Burkini ban: A new form of oppression?
The problem is that this rule is crazy (‘French police order woman on Nice beach to remove top’, Gulf News, August 25). Once again, women are being told they are not allowed to wear what they want – in this case it’s a burkini. We are a free nation and the burkini is not like a niqab, where you can’t even see the face. Some people are wearing it for practical reasons, like protection from the sun or to feel more comfortable. It’s wrong to fight the problems by punishing women! This is a rule made by men for men, to oppress women. This time it’s Muslim women in the West. We should be free to wear what we want.
From Ms April Lee
UAE
Facebook comment
Respect all religions
Do other non-Islamic religions say that it’s a sin to be covered? If not, then if a non-Muslim covers up, then it won’t be breaching the beliefs of the public. But it’s considered a sin for Muslims to keep certain parts uncovered. That’s the difference. The thing is that we are required to respect everyone’s religion.
From Ms Fatima Harun
UAE
Facebook comment
Don’t have to cover
Actually, you don’t have to cover up in many Islamic countries as long as you aren’t wearing a super short dress/trousers. People show skin in a lot of Muslim countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey and even Pakistan.
From Mr Qurey S.
Moro, Pakistan
Facebook comment
Let her be
This is bullying by the French police. Why didn’t anybody stand with this woman being asked to undress? She was clearly just trying to enjoy the beach within her own cultural and religious rules.
From Ms Anouk Kahanov-Kloppert
UAE
Facebook comment
Taking away freedoms
That is against this woman’s rights. They should be the ones who are banned from entering Islamic countries, since they are violating our religion. May God help all Muslim brothers and sisters who are struggling with the threats and violations.
From Mr Amir A.
Dubai
Facebook comment
Where’s the respect?
How about other non-Muslims wearing headscarves? This is too judgmental. It’s interesting to see the Gulf countries being more tolerant than these Western countries. Some nationalities really don’t try to respect either the laws or cultural norms here.
From Mr Monti Ronquillo
Dubai
Facebook comment
We cover up
The thing is that when us Westerners go to Muslim countries, we have to abide by the rules of the country and cover up, so what is the difference?
From Ms Andrea Watson
UAE
Facebook comment
Humiliating
This is a absolutely shocking, unacceptable and humiliating. I think beachgoers, especially women, must have the freedom to wear what they like and not be forced and fined for wearing an extra piece of clothing. The officers could have warned the woman instead of ordering her to remove her shirt on the spot. This is unprofessional of the police officials as this clearly accounts to a breach of privacy. It is surprising that the poor woman obliged to the orders and took off the top immediately.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
Facebook comment
Follow the law
Each country has its own rules. When in Saudi, non-Muslims are asked to wear the hijab and abaya. Most people don’t object and respect the rule. The same goes for us Muslims. Don’t go to France or to the beaches if you don’t want to follow the law. Each to his own. Live and let live. Let France do what they want, we are no one to judge. Only God will be the best to judge.
From Ms Sana Ishtiaq
Manana, Bahrain
Facebook comment
Sun protection
I think she wasn’t Muslim, but who knows, I might be wrong. The thing that what she was wearing wasn’t even a burkini. Maybe now they should ban all people who wear long sleeves. Wearing a scarf on the beach doesn’t mean you’re Muslim. Lots of people are just trying to protect their heads from a sun stroke.
From Ms Aleksandra Dąbrowska
Dubai
Facebook comment
Philippines is getting better
Soon the whole world will come to know how biased and corrupt our media in the Philippines really is (‘Beyond war on drugs, Philippines’ Duterte seen setting up economic boom’, Gulf News, August 24). God bless our president. He is our only hope right now to build a drug-free and corruption-free country. That’s why there is so much criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte, because it’s better for all the bad people in the country if he is out of a job, they can continue their illegal activities. It’s rooted in with almost 30 years of a flourishing black market of drugs abuse like a cancer everywhere. Our streets are getting safe and eventually good things will come!
From Ms Lobina Balase Loida
UAE
Facebook comment
Find a way!
The excess food should be frozen and shipped to poorer nations (‘Food worth $4b going to UAE landfill’, Gulf News, August 24). I hear a lot of nonsense about the liability and that it must be dumped. But we’re talking about good food. Find a way!
From Mr Randall Mohammad
Dubai
Facebook comment
Give it away here
Mr Randall Mohammad, suggest something practical. There are enough people in Dubai who could consume it instantly and they deserve the food, too. The idea of shipping is easy to say, but look what’s around. I respect your interest to get it to them, anyway.
From Ms Bismilla Khan
Dubai
Facebook comment
Infrastructure problems
Famine isn’t just caused by a lack of food. It is most often caused by the inability to get food to those who need it. The largest cause of famine is war, followed by the lack of infrastructure, then corruption. Freezing food and shipping it to other countries just isn’t the answer. It will just rot in the docks.
From Mr Michael Abbott
UAE
Facebook comment
Health concerns
I worked for a hospitality company, and I tried very hard to get them to donate excess food, but their fear was if someone got sick, their brand would be blamed. Also, packaging material costs money. If the authorities provided standard packaging material, then places will be more willing to donate excess food.
From Mr Sanober Bhojani
UAE
Facebook comment
And the problem is?
Even a decade ago, ‘back to school’ wasn’t such a big deal. In recent years it has become so important and sensitive. Parents are worried, many children don’t want to go back, lots of counselling to parents and children!
As children, we used to long for school to reopen. Not to mention, in those days, we didn’t have any gadgets nor the electronic media. Vacations used to be about visiting relatives or relatives coming to stay or just spending time playing and reading. We used to count the days for school to reopen.
Now things have turned around so much that it is difficult to understand why we have this hue and cry! Is it so difficult to get back to school? Parents are hesitant to send their children back. Why is everyone so nervous? We definitely need to get to the root of the problem.
From Ms Mohana Iyer
UAE
Should UAE ban junk food in schools?
Students are starting to go back to school and poor eating habits develop at an early age that can lead to a lifetime of real health consequences. School is where children spend most of their time, and it is where we lay the foundation for healthy habits. That’s why I think the UAE should follow a school nutrition policy that bans candy, soda, chips and other junk food.
From Ms Yolla Zein
Dubai
Oral hygiene is crucial!
It was very interesting to read about how a dental examination led to the diagnosis of a genetic disorder (‘A dental exam reveals a boy’s rare disorder’, Gulf News, August 19). There are many diseases that can be diagnosed by dentists during routine dental examination. However, it is surprising that health insurance considers dental treatment as a fringe benefit allowed only for high premiums!
Even if dental treatment is covered under health insurance, cleaning teeth is being considered as a cosmetic procedure and being denied to the patients. As healthcare providers, dentists are unable to advise patients to have scaling done as it’s simply not covered in their policy! Dental scaling should be allowed in any basic plan! It’s done for a patient at least once a year, and it goes a long way in diagnosing systemic diseases.
Maintaining oral health is the first step to a healthy life! It was great to read this article that emphasises importance of dental health!
From Dr Suganthi Sabu Ganesan
Abu Dhabi
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