Emirati official draws ire after calling on UAE to ‘reclaim’ Qatar

By: Nada Badawi | April 2, 2014View as "Clean Read" Dubai Police/Facebook New remarks from one of Dubai’s top security officials, who has called for the annexation of Qatar into the UAE, are generating an outpouring of online response from Doha’s local community. In a series of tweets posted this week to his more than 600,000 followers, Lt. General Dhahi Khalfan, the deputy chairman of Police and General Security in Dubai, said: Translation: “We demand that Qatar be returned to its original ruling under Abu Dhabi, return the branch to its original one.” “Qatar is an integral part of the UAE. We must put up signs on our borders with Qatar stating: ‘You are now entering the UAE’s eighth emirate.’” “Qatar should not be ‘a safe haven’ to the so-called ‘Muslim’ Brotherhood.” Khalfan, formerly Dubai’s police chief, is a longtime critic of the Islamist group, which Qatar has supported. However, many in the GCC see the Muslim Brotherhood as a threat to their political stability. Qatar’s position on the group has been cited by analysts and local officials as the main reason the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain recalled their ambassadors from Doha last month. Khalfan’s tweets also mention his disapproval of Azmi Bishara, a former member of Israel’s Knesset and the general director of Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Qatar, in addition to prominent Doha-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al Qaradawi. Online reaction Qatar has not publicly commented on the senior security official’s remarks. But the Qatari community has been discussing Khalfan’s statements on social networks, with some mocking his posts under the Twitter hashtag #ضاحي_خلفان_يطالب_بضم_قطر_للإمارات (Dhahi Khalfan demanding the annexation of Qatar to UAE). Khalfan also asserted that Emiratis comprise 80 percent of Qatar’s total population, and were the first to name the country’s city Doha, saying: “I hope you’re not upset, this is the truth.” But Twitter users scorned the remarks, reminding Khalfan that the UAE, along with Qatar and Bahrain, were collectively known as the Trucial States after the British withdrew their colonial presence from the region in 1968. Diplomatic ties Some have expressed concern about the online row, saying Khalfan’s tweets could heighten the already existing tension between Qatar and the UAE. Translation: “I love the UAE and its people, but he’s crazy! It’s not allowed to cause chaos between Gulf countries. Shame on his words.” The tensions began worsening earlier this year, after the UAE officially objected to a sermon of Al Qaradawi’s. During a broadcast speech, the Egyptian-born Qatari cleric criticized the UAE’s support for Egypt’s new military government, which overthrew Brotherhood-backed President Mohamed Morsi last year in Cairo. Since then, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have pledged billions of dollars in aid to the new government. Qatar meanwhile had backed Morsi’s government and has seen the return of aid it previously offered to his administration. The situation escalated last month with the withdrawal of Saudi, UAE and Bahrain’s envoys. In addition, Saudi Arabia declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group. However, many are doubtful that Khalfan’s messages will do anything more than spark ire for now. A think tank source in Qatar who asked to remain anonymous told Doha News: “His remarks have surprised many people and have done little other than to exacerbate public antipathy between Qatar and the UAE. It is hard to see why such a senior official feels the need to express himself in this way – it is extremely counterproductive.” He added that the problems between the Gulf countries would be fixed by officials more senior than Khalfan, and “not on Twitter.” Thoughts? ==================== ONLINE BATTLE April 12, 2014 - 1:04:45 am The recall of their ambassadors in Qatar by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates has sparked a row in social media, with some people using foul and threatening language. Citizens of the GCC states have traded insults and rhetoric not seen in recent times in the Arab world. This has worried some officials as it can have an adverse impact on the social fabric in these countries. The sharp exchanges have stooped so low that social media users are hurling abuse at each other. Some comments have got personal, while others question the origin of the people of a particular country. Commentators from one country have tried to discredit the history of those from another by claiming that they are the original inhabitants of this land while the others are migrants. Netizens have also attacked rulers and officials of each other’s country. Some have gone so far as to suggest that free movement of citizens within the GCC countries should be stopped. They say that citizens of a particular country should not be allowed to move freely in other countries as they may pose a security threat. Some people have created fake accounts and posted fabricated stories and comments to create misunderstanding. Some social media accounts have also been hacked. Experts are of the view that ordinary citizens should not engage in such heated debates because the issue is one between governments and will be solved sooner or later through diplomatic means. Once the differences are ironed out, people will have to leave behind their bitterness, they say. Social media channels have provided people platforms to discuss the issue freely, but they need to remember that these should not be misused by using foul language. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other such websites have been flooded with comments on the issue by people from around the Arab world. While some people have discussed the implications of the dispute on unity among GCC countries and engaged in a healthy debate on its various aspects, some others are unnecessarily whipping up passions by posting inciting comments. One comment which infuriated netizens was a tweet by Dahi Khalfan, vice chair of Dubai Police and Public Security, in which he called Qatar the “eighth emirate” of the UAE. Noted Qatari woman journalist Dr Elham Bader Al Sada has filed a complaint with Qatar’s Public Prosecution against Khalfan for his provocative remarks against Qatar and its people. Many people say they are surprised to see senior officials using such language because they are expected to create harmony in society. ======================= زايد يختصر تاريخ بني ياس ويضعه في سجله الذهبي...يا عيالي. .لكم ارض في المنطقة الغربية ...اليوم نحن هنا في دبي لكن ارضكم كبيرة غيطكم في ليوا قال جدي مثلما قلت لكم مش من اليوم آل نيهان اهل فزعة من استووا..لكن في تاريخ بني ياس يا عيالي محد كان مثل زايد بن سلطان. محمد بن شخبوط لما راي الرؤيا خﻻل زيارته لقطر صام ثﻻثة ايام وقرر بعد أسبوعين يعود الى ليوا... أرض فيها بركة ليوا... تمت في قلبه هذه الكلمة.. طبعا رؤية محمد بن شخبوط اللي راها في المنام ان في ليوا بركة خلته يقطع زيارة للدوحة التي قدم اليها من ليوا ويعود في غضون شهر.. وباقول لكم شئ..قلوبهم مليئة باﻻنسانية واحترام اﻵخر مش من اليوم من زمان..ان جربت الدنيا واختبرت الناسالناس يا عيالي وﻻ واحد سالني من الحاكم الذي كانت له سلطة على قطر في الماضي...انه الشيخ محمد بن شخبوط بن ذياب. يقول جدي نحن سبقنا آل ثاني في قطر بنصف قرن من الزمان...يعني بخمسين سنه ..هم صحيح لنا فيهم مخول لكن يا عيالي الحق حق والتاريخ ما ينكر. يقول جدي..كنت متوسط الحال ومنذ تزوجت جدتكم الفاتنة الجمال الله رزقني وتوفقت..فعﻻ بعض النساء اقدامهن بركة....الله فتح علي الخير كانت السعاده على محيا الشيخ محمد واﻻبتسامة على شفتيه...يقول جدي شفت ناس يعطون والعبوس على وجوههم.. يعطون بدون خاطر..لكن.. يقول والله لوشفتوا فرحة البدوي ...وكان الشيخ محمد يقول خله يستانس .. فقير عنده عيال وفريج من اﻻقارب لعله يعطيهم..يقول جدي ==========================