A Dubai appeals court on Sunday upheld a one-month prison sentence for a British couple convicted of kissing in a restaurant.

一对英国男女因在迪拜一家餐厅接吻而被判处一个月的监禁。两人因不服判决随后提出上诉，但迪拜一家上诉法院于上周日宣布维持原判。

An Iranian-Italian couple Elham, left, and Raman, who declined to give their family names, are seen after they kissed on the observation deck of world tallest building, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, April 4, 2010.

The pair landed in court after an Emirati woman complained about the public kiss, which the couple insisted was just a peck（轻吻） on the cheek. They were arrested in November and convicted of inappropriate（不适当的，不相称的） behavior and illegal drinking.

Cosmopolitan¹（世界性的，四海一家的） Dubai has the most relaxed social codes in the conservative Gulf², but authorities enforce strict decency³（正派，体面） laws and regularly crack down on（制裁，镇压） people accused of pushing the limits, which can include everything from wearing a mini skirt to losing one's temper in traffic.

As recently as Sunday, though, a young Italian-Iranian couple could be seen kissing among the visitors to the 127th floor observation deck of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper⁴（摩天楼） .

Last month an Indian couple was sentenced to three months in jail for exchanging steamy（蒸汽的，潮湿的） text messages. In 2008, two Britons accused of having sex on the beach got three months in jail, though their sentences were later suspended.

Ayman Najafi and Charlotte Adams — both in their 20s — were arrested after an Emirati woman claimed they exchanged a passionate⁵ kiss in a restaurant where she and her daughter were having dinner.

Najafi and Adams attended Sunday's hearing, but did not speak. Their lawyer, Khalaf al-Hosany, told the court in a previous hearing that they kissed on the cheek as a greeting and "never intended to break the law."

Appeals court judge Iysar Fouad upheld（支持） the conviction, the jail time and a fine of 1,000 dirhams — about $270 — each. They will be deported⁶ after serving their sentences.

The couple has 30 days to appeal（上诉） Sunday's ruling in a higher court.

Their lawyer said Najafi and Adams were not in a relationship, but knew each other before they met in Dubai.

Najafi worked for a marketing⁷ firm in Dubai and Adams was visiting the Muslim city-state with a Western outlook that has become famous for its beaches, ever-taller skyscrapers⁸ and anything-goes attitude.