New Delhi: A UAE poet and media celebrity faced backlash after he made a statement that was perceived as ‘racist’ against Indian and Bengali workers in the country.
In a video that was widely shared on social media, Tariq Al-Mehyas can be seen addressing Arab expatriates in the UAE, telling them that they are welcome in the country and other Gulf nations despite fears created by the coronavirus crisis.
He then goes on to say: “Egyptian workers are ones with a high sense of dignity, which makes them irreplaceable. God forbid that expat doctors and engineers from Sudan or Egypt or other Arab countries be replaced by an Indian or a Bengali.”
Al-Mehyas’ comments are being seen as an attempt to assuage expats after popular Kuwaiti actress, Hayat Al Fahad, called for their deportation earlier this month.
Fahad had said expats from the Gulf country needed to be deported to ensure the health system isn’t overwhelmed. In an interview with a Kuwaiti TV station, she said: “We are fed up. If we get sick, there are not (enough) hospitals (for us).”
“Why, if their countries do not want them, should we deal with them? Aren’t people supposed to leave during crises?” she asked.
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‘Racist rhetoric’
Al-Mehyas’ statement was soon shared on social media platforms, with people in the region condemning his “racist rhetoric” against Indian and Bengali workers.
Twitter users commented, saying the “Emirates welcome everyone and condemn racism and hatred”.
المدعو طارق المحياس لا يمثل إلا نفسه في كافة مقاطع الفيديو التي ينشرها.
أبناء الإمارات ?? التواضع ومحبة الجميع واحترام الكافة والتسامح صفات متأصلة فيهم
أبناء الإمارات ?? يرحبون بالجميع وينبذون العنصرية والكراهية
— د.حوراء موسى (@HAWRAMOSA) April 11, 2020
The above tweet roughly translates to: “This Tariq Al-Mehyas only represents himself. The UAE people are humble. They’re known for tolerance and for loving and respecting everyone. Emirates welcome everyone and condemn racism and hatred.”
Another Twitter user (shown below) wrote: “Tariq Al-Mehyas only speaks for himself. It’s unfortunate that a media figure would downgrade other humans regardless of their nationalities. Indians and Bengalis are the ones who clean our streets despite low-wages. We have to respect and treat them well, not speak ill of them.”
https://twitter.com/3naa10/status/1249050772546912256?s=20
One user (below) said: “Tariq Al-Mehyas is a lying hypocrite. How many teachers, engineers, doctors and other workers at oil companies have been laid off and deported? You’ve always been in favour of Asians over Arabs to the extent that most of Emiratis’ wives are from either India, Pakistan or the Philippines.”
طارق المحياس كذاب ومنافق كم عدد المدرسين والمهندسين والأطباء وموظفين شركات النفط العرب اللذينة تم إنهاء خدماتهم وتسفيرهم انتم تفظلون الآسيوين علا العرب والدليل عدد زوجاتكم من دول الهند باكستان والفلبين https://t.co/S1Nh6Zj4ki
— بلا وطن (@aabofasl05) April 11, 2020
Al-Mehyas is also a TV presenter on his show Sawalef.
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Why do Pakistan and India possess nuclear technology
Is it because of money from the khaleej
No
It’s because of their intellect
Case closed
Asian people face so much discrimination in the Gulf nations of the Middle East. India, Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other Asian countries need to stop sending their workers to these countries. This man even said that he’s not racist because he has an Asian maid at home doing all the work for him.
Who are these Arabs to say anything bad to south asians. They were nothing 80 years ago and after that Allah gave them the wealth of oil . So now they think asians are inferior to them . Their all infrastructure,buildings and roads are built by these south asian people. They should thank us for developing their countries.
Reality can hurt sometimes
Futile attempt to whitewash ARAB racism by ignorant and misguided author(s) of this composition. The fact is that the natives of the ‘holy lands’ of Islamic Middle East have only contempt for all non- whites with special scorn for subcontinental Muslims (called Hindi). No prize for guessing how non-Muslims ( Kaffirs ) are looked upon. In these Islamic ‘holy lands’ the salary for the same job is vey different and is determined by the country of your passport. Subcontinental labour and professionals are naturally at the bottom of the heap.
The so called ‘Liberals’ and ‘Appeasement Advocates’ shouting loudly ‘Intolerant India’ and ‘shrinking space for minorities’ need to go and live in the ‘Islamic holy lands’ for a while until the screws loose in their head are properly tightened!
I completely agree. I know several Indian and Pakistani engineers here is USA. Everyone, without exception, said how people from South Asia are looked down upon and discriminated.
I think the gulf countries are just playing catching up with right wing parties of europe and india. terrible example to take . Never heard such racist comment publicly aired like that in any arab channels. Arabs are making it mainstream this is really really terrible.
There is no catching up. Arabs and Islamic followers are already hardliners who still stone women in this day and age. Look at how a foreign worker is treated , their passports are confiscated. Many videos of foreign workers crying have surfaced. And they didn’t take a single refugee. Bcoz they consider all converted non-arab Muslim to be filthy.
India is the most tomerant country. I muslims have a habit of randirona. Muslims get a lot of govt benefits and subsidies that we don’t get
At least Indians and Bengalis are smarter than any Middle East person that’s why UAE is successful. I wonder what the self-custodian of freedom for Muslims Al Jazeera has to say about this episode?