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ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER 12 October 2013 7 Dhul-Hijja 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5850 Price: QR2 ON SATURDAY Chemical arms body wins Peace Nobel OSLO: The watchdog overseeing the destruction of Syria’s chemical arse- nal won the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday for its efforts to rid the world of the devastating weapons. In a surprise choice, the Nobel committee honoured the UN-backed Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for “its extensive efforts” in banishing the scourge of chemical arms. “Recent events in Syria, where chemical weapons have again been put to use, have underlined the need to enhance efforts to do away with such weapons,” the Norwegian jury said. Full report on page 9 Top Pakistan Taliban leader captured by US WASHINGTON: US soldiers have captured a senior leader of the Pakistani Taliban in an operation in what could prove a major blow to the Islamic militant group. “I can confirm that US forces did capture... terrorist leader Latif Mehsud,” State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said, describing him as a senior commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. It was not immediately clear if Latif Meshud is related to Hakimullah Mehsud who took over as the commander of the Pakistani Taliban in 2009. Dozens killed in new migrant shipwreck PALERMO, SICILY: Dozens of people died yesterday when a boat carrying around 250 migrants capsized between Sicily and Tunisia, in the second such shipwreck this month, the Italian coast- guard said. The Italian news agency ANSA said around 50 bodies had been sighted, including 10 children, following the incident about 100km south of the tiny island of Lampedusa. See also page 9 DEBATE One person killed in Egypt protests THE ISSUE CAIRO: One person was killed in clashes during protests in Egypt yes- from traditionalism to modernity. statutes and sculptures but the Muslims didn’t terday, state news agency MENA said, The display of public art in Doha “This is a serious dichotomy and needs to be destroy them when they began their rule. They as Islamists pressed on with demonstra- in the form of the unveiling of the addressed. While we have accepted to host the exist even to this day. “If they are not ‘haraam’ tions against the army-backed govern- World Cup in 2022, we are refusing to change in one Islamic country, why should they be ment. Ambulance service said the death sculptures on the Corniche and our thinking and outlook on life,” says a promi- here?” wondered Al Malki. occurred in the Nile Delta province of at Sidra Medical and Research nent psychologist. “Our problem is that we spend our time dis- Sharqia. Earlier, police fired teargas in Centre, is indicative of changing Dr Moza Al Malki said hosting the World cussing irrelevant issues. When in the early the coastal city of Alexandria to break Cup was not just about holding the event. “So 1980s television came people were discuss- Design: Abraham Augusthy up clashes between opponents and sup- trends in the Qatari society and many things go with it. For two months there ing its disastrous impact on our families and porters of ousted Islamist president culture. will be so many people here from different culture.” Mohammed Mursi, security sources said. parts of the world, so we need to be ready not And now the topic of heated debate in the he development has triggered a huge only physically but mentally, too”. GCC communities is the new and emerging Syria rebels accused debate in the Qatari community About the sculptures, she said the criticisms technology, she said. “People feel threatened which presently stands at a cross- are basically on account of religion. “People by things that are new.” of war crimes roads between modernity and tradi- think they are idolatrous and ‘haraam’ (for- The mufti of Al Azhar in Cairo, Egypt, which T DAMASCUS: tion. The debate is healthy, though, with a lot bidden) in Islam, but the fact of the matter is is the most respected Sunni Islamic body in the Jihadist fighters were of criticism being made by the people, which that they are not”. world, Dr (Sheikh) Ahmed Al Tayeb, issued accused yesterday of war crimes over is ultimately in the larger interest of society. People should not look at the sculpture from a fatwa (edict) on June 7, 2010 that says that the killing of 190 civilians from Syrian The more progressive elements in the Qatari this angle. “People were worshipping idols so sculptures and statues are not ‘haraam’. President Bashar Al Assad’s Alawite community are not quite happy about the neg- Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) declared them “As we do not worship the statues and sculp- minority, in the largest atrocity ever ative public reaction in the