Here’s something a bit random: earlier this month on April 3rd, James Kottak, drummer for Scorpions, was arrested and jailed in Dubai for insulting Islam. Specifically, he allegedly “started swearing and talking about ‘non-educated Muslims’ before he flashed his middle finger at passengers” and then yanked down his pants to show everyone the full moon, according to police. Kottak was flying to Dubai to perform at he Formula One grand prix and apparently drank five glasses of wine on the flight, leading to his behavior at the airport.
An employee at the airport observed Kottak, saying:
“When he [Kottak] saw the Pakistani and Afghani passengers, he covered his nose and said that there was no way he will travel with them. He wasn’t talking to a person specifically but was talking in general. He was very nervous at the time and talking loudly.”
Kottak has, of course, denied the charges:
“I don’t remember saying these words and I did not flash my middle finger.”
Regarding claims he mooned passengers:
“This is not true — I just lifted my shirt up to show the tattoo on my back” as a “spontaneous act.” “There is no way that I would say such a phrase about Muslims, whether I was drunk or not. I confess to drinking alcohol but I refuse the other two charges, I did not do them.”
Still, Kottak was sentenced to a month in jail and fined 2,000 dirhams (approximately $545). He won’t be incarcerated for much longer, though, as the time he spent in detention (since April 3) will be deducted from his sentence. Moral of the story? Don’t get drunk on your way to Dubai or you might get stung (you know, like by a scorpion or whatever).
