Saddest, seediest day
Is today the saddest, seediest day ever in sandlands history? A glance at Gulf News' Nation stories reveals a rollcall of sordid human misery and depravity:
Prisoner hangs himself in Sharjah jail
Housemaid in court for molesting child
Man fined after he beat wife who took children for a drive
Mother tells court barber molested son
Ex-soldier and sex worker jailed
No wonder the poor Arabian mammoths became extinct. They probably lemminged en masse off Jebel Hafeet in a fit of shame and depression if the Miocene-era Elephant Today headlines were in any way similar.
Prisoner hangs himself in Sharjah jail
Housemaid in court for molesting child
Man fined after he beat wife who took children for a drive
Mother tells court barber molested son
Ex-soldier and sex worker jailed
No wonder the poor Arabian mammoths became extinct. They probably lemminged en masse off Jebel Hafeet in a fit of shame and depression if the Miocene-era Elephant Today headlines were in any way similar.
13 Comments:
You help make my point for me. I've read much about the supposed "sugar-coating" of the UAE by the heavily-censored media. Seems to me that they report quite heavily on crime.
As a reader, even in a city 20 times the size of Dubai, I would not want to read the "full list" of crime and death stories that exist. I'd rather have a full, balanced "slice of life"...including stories on corruption, politics, health, human interest, business, technology, etc.
Ah, but remember Leads, these news stories aren't just about Dubai. It's not so bad, considering it's all the crime in the country.
Bassam Za'za' may have had the scoop today but other emirates get their fare share (watch Nasouh Nazzal rak 'em up).... ok, maybe not UAQ, but hey.
And there are plenty of human interest and positive business stories in the Gulf News too. Of course - being less controversial -people are not as likely to blog about them. The media censorship is frustrating, but most people are well informed of these issues regardless. Furthermore, GN has a good coverage of international politics.
Not to detract from SD's post; I completly agree with her and I think it's great that these issues are discussed. Just sayin' these aren't the only stories out there...
It wasn't like this though. The stories that appeared in the newspaper some years back would make one think that there was no crime. I don't know, perhaps crime has increased? Maybe the press has more freedom?
One barrier they have to break is the political stories. We want to hear balanced stories on our government and leaders. The press has a long way to go..
Thx SSOW, it was heartening to read the blog of Riverbend. She is a brave young woman whose simple story gives us a rare insight into the so-called war on terrorism and the fruits of its labour.
Unfortunately, the Western media usually refrains from being so brutally honest, while the Middle Eastern-and-beyond media usually turns a blind eye, is severly gagged or have resigned itself to move on to more juicier and timely tales.
Wish the people of Iraq could do the same.
hahahah...so true hannibal. Let's all start carpooling, walking or hitchhiking to work.
You know.. I have to wonder how many of these molestation stories are even true. I know that in Dubai, and pretty much the whole UAE, people are guilty until proven innocent, not the other way around. I also know that certain people will file false police claims and give fallacious testimony against people because they hold some grudge or to get revenge.
I've known from experience that dealing with the police and courts can be unbelievably frustrating, even with a lawyer to decipher the "law" and I can only imagine what a housemaid and a barber, who probably can't afford a lawyer, are going through.
As for the guy who hanged himself at the Sharjah Jail, I personally think he's in a better off place (have you seen some of the jails around the UAE? Suicide is preferable to staying in those hell holes).
Its funny how the article mentions that the 2 people who killed themselves had "psychological problems". Well duh! who wouldn't have any mental issues after being inside a UAE prison?!
Ah, it's all because Islam is "such a civilising religion", according to the Sheikhs...
I thought it was the "Religion of Peace™"
SD, all wasnt so gloomy in the press - Richard Branson bought here in Dubai. It was on front page on 7 days, a couple of arabic papers, Gulf Today, etc:
http://www.7days.ae/2006/03/30/king-richard.html
I wish i could get a beauty queen with an island as well!
Hey SD
This seems interesting enough that I thought I'd hijack this post to link to:
http://www.7days.ae/2006/03/31/unions-this-year.html
Unions for workers by the end of the year?
Yeah but the govt. says a lot of things to appease the international community. I doubt any union will be set up by the end of the year.
My name is KATHAR MOIDEEN Indian citizen living in SHARJAH UAE. A man named Mohd Bin Al Hamrani Living in Sharjah UAE tied up with me a lease contract for his business for the period of one year at the rate of 13000 Dirham per month. After handing over the business to me Hamrani continually disturbing and interrupting the business he did what ever he things that he want to develop this business and put all the expenses on my head and made me great loss where I could not pay the agreement amount as agreed.
Since I could not pay my obligations as per the agreement he don’t want to take back the business and pushing me in to great loss again and again.
Now He is trying to put me in Jail based on the agreement where the total business gone on loss
And I have to pay to him a big money.
I am trying to convince him that I can pay this amount by installment in three or four years but he don’t want to accept it and he is always with me in aggressive way.
Now I found no way to run out of it. Do not understand what I can do. But only way I have to kill my self.
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