Why is our country lying to us?

US citizens deserve the truth

It is devastating to finally understand that Daesh is not a true representation of Islam (“American hostage Kayla Mueller repeatedly raped by Daesh leader”, Gulf News, August 16). I’ll explain why. They teach us in the US that it’s a group of Muslim people. But, I find it beautiful that true Muslims and moderate people from the Islamic faith are saying that Daesh does not represent them. Then, why are we being taught this? Why do they show us in the media, what appears to be Muslims saying that they hate the US? Please explain this to me, because I want to show Americans the truth. We deserve the truth, instead of the lies that we are being told. There are also rumours going around that Daesh has spread to the US. But, people don’t want to believe it and say that it’s false. I want to know why commercial media makes it seem like what’s going on in the Middle East is due to ‘militant Islamists’, when it seems to be due to this group that does not comprise anything related to true Islam. Why is our own country lying to us? Why can’t there be peace between nations and religions? This is what every religion teaches us — to be peaceful and loving. War is evil. Innocent lives are taken because one country’s ruler wants another country’s resources. The people want peace! I know I do.

From Ms Christina Pietrowski

Chicago, US

No justification for abuse

Kayla Mueller’s murder is not in vain. I hope she rests in peace. She was a young woman who tried to be a mother to the much younger Yazidi girls she was in captivity with. I am proud, as a man, to be a feminist in every way. What she went through was rape and systematic abuse, and there is no justification ever, for the lack of respect and abuse shown to these young women. May God be with her family.

From Mr Charles

Sweden

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They are not Muslims

I do not believe that members of Daesh are Muslims. A true Muslim cannot behave like this. Shame on them!

From Ms Neela Yathatchi

UAE

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Religion of peace

Daesh has no relation with Islam or Muslims. Any Muslim cannot be a part of such terrible activity. The world should stop blaming Islam, because the religion always stands for peace.

From Mr Shameem Kareem

Saudi Arabia

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Great service by Dubai Police

Kudos to the Dubai Police, who kept their cool and assisted the public on the day Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was speaking at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (“Modi thanks UAE leadership for ‘unforgettable’ welcome”, Gulf News, August 18). When the access area for women was overflowing with men, and many of us were being pushed and shoved around, one young police officer came to our rescue. He first shouted at the men to move aside as this was a women-only queue, and when he was ignored, he single-handedly created a passage between a structure by the entrance and himself. He allowed us to quickly walk through, by physically holding back the unheeding throngs of men. Thank you Dubai Police!

From Ms Sandi Saksena

Dubai

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What the future holds

It is a matter of delight to hear that India will be improving infrastructure and working on further developments, with the funds made available by the UAE (“UAE-India fund targets Dh275b”, Gulf News, August 18). The only thing is that it has to be utilised in a proper way, without landing in the hands of corrupt politicians and businessmen. India would not have been in need of money if its funds were not looted by some politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen. Every Indian has to take on the burden created by the country’s leaders in the past 68 years, and if the pattern is not changed, Prime Minister Modi will be imposing a further burden on citizens. Modi has to entrust these projects to technocrats supervised by ministers as a group, and not individually. The funds have to be controlled by a neutral watchdog, with strict internal audits and full transparency. Modi’s speech was very good, but now, we will wait to see what happens in the future. However, he was wrong in blaming previous premiers for not visiting the UAE for 34 years. He should not forget that he selected the UAE after visiting various countries, and may not have made this visit now, if funds were not a factor.

From Mr Balakrishnan V.

Abu Dhabi

Full name withheld on request

Building relations between nations

The recent visit of the Indian Prime Minister Modi to the UAE has opened up new vistas of cooperation and friendship between Gulf countries and India (“Deep-rooted ties bind UAE and India”, Gulf News, August 18). The Prime Minister was proactive enough to visit rulers of the UAE and chalk out new plans of cooperation between the two countries. One could say that the many foreign visits Modi has undertaken have all done well for the improvement of mutual relations between India and these countries. Well done.

From Mr Thomas Matthew Parackel

Kerala, India

Practicing our religion

I congratulate India for its investment deal with the UAE. God bless the UAE and its people, especially the rulers. I want to specifically thank them for granting land in Abu Dhabi to build a temple. It proves that Islam is a great religion that teaches its followers to allow others to practice their religions in peace.

From Ms Smita Ojha

Muscat, Oman

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Childhood lost

I feel so low, thinking of this little girl who has been denied a childhood (“11-year-old gives birth to girl in Paraguay”, Gulf News, August 15). At a time when she should be playing, living her dreams and planning her fairytales, she has been forced to bear a woman’s pain; the pain of childbirth. My heart goes out to her, especially because at a time when girls look towards their mothers for help, she was all alone and had to encounter such immense pain.

From Ms Samia Yusuf

United Kingdom

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Make an example of him

Why didn’t the Paraguayan court let her abort the child? I don’t think justice was served in her case. Additionally, why is the father still waiting for trial? He needs to be punished immediately and made an example of, so such incidents don’t happen again in the future.

From Mr Sultan Khan

Dubai

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How to use leftover food

When I have leftover food at home, I use it to make sandwiches, use it as pizza toppings or lasagna filling (“#ServeUpLove: Give with grace”, Gulf News, August 18). I even use it to make pasta, tacos, rolls or even rice. In today’s technologically advanced world, I think very few people should actually waste any food. You can find millions of recipes online, which specifically include leftover dishes and what you can do to make them ‘new’.

From Ms Nilofer Taher

UAE

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Implement a check

I think there should a limit set on the amount of food that is wasted. This could be done in some way by the authorities and implemented in restaurants, hotels and even at home.

From Mr Ahmad Ifthikar

UAE

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More supply, less demand

Neither the authorities nor private companies can truly impose restrictions on and monitor the wastage of food. Nevertheless, hunger is related to poverty and so, more money could be invested in agricultural production of items like wheat, rice, corn, sunflower plants and vegetables. In this way, the supply will exceed the demand, and prices will automatically go down, allowing the poor to afford basic food.

From Mr Mohammad Zia Al Deen

UAE

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Donating the necessities

My preference is to either donate a box of fruit and vegetables or give money to a person to buy food. The reason is, because I follow a vegan diet, I would not know if what I cooked would suit a particular recipient’s dietary plan.

From Ms Em Dodds

Dubai

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Willing to cook extra

I think everyone would want to reduce poverty as much as they can. So, I would cook an extra meal for those in need.

From Ms Vismaya Sanilkumar

UAE

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A league of his own

As good as former Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram was, I still do believe that Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards was a batsman better equipped to handle the craft of Akram (“Akram was very special, says Richards”, Gulf News, August 16). There’s no denying this fact. Had Akram’s career coincided with the peak years of Sir Richards, then surely he would have been clobbered at every corner of the various grounds around the world, because Sir Richards was that special.

From Mr Imran Butt

Karachi, Pakistan

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Unfortunate circumstances

Akram is the greatest left-arm pace bowler the world has seen. Unfortunately, diabetes stopped him from enjoying a lengthier career.

From Mr Jerry Almeida

Mumbai, India

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An incomparable performer

Akram is a great and aggressive bowler. Watching his bowling spell was a wonderful experience. But, Sir Richards played for a team that had incomparable performers.

From Ms Nis Lab

Kerala, India

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