On Sunday, residents of Dubai Marina were shocked and surprised to wake up to signs placed by Emaar banning dogs from public spaces (Pet owners in Dubai Marina demand dog ban be reversed, July 15).
This unilateral decision will confine hundreds of dogs to their apartments and virtually ban them from any kind of public space. They are already banned from JBR and the beach, the only other two public areas accessible from Dubai Marina. This rule is a highly discriminatory measure for pet owners.
We do not believe this decision is aligned with Emaar’s spirit of “shaping lifestyles”. In other major cities, dogs are an integral part of the community and they enjoy the public space in harmony. Dubai will be lagging behind if this rule is enforced.
Rafael Lemaitre, Dubai
I’m not a dog owner but in general the dog-owning community in the Marina has been very good at picking up after their pets.
I cycle the entire route nearly every day and only very rarely have seen any mess left by dogs.
John Taylor, Dubai
Banning pets does not enhance any experience. In fact, it has quite the opposite effect.
Shaun Garratt, Dubai
What is driving the conflict in Gaza?
When people say that both sides in the Gaza conflict should stop (Israel accepts Egypt's ceasefire proposal, July 15), what exactly do they mean for the Palestinians?
They should stop hiding under their beds? Stop throwing stones? Stop walking the streets after being forced out of their homes? Stop crying?
What exactly is the Palestinian side doing that they should stop? This is a one-sided genocide.
Samina H-Bakhsh, Abu Dhabi
What is to blame for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the British administration of Palestine’s theft of someone’s land when it wasn’t their land to give away.
How would any of us react if our homes, land and livelihoods were stolen from us by immigrants?
Timothy John Holmes, Ajman
The how and why of Israel’s creattion does not go hand in hand with innocents being killed. Lobbing a rocket from a hospital in the hopes of retaliation to create an international crisis is disgusting, and the same goes with supporting that.
Everything you see is a response to rocket fire. What exactly are the Palestinians doing to stop Hamas from launching rockets?
I believe the Israeli government knows they are being watched and strike only when possible. Most rocket fire receives no response because it is fired from places with innocent children and the elderly.
I hope for a day when children are not raised to hate their neighbours and encouraged to kill.
John Adams, Al Ain
Differing views on cut-price movers
With regard to your article about the labourers who charge much less than moving companies to transport goods in Abu Dhabi (The furniture movers of Abu Dhabi on the hunt for business, July 13), I've already experienced this and had to face the consequences.
You have to pay money to get professionals. If you pay peanuts, you then have to accept what follows.
Abdullah Chisti, Dubai
It should be remembered that the professional movers’ price includes wrapping and packaging.
If you don’t protect it like that, you’ll end up with all your furniture ruined.
Basma Beiram, Dubai
These people do not only move furniture. They move other stuff too that doesn’t require packing so long as it can be handled by being tied down with rope.
There are some people in Abu Dhabi can’t afford to pay over Dh1,000 to move home.
Adeel Ahmed, Abu Dhabi
Preventing Muslim cliches on screen
Your story, Fox's new series Tyrant a series of unfortunate clichés (July 15), quotes Jack Shaheen saying that just a few people in Hollywood who are qualified to lobby could have ensured that a series like Tyrant doesn't get made and, even if it does, it wouldn't be so awful.
The Muslim Public Affairs Council does that kind of lobbying, but is limited by an incredibly sensitive media in the US that sees any constructive feedback as an attack on free speech.
Kashif Pasta, Canada
Why foreigners become jihadis
Your article, Fatal attraction: foreigners who fight in Syria (July 13) showed Muslims frustrated by the killings in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria who have chosen to fight injustice and oppression.
Noumaan Nasir, Dubai
These fighters are criminals who bring shame to the name of Islam.
Haytham Mansour, Dubai