I read your article, Cigar smokers hold fierce to tradition in the UAE (March 2), and was appalled by the positive tone regarding this deadly poison and the factual inaccuracies regarding UAE law.
The article promoted the use of tobacco in a positive light with no mention of the death, disability, and extensive, well-documented public health and economic harm caused by this addictive toxin.
It is not right to say that unlike cigarette and shisha smoking, UAE legislators have left cigar smoking alone. The regulations on clean indoor air prohibit smoking in enclosed public spaces and this applies to all combustible tobacco products, including cigars.
Tobacco use should not be promoted and doing so does a disservice to the community.
Abu Dhabi is hosting an important international health conference in March 2015: the World Conference on Tobacco or Health.
This conference will give Abu Dhabi an opportunity to highlight its efforts and successes in controlling the tobacco menace.
Dr Omar Shafey, Health Authority Abu Dhabi
Should airlines dictate marriage rules?
With regard to your article about airlines banning their cabin crew getting married within five years of joining (Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways defend cabin crew rules, March 8), this is something for which I fully support Emirates and Qatar Airways.
In today’s highly competitive airline industry, they have the full right to impose this on their female crew.
If you want to become pregnant and want to start a family, then quit your job and become a housewife.
You don’t expect airlines to pay maternity leave if you have broken the rules.
Rules are rules.
Mohammed Al Mamun, India
If the return on investment is the reason given, am I to understand that male employees are also not allowed to get married for five years?
Nathalie Kleinschmit, France
Imagine a passenger asking for water and a pregnant cabin crew member running to vomit? Oh, get real.
This not about being in Arab countries at all. How can you be pregnant and expect to fly? Other airlines move them to ground crew.
With regard to being married, I wouldn’t continue to be cabin crew but it’s a personal choice. My best friend is a pilot at JAL and sees his family three times a week, which to me is not good.
Claudia Leone, Qatar
Countries interested in having healthy babies born each day and good quality family units know well what to do.
Sheila Kaur, Dubai
Any employee is replaceable.
Emirates and Qatar airlines should stick to their rules and not cower to some liberal opportunistic federation.
Haifa Joomah, UAE
Some people commenting about this issue have no idea about women’s status in Arab countries. Ignorance is rife.
As for the airline rules, it’s not something I would sign up to, but people do sign these contracts knowing the stipulations.
Nobody is forcing them to take the job with that company.
Angela Rihia-Tamaki, Abu Dhabi
If someone in favour of these rules was to find it applied to their wives or daughters, I believe they would quickly change their minds.
Women do not want to get pregnant on a daily basis.
Unfair rules have to be changed.
Simona Palenga, Dubai
These employees sign in knowing what the rules are.
Name withheld by request
Are we still debating about marriage and pregnancy?
The first one is what I would consider a civil right, the second one is physiological.
Name withheld by request
Qatari imam must stop insulting UAE
In reference to your article, Withdrawal of Qatari ambassadors points to deep frustration (March 7), my personal view is that Qatar owes the UAE an apology for the outspoken imam.
In my opinion, the UAE is one of the safest countries I have ever lived in and if this means keeping Qatar at bay in order to continue this great achievement, then so be it.
Name withheld by request
Highlighting the struggle of others
I would like to thank The National for all the great articles you post and in particular your National View blog post, Pakistan March by Muhammed Muheisen (March 7) about a protest walk to Islamabad.
Many of these articles raise awareness that not everywhere is as peaceful and happy as the UAE and that people are suffering all around the world.
Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi
