DOHA: The detention of a Qatari citizen by authorities in the United Arab Emirates without any reason being given has triggered anger in the Qatari community.
Social media, including networking websites and Twitter, are abuzz with resentful comments on the recent arrest of Dr Mehmood Abdulrehman Al Jaidah.
Although Mehmood’s brother, Jihad Abdulrehman Al Jaidah, has told local Arabic daily Al Arab that his sibling is to be released soon, people commenting in the social media say they want to know why he is being detained in the UAE for the past fortnight and no reason is being given for his arrest.
Mehmood, according to his brother, called his family here last Friday and said he had not been charged with any crime and would be let out soon. “The authorities have assured me,” Mehmood was quoted as saying by his brother.
The Qatari, who works in a medical unit in Qatar’s energy sector, was taken into custody at the Dubai airport on February 26 on his way to Doha from Thailand.
“A fellow Qatari citizen is being detained for 15 days in another GCC country without any charge,” tweeted an upset Faisal Al Marzuqi. “His family and friends are asking why he has been detained. What is the wrong he has done?” asked Al Marzuqi.
“Would the UAE authorities have dared detain Al Jaidah if he held an American passport,” wondered Al Marzuqi.
“Why is the UAE not specifying the reason why Al Jaidah has been detained”, asked an angered Qatari commenting on a local social networking site.
“What has happened has happened. That should not spoil relations between the sisterly countries of Qatar and the UAE,” said another commentator.
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