UAE martyrs teach us the values of commitment, loyalty and national duty

Our readers have their say about Commemoration Day, female infanticide, extremism and debt problems

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - November 29, 2018: (L-R) HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Defence, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, HH Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohamed Al Sharqi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah and HH Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, attend a Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama.

( Hamad Al Mansouri for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs )
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I write in reference to Haneen Dajani's article Sheikh Khalifa: sacrifice is the highest degree of devotion to the UAE (November 29): we value the noble sacrifice of our valiant martyrs and their families for our homeland. We are humbled to be born in the UAE, a country that has a history of inspiring acts of bravery. We will continue to honour the legacy of this nation and learn from our martyrs the values of commitment, loyalty, national duty and unwavering dedication towards humanity.

Saif Humaid Al Falasi, group chief executive officer of Enoc, Dubai

Efforts being made to tackle female infanticide in India are laudable

I write in reference to Taniya Dutta's article As India grapples with gender selection, this village is planting trees in honour of baby girls (November 26): it is laudable that the village of Piplantri has taken up the fight against female infanticide in India, a country where many people still discourage the birth of girls.

The odds are genuinely stacked against Indian women and challenges begin right from birth as many parents believe boys are superior. In my view, they are both equal but that should be every Indian’s conviction as well. Women are as much a part of the story of India’s progress as men are.

Rajasthan in particular has a gender parity issue. So it is important to acknowledge efforts being made by a village in the state to tackle it – symbolic as they might seem.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru

It is important to identify the root of the problem of extremism

I write in reference to the article Several people injured after stabbing in The Hague (November 30): London, and now The Hague: where next? Why do these people hate peace so much? Something is wrong somewhere for sure.

Identification and isolation of the primary cause is essential. It will not be easy but it is not impossible.

Nazim Hasan Khan, India

Debtors must be better protected from offers being made by lenders

I write in reference to Alice Haine's article The Debt Panel: 'I have four cases against me for my Dh235,000 liabilities. What do I do?' (November 21): shouldn't financial institutions be running affordability checks to ensure debtors can afford to make repayments? Also how is it possible for one individual to have four credit cards? Is this not irresponsible and reckless lending by banking institutions? We have to ask if they actually contribute to the woman's financial woes, at least partially.

Name withheld by request