Needless provocation

Iran and the UAE have had good relations historically, but a reader wonders why Tehran is looking to upset this balance by antagonising over Abu Musa. Other letter topics today: Sorcery in Saudi Arabia, poor choice of words to describe plane crash, pirate ransom and China's revolution.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent visit to Abu Musa was a needless provocation, on reader says. AFP

The recent visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the occupied UAE island of Abu Musa, and the subsequent bluster, are highly irresponsible acts (Iran warns of military response over islands, April 20).

Iran and the UAE have had good relations historically. The UAE's markets have always been open for Iranians to do business. And the UAE has pursued only peaceful ways to resolve the dispute. So it was highly irresponsible for the Iranian president to antagonise its neighbour on this issue.

Iran's attitude towards the world at large and its neighbours in particular does little to contribute to regional peace and stability.

It can only be hoped that good sense will prevail over the Iranian leadership, and Tehran will agree to a just and peaceful resolution of the dispute.

Muneer Ahmad, Abu Dhabi

Sorcery claims do Saudi Arabia harm

This father should be arrested for wasting police time and making malicious accusations (Sri Lankan woman could face death if found guilty of casting spell on Saudi girl, April 20).

If this had happened in a country village, it could at least be put down to ignorance and backwardness. But for it to happen in a major city in this day and age is astonishing.

This does little to enhance Saudi Arabia's international image.

Name withheld by request

Tasteless details in air crash story

I am appalled by the manner in which this article was written (Pakistan air crash kills 127, April 21).

I cannot believe this article was allowed to be published on your front page with total disregard to the sensitivity of the matter. How could the newspaper possible allow comments like "collecting small pieces of human flesh and bundled them in cloth sheets like we bundle grain"?

I am from the United States and got my degree in journalism. I realise that I am in a different country and do not pretend otherwise, but I still cannot help but recognise that there is no way this type of comment would be allowed to be published in a major national newspaper back home.

Newspapers have a duty to consider how stories affect the public. This air crash is a tragedy. Human beings were alive only hours earlier, kissing their families goodbye.

Would The National have described an air crash in Dubai with such a similar choice of words?

Bethany Wessel, Dubai

Why are iPhone plans so costly?

Can anyone tell me why in the UAE the cost of an iPhone 4S monthly plan with either carrier is up to three and a half times more expensive than similar plans in the UK? Consumers deserve transparency in the billing calculations, and the massive discrepancy should be justified publicly.

Adil Ali, Dubai

One cracking article on eggs

That was "eggsactly" the sort of business article I needed to read on a peaceful Friday morning (Ukraine egg producer Avangardco lays cracking results, April 20).

I loved all the egg references liberally placed throughout the article.

Danny McLaughlin, Dubai

Bo's demise allows Web to blossom

The Chinese Spring has arrived and is in full swing.

The power of the internet has evidently brought a political front-runner to justice if not in terms of law, surely with regard to China's politics (China's internet opens up for debate on Bo Xilai saga, April 19). With the country's recent focus on censorship, primarily on the internet, a shift from the status quo is apparent.

Name withheld by request

Don't give in to pirates' demands

I write in reference to the article Pirates extend the ransom deadline for Dubai ship (April 21).

This article sheds light on a disgustingly common pattern among those who use terrorist tactics to wrest money from innocent targets, instead of making an honest living. Piracy is a form of terrorism. I cringe at the concept of soliciting charity funds to pay the ransom money that these terrorists extort.

What bad policy this is. It acknowledges legitimacy by entering into negotiations with terrorists, which is not only wrong but, it perpetuates the larger problem. Pirates deserve to be targeted, not rewarded.

The solution? Every ship travelling the high seas should be fully armed.

Salee Amina Mohammed, US