Mixed marriage is not a threat to Emirati culture

Letter writers comment on mixed marriages, Islamic art projects, property draft law, bad traffic habits and piracy.

Schools are magnets for bad drivers and over-crowded parking lots, a reader says. (Christopher Pike / The National)

I refer to the article The truth on mixed marriages: only the strong will survive (April 29). Why is the writer of this article trying so hard to "sell" the appeal of local women over foreign women? And what has "beauty" got to do with it?

There are many beautiful women throughout this world, and beauty alone cannot sustain a marriage. What ever happened to freedom of choice in choosing a spouse? There is nothing wrong with other nationalities.

The article suggests that foreign women have no morals, beauty or even "strength " compared to local women.

If a local finds happiness with a foreign wife, what is the big deal? Emirati culture will not disappear if men marry foreign women. Emirati culture will suffer, if you discriminate and do not allow others to embrace it and uphold it.

Let the men marry who they want if it is their wish. There are many foreign women married to Emirati men who are also Muslim and have embraced local culture and customs.

They are also just as keen to uphold and maintain the local culture and traditions, just as much as local woman.

Mia maryam, Indonesia

I am really not sure what "truths" the article pretends to know. There are so many factually inaccurate statements.

I am an Emirati and study the UAE demographics extensively. There is statistically no difference in the divorce rates between Emiratis married to nationals or non-nationals.

T BH, Abu Dhabi

More Islamic art projects needed

Thanks to Shelina Zahra Janmohamed for addressing this most important issue (The West appreciates Islamic art - so why don't Muslims? April 28).

The imaginable and conceptual resources catalysed by the arts are much needed to elevate and regenerate Muslim societies and communities.

Things have been changing rapidly, though, with clusters of dynamism in the arts amongst Muslims around the world at all levels, in both Muslim majority countries as well as in other parts of the world.

There is still a long way to go but compared to 15 years ago when my colleagues and I set up the Khayaal Theatre Company, the outlook is much brighter.

Now, we just need more Muslims setting up foundations to support artistic enterprise and production globally.

Luqman Ali, UK

Questions about property draft law

I have a few questions about the law mentioned in the article Homeowner draft law in Dubai stirs control issue (May 2).

Does the law address money held in escrow accounts as down payments or progress payments for projects that weren't started or later cancelled?

I have no real indication as to what might happen to my money after almost four years of being held by the bank in the project's escrow account.

I only have confirmation it's there and know the amount from an official bank letter.

Money in escrow is held against a contractual arrangement and presumably released when that arrangement is not fulfilled or is dissolved or otherwise becomes null and void. Is that correct? Do I and other buyers have any recourse? Any hope of ever recovering our money?

Bassem Fakhry, Dubai

Bad parking habits cause congestion

I had the misfortune to drive past the Sharjah branch of Choueifat school at 4pm (Traffic plan fails at 'Headache road', May 2).

The traffic congestion caused every day by those parents who prefer to triple-park their cars on the main road rather than stop in the ample parking area has to be seen to be believed.

There is never the same problem with "Our Own English High School" (OOEHS), which is next door.

Margaret Smallpeice, Sharjah

Ignoring piracy victims misguided

The answer to piracy is prevention. If infected, cure (Pirates extend the ransom deadline for Dubai ship, April 21). Clearly the reader Dr Salee Amina who suggested using "precision missile" to target ships hijacked by pirates and any victims would be "martyers". It's easier for those whose fathers, brothers or sons didn't happen to be among the victims to say "they become matyrs".

Suggesting that innocent lives should be allowed to become martyrs is rather harsh and insensitive.

Not paying the pirates, if you look at the statistics, has not achieved any decline in piracy. The result has been loss of innocent lives.

To write off those taken hostage is not a solution to piracy.

Ayesha Imam, UK