UAE | General
'My son is upset and shocked'
Dr Khalifa Al Sha'ali, the dean of the faculty of law at Ajman University and a former chief of Ajman Police, said that he was informed about his son Saif's detention 15 hours after he was held, upon which he informed his oldest son Rashid.
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:00 August 23, 2006
Dubai: Dr Khalifa Al Sha'ali, the dean of the faculty of law at Ajman University and a former chief of Ajman Police, said that he was informed about his son Saif's detention 15 hours after he was held, upon which he informed his oldest son Rashid.
He said once the UAE embassy was informed about the detention of his son, they acted "very quickly".
"The ambassador [of the UAE in Washington, DC, Saqr Gobash], embassy employees and lawyers immediately intervened, making contact with the appropriate US authorities in trying to secure a quick release for my son and his family," he said.
"While my children were studying in the United States, they often faced minor cases of discrimination after September 11, but never like this," he said, adding that he "always encouraged" his children to overcome such encounters.
"My son, his wife and the children are very upset and shocked about what happened. Adults know how to deal with such situations but it's a terrible experience for young children," he said.
"The wife and children were scared to death, and they were wondering what crime they committed to deserve such treatment, besides being Arab and Muslim," he added.
"Saif is not new to America. He has been studying there for so many years and two of his three children were born there. So why such mistreatment?"
Saif Al Sha'ali is the youngest of three brothers and one sister.
His oldest brother, Rashid, recently obtained his PhD in architecture from a US university and joined UAE University as a professor of architecture.
Saif told Gulf News that they will refer to the US Freedom of Information Act in an effort to extract information on the incident from US authorities.
More from UAE General
More from UAE
Latest news
- Tracks to be laid on recycled material
- Golden Hour crucial to a patient's survival
- Opening show worthy of UAE
- Sun is shining on prospects for solar power
- Artists focus on craftsmanship
- World leaders committed to supporting civilians
- Schools open a new page in teaching English
- Special parking to help disabled tourists
- Helping hand surgeons have long sought
- Blind woman lights up corridors of power
- In Mind
- At times, I think of committing suicide
- Designer of a creative haven
- Fund to help Dubai taxi drivers' families
- New life-saving fleet of vehicles
Community Reports
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
-
Supporting the needy with food supplies
Group of families engaged in serving isolated labour community hopes to motivate more people to help underprivileged and hungry
-
Leukaemia boy granted wish to meet footballer
Emirati meets hero Al Qahtani, Al Ain team
