Letters: August 28, 2013

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It is shameful and surprising that this has surfaced when a foreigner visited India (“India: ‘a traveller’s heaven, a woman’s hell”, Gulf News, August 23). Many girls go through this on a daily basis as a routine and have somehow learned to deal with it in their own meager ways. This is because eve teasing and groping are not considered a big thing in India. It may be considered normal and the issue is that no one supports the girl who retaliates to such men in public. I urge all the men and women that when you see a girl retaliating, support her. We can blame the police and government but what about the bystanders who choose to remain silent. Little do they know at that instant when they choose to remain silent, somewhere in some other market their daughters and sisters may be going through the same thing and wondering why isn’t anyone supporting me.

From Ms Mahnaaz Shaikh

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Clear negligence

There are always talks and debates on stringent measures and severe punishments for those who commit such assaults on women. However, the end result is that the criminals are released, escape or the case is prolonged till their natural death. This is a clear negligence from the police, government and judiciary. What happened with the Delhi incident? Once the media trumpet is over, the government and authorities are relieved. Even the so called women organisations who cried for victim quiet down. Who is to be blamed? The poor standard of the government and its subsidiaries? One thing is sure that the tougher and faster the law and its enforcement, the lesser the criminal activities.

From Mr Baiju Murathankal

Dubai

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Quick solutions

India has a funny “fast track” system for solving rape cases. They interrogate more than 100 witnesses and that takes months, probably years. By that time the lawyers, judges and perpetrators will expire and the case will still be ongoing in the court. These cases require quick solutions, just like movies in Bollywood — solve the crime in three hours flat!

From Ms Fatima Rishana

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Shameful acts

As an Indian, I am ashamed at the way the citizens are treated, be it in our country or around the world. I am lost with words regarding the manner in which our guest was treated and more recently about the photojournalist who was gang raped in Mumbai. My city was the safest city in India! My sisters and mum could walk out of their homes at midnight with no fear. Indian media have disclosed the names of the alleged rapists who made this safe city unsafe for women. It is a wake up call for the Indian government to walk the talk in regards to the previous rape case in Delhi and the many cases thereafter. The authorities in Maharastra need to act in response to the shame brought to the nation.

From Ms Mel

Abu Dhabi

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Transparent media

I always speak against such incidents, but I would like to point out that they don’t only happen in India – they do anywhere in the world. Those who criticise my country should read the statics released by the government of India in 2012. Such biased reports by international media such as CNN will not affect my great country. I am doubtful about the credibility of this report. I agree that there are problems in India because we have a population of over 1.27 billion and our media is not censored at all. Whenever an incident like this occurs, there is a report the very next day. I have noticed that there are some media houses that try to defame India at the international level with pictures and reports from any third party. I request these people to name a single country where such incidents never happen.

From Mr Manoj Kumar

Ajman

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Prove a point

Gulf News, I understand that you are trying to prove a point regarding Syria’s civil war, but do you really need to show pictures of dead children every day (“Slaughter of the innocent”, Gulf News, August 22)?

From Mr Adnan Dawood

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Why?

A picture of dead children on the front page? Why?

From Ms Nathalie B.

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Loss of words

If you are a parent, avoid looking at the front page of Gulf News! Completely stumped by what I saw — Syria.

From Ms Anindita Chatterjee

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Shameful act

It is really shameful to have such a leading newspaper publish horrific images of burnt disfigured bodies!

From Mr R. S. S.

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Disgraceful

It is extremely unprofessional on Gulf News’ part to publish horrific images on the front page of the newspaper. What tops it is the fact that after receiving several complaints, the newspaper defended their decision to publish these pictures by stating, “Gulf News is a newspaper that practices ethical journalism”. To prove this, they published another horrific image of a disfigured face of a man in Egypt. What a disgraceful level of “ethical journalism”!

From Mr Saeed Bughio

UAE

Editor’s Note: Gulf News welcomes all feedback. It helps keep us fair and relevant. With reference to the front page photograph that the readers have complained about, it is absolutely relevant to the news report it was published with. Our role is to hold a mirror to society. We do not sensationalise news and always strive to follow the highest ethical standards in our journalistic practices.

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