending the digitus impudicus was one of many methods used to divert the ever present threat of the evil eye.^[2]

Do Muslim countries also flash the digitus impudicus? Apparently it IS one of those rare Western cultural phenomena that some muslim nations have actually assimilated:

In India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka the social circles exposed to the western cultures use the middle finger gesture in the same sense that it is used in those cultures. The same is true for most South Asian countries.^[5]  SOURCE

Simon Andrews swears the finger 'assault' never happened:

 "According to a court source: 'Mr Andrews says the offensive gesture never happened. The Iraqi has never appeared in court to testify against him and there are no witnesses.

'Mr Andrews has told the court there is no evidence he did anything wrong and that it is Mr Rasheed's word against his.

'He has been banned from leaving the country and has been warned he could be jailed then deported.'

A friend of Mr Andrews, who surrendered his passport as a surety, has been told it will not be returned until another passport is provided. " (See Article below)

Personally I might have given Mahmud a bit more credence had he describe the gesture as the more British 'two finger salute' - as shown by these two footballers 

Ferguson and McGregor were shown making V-signs on international duty

In essence this is a case of one man's word against another.

Clearly by not appearing in court to give testimony against the alleged finger perpetrator, Muhmad has nonverbally  'given the finger" to both the Dubai courts and Mr. Andrews  --or -- maybe Muhmad Rasheed is afraid of the evil eye of justice?

Meanwhile Simon Andrews is held captive by Dubai courts and prevented from returning home to Great Britain - for an UNCONFIRMED gesture.

Obviously it is the captive Simon Andrews who is really on the receiving end of THE FINGER!

For article go to:

Briton faces six months in a Dubai jail for 'giving Iraqi student the finger'