The UAE gained
its independence in 1971. Just like many other Arab nations at the time, the
country was poor and devastated. Fast forward 40 years, and Burj Khalifa, the
tallest man made structure in the world is opening in Dubai. The building is
located right next to Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the world, with an area
of 502,000 square meters.
Dubai and Abu
Dhabi are now some of the most visited places in the world, boasting millions of
tourists each year. Not being content with what they already have, Dubai went
even further by building artificial islands in the sea. The World is an
artificial archipelago that consists of multiple small islands, which together
make a rough shape of the world map.
The millions of
tourists that come to Dubai to see these truly marvelous constructions are left
in awe. They drive around Dubai in amazement. However there is something else
there to which tourists pay little attention to. The construction workers, who
slowly walk by the side of road towards the buses, where they will have to cram
together to get back to their camp.
Birds eye view of Dubai
And that is the
real Dubai that many ignore. Behind the breathtaking constructions and daring
projects, there is much going on which the government of UAE so desperately
tries to hide.
About half of
construction workers in Dubai are of South Asian origin. They are subject to a
range of human right abuses. Numerous complaints have been about the living
conditions the workers live in. The toilets are not properly washed and the
smell is nauseating. The government justified itself by saying that it was the
fault of the workers, as their culture is not hygienic and it is therefore that
toilets are in such a bad state.
Moreover, a huge
amount of complaints have been made about the way the workers are recruited.
They are promised a high salary and good working hours, however as they arrive
in Dubai things work out a different way. Their passports are taken, and they
find themselves in debt with the recruiting agency, as the travelling costs
have to be repaid. The amount spent on the travelling costs is usually grossly
exaggerated. On top of that, the high salary they were promised suddenly
decreases twofold. Each year hundreds of workers throw themselves of the
buildings or die of poor conditions. In a way, it is modern day slavery.
The atrocious
treatment of workers unfortunately isn’t the only case of clear abuse of human
rights in Dubai and UAE. Issa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is son of late Sheikh Zayed,
the first president of the UAE and the man behind the magnificent development
of Dubai. Issa is a prominent real estate agent and an important figure in UAE
politics. However his actions once more proved to the world that there is more
going on behind the Burj Al Arabs that we don’t know.
On August 16,
2006 Bassam Nabulsi filed a lawsuit against Issa for assault libel and slander
in Houston. The lawsuit was based on a tape and Nabulsi smuggled out of UAE.
The tape shows Issa torturing an Afghan grain merchant Mohammad Shah Poor
because Issa thought that he was cheated in the deal he made with Mohammed. As
a punishment, Issa beats him with a wooden plank, shoot around him, forces a
cattle prod into his anus and drives over him with a car. What’s more shocking
is that Issa wasn’t alone, he received help from a uniformed policeman. It
really makes you wonder how safe you are in Dubai if a man who is supposed to
protect you can turn against you if he is told so by an important Emirati.
The lawsuit was
dismissed for the lack of personal jurisdiction and proper service of process.
But that didn’t stop the video from going viral, and the world finding out the
atrocities that are behind the closed doors in Dubai.
Contains Graphic Images
Issa appeared in
court on December 14, 2009 in Dubai and declared he was innocent. And amazingly
enough, that was enough to acquit him. In fact the court declared that Issa was
a victim of conspiracy and Nabulsi was sentenced for 5 years in absentia "drugging, recording and publishing a video and blackmail”.
Dubai is a fabulous place. You will find things there that you will
never again see in your life. But all that was built on the backbone of
starving and ill-treated workers who wish they would go back home to their
families after years of separation and devastation. Dubai is fabulous, but is
it worth it?
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