Human rights

I have just been reading that the European Union have produced a report on Human Rights abuse within the UAE which has angered officials here.

Quite frankly, one of the reasons we chose to move here is because we wanted to live amongst people who were law abiding.  We were sick of people who thought that they were entitled to anything they wanted without working for it, and those that work hard are repaid by being ignored.  Out here, you know what you are getting...  If you do the crime, be prepared to do the time.

Speaking as a non national, we knew that when we moved, fighting in the streets, bars or anywhere else is not tolerated and nor should it be.  Lewd behaviour is not tolerated.  Swearing and gesticulating obscenities is not tolerated.  Big public displays of affection i.e.  sex on a beach or being 'passionate' anywhere in public are not tolerated, but lets be honest, do you want to see people having snogging opposite you in McDonald's whilst you are trying to eat your Big Mac, let alone having sex (not necessarily in MaccyD's but anywhere)?!  No. Do you want to see a friend or partner, being repeatedly punched or kicked in the head because he looked at someone the wrong way?  No. Do you want to stand by a bar and have someone come up to you and put their hand down your top or pants?  No.

Now I know these kinds of behaviour are not tolerated in the EU (and specifically the UK) either.  There were a couple in Windsor who were arrested for having sex on the grass outside of Windsor Castle just last year, but the difference here though, is you will not get a slap on the back of the hand and a telling off by someone who you will never see again, or a small fine if you are really unlucky as you would in the UK. Here, you do not pass go.  Here, you go straight to jail.

The law is THE law.  Yes it is strict, but it evokes people to live harmoniously side by side.  A lot of what you read at home is utter b******s.  I can recall reading about the 'sex on the beach couple'.  All the reports in the papers stated how they were sentenced after having sex in public.  One newspaper (it was either the Telegraph or the Times) were the only ones to include in their report that the couple in question had actually been asked to stop twice before, but continued to ignore the requests.  In my book, they lived by the sword and died by the sword.

Now, I am not going to say that everyone in prison here is guilty.  Far from it, but I certainly could not say the same about those in prison anywhere in the EU.  Yes the judicial process in the EU may be steeped in history and procedure, but even here there is a process and the laws, which may be basic, are black and white and enforced whenever the public is at risk.

Referring back to my previous blog, again, I do agree that the laws here are open to a degree of abuse, but are you really telling me that things are any different in the UK or anywhere else in EU?  No.  Laws on tax in the EU are regularly flouted with loopholes being made to suit the rich.  We all know that every law, somewhere in the world, has been abused.

Yes, I am sure there are some things that could change.  The court process here could open up a bit more if people from abroad are to have full confidence in the system;  You never read about the sentencing in the papers, only the details of the case.  However change is coming about.  For example. the UAE government have endorsed a requirement by the Government of the  Philippines that a mandatory salary be paid for the maids that work over here, together with spot checks to ensure no maltreatment.

Ultimately though, here in the UAE and as with Sharia Law, the rights of the person wronged are much higher on the agenda, and if the person wronged is a minor or deceased, the family’s wishes are taken account when sentencing.

Quite frankly, in this regard, for the EU to comment on the Human Rights of the UAE, when their own are questioned on a daily basis, I think proves a lack of foresight and intelligence.  

At home, we allow rapists and paedophiles to leave prison within 5 years and move back to the same neighbourhood as the children they attacked.  We allow murders to be rehabilitated back into society 15 years after they killed, without a thought for the life that they have taken forever.  

On Sky news yesterday they said that people who commit robbery in the UK, have on average a rap sheet of 12 other convictions before they serve time.  The people that they rob from however, are living in their own 'prison', waking up at every sound outside throughout the night, living on edge without even taking into account the emotional loss at heirlooms being stolen, or the children’s favourite toys that they may or may not be able to replace - This I can speak from personal experience.

For non nationals in the UAE, we have jumped through so many hoops to live in a country where the standard of living can only be dreamt of at home, I wouldn't know why you would want to flout the local laws.

You know before you move here that, you must defer to the locals, but then, should that not be the case at home?  Here, the worry first and foremost is that the locals are appeased and then everyone else falls in behind them, and yes this can mean that their argument has more weight in a court, but again, is the EU trying to say that this doesn't happen at home?  For example, has anyone ever successfully taken the monarchy to court?  No.  Does this mean people end up unfairly in prison anywhere in the world?  Undoubtedly (think Prince Harry's model in the USA).

All that is being asked is that you treat the country with the respect and authority it deserves seeing as how you are a guest here which means living by their rules, traditions and standards.  This is a rule that all foreigners living/visiting in any country which is not their own should live by...  Certainly, the UAE will treat you the same way you treat it.  As far as I am concerned, this is exactly what all members of the EU should be asking from the people that migrate into them - Even if they are from other member states.  They won't though as otherwise they will face criticism for failing to take into account the human rights of the migrants - They will just ignore the human rights of the nationals instead.

Until the member states of the EU have put the emphasis back to the victim/local people and the local law, the EU will always have a questionable human rights policy themselves, however good intentioned.  People in glass houses should not throw stones...