Respect your hosts
Respecting local traditions and culture is a sign of respect, breeding and sensitivity (‘Qataris cast eyes on foreigners in modesty push’, Gulf News, June 12). It does not show a lack of sensibilities but more a presence of sense. We tend to forget that when we travel to another country, we are its guests. It is all about learning and discovering, not about insulting the place of visit. We may or may not agree with the customs. Then it is best to stay away. Additionally, countries need to make sure that airlines, travel and tourism agencies, and other facilities such as hotels make it clear to visitors right from the start what is expected of them. This will do away with most confusion and promote harmony.
From Ms Noora Khan
Dubai
Not obliged to ...
I am not saying completely cover up, but yes, modesty law for foreigners should be there. Dubai also has it. If Qatar wants to copy Dubai in everything and attract tourists, plus be labelled a modern and progressive Middle Eastern country, it needs to not ostracise foreigners who don’t completely cover up. They are not Muslims and neither are they obliged to. However, I do agree, tourists on their part, should respect local religious customs and traditions and not go over board. Have some sense of decency.
From Ms Aisha Yaqub
UAE
Facebook comment
Temperance
I agree with what the notices say in malls, that knees and shoulders should be covered. I do think it’s disrespectuful of women who do walk around really bare. But, you also have women who react over the top!
From Ms Samantha Yvonne Davies
Dubai
It hurts!
It doesn’t hurt when a woman is wearing a burqah, but it really hurts when a woman is wearing almost nothing while your husband is staring at her! This is not about religion. What women want is that tourists and residents wear decent clothes!
From Ms Intesar Abubqr Benito
UAE
Television?
Some people are understanding this report negatively. This kind of dressing is normal for Westerners. What about Qatar television channels that dub and broadcast Western movies?
From Mr Tariq Aziz
Qatar
Facebook comment
A good thing
I think it’s a good idea. Being modest does not equal to oppression or anything in the like. They are not saying they should put on a robe or a scarf. Qatari women are just saying to cover up a bit. It’s no big deal and it’s actually a good thing!
From Mr Adri Medina
UAE
Vitamin D deficiency
A lot of foreigners who are fair-skinned, come to the Middle East to catch up on their Vitamin D, due to a lack of sun in cold parts of the world.
From Ms Almas Bashir Aashique
Bangladesh
Fashion victims
Dressing modestly shows self respect and respect to human kind. We don’t need to follow every fashion.
From Mr Tarek Bastami
UAE
Facebook comment
Safety of Indian women
The gang-rape and murder of two teenage girls in Uttar Pradesh, India recently makes everyone nervous, scattering alarming signals of insecurity across the country and beyond its boundaries (‘Indian woman says policemen gang-raped her inside station’, Gulf News, June 12).
There are too many of these cases: an innocent 23-year paramedic student in New Delhi on December 16, 2012; the rape of a 5-year-old girl, allegedly by two drunks in their early twenties; and the gang-rape of a 22-year-old photojournalist in Mumbai - to name only a few.
Every Indian has got so many reasons to be proud. But, the recurrence of injustice make Indians bow their heads in front of the international society. Judicial corruption in India is an attributable to factor.
Giving protection to women everywhere is not a foolproof measure. Severe action against rapists can only reduce the number of rape crimes nationwide. We need more fast-track courts to try rapists; a uniform law in all states for reported rape; and a reduced age limit for juvenile criminals from the current 18 to 12 years.
Though human rights activists may protest, I feel capital punishment is the most suitable for rapists. One will try to curb his libido when he thinks about the severity of the punishment he is going to get, if convicted. But, influential people will always get out of imprisonment well before their term.
The law and order machinery in India is not feared enough across the country, at least not by perpetrators of crimes! As a lesson to all is necessary.
How many more times Indians ought to hang their heads in shame? I am afraid!
From Mr Suresh A.C.
Dubai
A proud nation
I am a patriotic Pakistani and am watching with extreme anguish and dismay at the events unfolding in my country. There is complete lawlessness and anarchy. With such ineffective leadership, the situation is getting worse and is not going to improve. How many more young and brave soldiers, and security personnel and other innocent people must lose their lives? How many more mothers must lose their sons and daughters to such senseless killings, and how many more women must be tortured and killed in the name of honour?
We need to silence all those politicians and so-called clergy who by their ignorance, are creating havoc in people’s lives and property for their own personal gains without any thought for the nation or its people.
A quick and decisive full scale ground and air offensive should be launched throughout Pakistan including the tribal areas, to wipe out all the terrorists once and for all, and restore peace and prosperity to Pakistan. Let’s make it a nation our founding fathers had envisioned and would be proud of.
From Ms Umbereen Rahman
UAE
Help children in Africa
I want to bring awareness about the children in Africa who don’t have the right to eat. I am telling you about this so that you can know what is happening in the world. Children in Africa do not have the right to eat because of civil war, natural disaster and many other disasters. When the children leave their houses, they don’t have any money to buy food, water or simple clothes. They have to beg for food, water, money and clothes in the streets and in town. I hope that everyone out there can please try to help them in any way. As Mother Teresa once said, “If you can’t feed a hundred then just feed one.”
From Ms Fayha Khan
UAE
Pakistan on polio eradication
The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) on polio in its latest report has stated that Pakistan has ‘broken a promise made to its children’. It has stated that at present four out of five children suffering from polio are from Pakistan. The IMB holds the country responsible for significantly slowing down the global march towards eradicating polio.
The picture depicted by IMB regarding Pakistan’s polio eradication program is indeed alarming. Pakistan’s failure to completely eradicate the menacing disease of polio has now acquired global dimensions. Lately, the World Health Organization (WHO) slapped international travel restrictions on Pakistan, Cameroon and Syria over the countries’ failure to control the spread of the deadly polio virus.
The government of Pakistan will have to act quickly and effectively to address this issue of vital national and international concern. You would have to appreciate that the ramifications of any slackness in dealing with this grave issue could be beyond its comprehension. Pakistan’s willingness to establish a new body to deal with polio eradication, if asked by IMB, is a very positive and noteworthy step. However, it sounds very good for self-satisfaction, but the matter we are talking about is very serious and can be effectively addressed only if the government of Pakistan sincerely realises the gravity of the situation and takes tangible and immediate measures to resolve it.
From Mr Faisal Elahi
UAE
Voicing concern
While visiting and returning from Abu Dhabi recently, I found buses carrying workers without any air conditioning. They were stuffed together and the luckiest ones were seated at the windows where they could get some ventilation in the form of hot air. This was in the afternoon and it was hot outside. I would like the concerned authorities to intervene and, if possible, make air conditioning mandatory for all buses, across all emirates.
From Mr Kunal Bhatia
UAE
Bachelor accommodations
The house rent is going high without any consideration. Expatriates are facing many difficulties here. Single men and women who are working here find more difficulties for their accommodations. People who are working for big companies are getting company accommodations either in camps or rented villas or flats. But those who are working in small shops, offices, establishments or have their own small business are facing even more difficulties.
There aren’t many bachelor accommodations or villas in every city. If the authorities could make some hostels or bachelor accommodations, it would be a great help for single working men and women. I hope the concerned authorities will look into this issue.
From Mr M. A. Mannan
Abu Dhabi
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