The big news is that Free Speech got cancelled last week by official decree.
So did the summer pay of all foreign teachers at state-owned primary and secondary schools, regardless of the terms of their contracts.
So did the same foreign teachers' jobs come September, if there are any Qataris out there who want them.
And they cancelled places for all foreign children at all state-owned schools but that decree got rescinded because, Duh! all the foreigners in Qatar who couldn't get their kids into private schools or who couldn't afford them would walk out of the country this summer and Qatar would then fall apart.
O Beautiful Thought!
And yes, all this news is in addition to Qatar's recently rescinded decision to chuck the Born Again Christians out of the country.
Especially when it comes to foreigners.
1874: Qataris attack Indians.
1875: British make Qataris pay compensation for attack.
1878: Qataris have Indian beaten by Ottoman official.
1880: British have said Ottoman official removed.
1881: More harassment of Indians by Qataris.
1882: Qataris close Indian shops. Expel owners.
1882: British make Qataris apologise and pay compensation.
1983: Qataris attach Indians again.
198?: British make Qataris apologise and pay compensation.
198?: Indians give up and go home with British aid. The British have given up too.
At the ball there were photos taken. And loaded on Facebook. A bit like the ones on this blog's earlier posts.
QU student downloads one of the photos and starts an email campaign on the 'immoral behaviour' of Qatar University English teachers. All students get the email several times. So do some of the Muslim staff. Who forward it on to the Deans of the Departments. Who forward it on in the form of complaints to our Qatari Director.
27 of them.
Qatar is the only Gulf country that did not start its existence with a sizeable long-term Indian trading community.
Looks like its going to be one of the few that is not left with a sizeable Western expat community either.
Just so we're clear however, there are lots and lots of wonderfully tolerant people here. I know about the emails because university students told me they deleted them. One activist Orthodox Muslim campaigner told me she'd sent the emails back telling their senders that they were un-Islamic. Any Islamic behavioural decision must be based on individual choice, she said.
Gotta love integrity.
The other girls referenced tolerance. The absolute best bit of Qatari and other Arab women here.
Shame they're not running the country.
So if you're reading it without having to log in it means that I'm out!!! Free!!! And unable to return for two years under Qatari law.
You can imagine how sad I am about that.
Much love to the wonderful girls who have appeared on this blog, and all the others who can't for cultural reasons. I will miss you.
Much love to the wonderful administrative staff who've laughed at and supported me through many (metaphorical rather than literal, thank god) trials, and for whom I unblock this blog!
Simone the Escaped.
So did the summer pay of all foreign teachers at state-owned primary and secondary schools, regardless of the terms of their contracts.
So did the same foreign teachers' jobs come September, if there are any Qataris out there who want them.
And they cancelled places for all foreign children at all state-owned schools but that decree got rescinded because, Duh! all the foreigners in Qatar who couldn't get their kids into private schools or who couldn't afford them would walk out of the country this summer and Qatar would then fall apart.
O Beautiful Thought!
And yes, all this news is in addition to Qatar's recently rescinded decision to chuck the Born Again Christians out of the country.
Janet: Are we seeing a trend here?When you're on a roll, stay with it seems to be the Qatari position.
Especially when it comes to foreigners.
1874: Qataris attack Indians.
1875: British make Qataris pay compensation for attack.
1878: Qataris have Indian beaten by Ottoman official.
1880: British have said Ottoman official removed.
1881: More harassment of Indians by Qataris.
1882: Qataris close Indian shops. Expel owners.
1882: British make Qataris apologise and pay compensation.
1983: Qataris attach Indians again.
198?: British make Qataris apologise and pay compensation.
198?: Indians give up and go home with British aid. The British have given up too.
Me: Are we seeing a trend here?Six months ago, a bunch of assorted Western expats went to one of the balls here. Alcohol is served at the balls, as in most restaurants at the major five-star hotels. Drinking is not against the law.
At the ball there were photos taken. And loaded on Facebook. A bit like the ones on this blog's earlier posts.
QU student downloads one of the photos and starts an email campaign on the 'immoral behaviour' of Qatar University English teachers. All students get the email several times. So do some of the Muslim staff. Who forward it on to the Deans of the Departments. Who forward it on in the form of complaints to our Qatari Director.
27 of them.
Director: Simone, this is their private behaviour. What can I do about it?
Director: Simone, do you think Qataris don't do this? It's a matter of being discreet.So then the photo gets sent on to a Arabic newspaper. Colleagues' faces crossed in black like criminals.
Director: Only two of them are our staff. The rest are foreigners from everywhere!Yes. The ones that are being increasingly forced out of the country. Like the Indians of yore.
Qatar is the only Gulf country that did not start its existence with a sizeable long-term Indian trading community.
Looks like its going to be one of the few that is not left with a sizeable Western expat community either.
Just so we're clear however, there are lots and lots of wonderfully tolerant people here. I know about the emails because university students told me they deleted them. One activist Orthodox Muslim campaigner told me she'd sent the emails back telling their senders that they were un-Islamic. Any Islamic behavioural decision must be based on individual choice, she said.
Gotta love integrity.
The other girls referenced tolerance. The absolute best bit of Qatari and other Arab women here.
Shame they're not running the country.
They don't know that the same thing could happen to them.
The email is un-Islamic.And yes, this blog is also now illegal.
So if you're reading it without having to log in it means that I'm out!!! Free!!! And unable to return for two years under Qatari law.
You can imagine how sad I am about that.
Much love to the wonderful girls who have appeared on this blog, and all the others who can't for cultural reasons. I will miss you.
Much love to the wonderful administrative staff who've laughed at and supported me through many (metaphorical rather than literal, thank god) trials, and for whom I unblock this blog!
Staff member: Simone, if we can't have you, at least let us have your blog!Here it is darling. Enjoy!
Simone the Escaped.
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