local social media to ‘haraam’.” tures anymore, making and buying and sell- attributed to rebels. A Human Rights the sculptures that have been recently installed But that practice having gone, sculptures ing them are not forbidden in Islam,” said the Watch report on the killings of Alawite inPAGE Doha. They say if this6 is the way people are now have a different role — they reflect his- mufti. “People here would do better to refer to villagers said another 200 people, mostly reacting to the work of art then how the coun- torical events and figures and act as a con- this fatwa,” said Al Malki. women and children, were taken hos- try would be mentally prepared for a transition stant reminder. Pre-Islamic Egypt was full of See also page 2 tage in the rebel operations in August. It said at least 67 people were “executed or unlawfully killed.” See also page 8 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 OCTOBER 12, 2013 ON SATURDAY 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home Pics: Shaival Dalal, Abdul Basit & AFP Culturally progressive step The installation of public statues, though controversial, reflects changing cultural trends in Qatar BY RAYNALD RIVERA major location in the country next year. It is a 5.5-metres-high sculpture of two atar was in the international large granite boulders seemingly balanced media for a different reason this one on top of the other. time — for the display of public Other projects under the programme Qart in the form of huge statutes included the monumental sculpture and sculptures. resembling a spider titled Maman by For the global media, the installation French-American artist Louise Bourgeois of these sculptures pointed to changing at the Qatar National Convention Centre, trends in what is largely considered as American artist Richard Serra’s 7 at the conservative Qatari society. Museum of Islamic Art, Gandhi’s Three Not surprisingly though, the move Monkeys by Indian artist Subodh Gupta attracted huge public criticism with peo- in Katara, the 53 pannels by Tunisian ple expressing their views openly on the graffiti artist eL Seed along Salwa Tunnel local social networking sites. and Sarah Lucas’ Perceval at the Aspire Qataris could not help but pour their one asked. Park. sentiments on the Twitter and other Others suspect acquiring the “head Of all the public artworks already social networking sites about the pub- butt” sculpture was part of Qatar’s prepa- installed the sculptures by Abdessemed lic sculptures set up as part of Qatar ration for the World Cup 2022. and Hirst however were the only ones Museums Authority’s public art program. “I think fixing these statues in various which have attracted criticisms from the Commentators seemed mostly riled by “I think what is more important areas in Qatar is to show that the country public. these sculptures. for the community is to be able is qualified to host the World Cup and Meanwhile, Qatari columnist Faisal One of them said Doha was “now filled that we love football because this shows a Al Marzouqi is critical of the display of with strange sculptures”, while another to talk about the art and to be part of the history of the sport,” a Qatari public art in the city for a different reason talked of “a shameful episode in the able to express their concerns. reacted. and says even if the sculptures are not history of football”. He was referring We are very sensitive to the While there are many who attack the forbidden (haraam) in Islam, they are not to British artist Damien Hirst’s “The statues as inappropriate, others are cam- part of Qatari culture and people don’t Miraculous Journey” and Algerian-born community and we are listening paigning toward its removal, with one accept them. French artist Adel Abdessemed’s “Coup to their comments,” saying, “I hope the youths go there at In remarks to The Peninsula, he said de Tete.” night and turn the statue into a Picasso.” yesterday the problem with the Qatar Hirst’s 14 monumental sculptures Responding to a media query about Museums Authority (QMA) was that depict the gestation of a foetus from con- the reactions of the community regard- it didn’t involve Qataris while planning ception to birth and were unveiled outside in World Cup 2006 after that incident,” ing the sculptures, Kimberly French, exhibitions or installation of sculptures Sidra Medical and Research Center on commented another. Chief Marketing Officer at QMA, said, or anything of that sort. Monday, while Abdessemed’s “Coup de Jean Paul Engelen, Director of Public “The purpose of public art is to encour- Qataris, he claims, are not represented Tete,” which was installed on the Corniche Art at QMA, explained that the sculpture age discussion and debate about what it on the committees that are tasked with last week, shows Algerian-French foot- shows the “human” side of footballers who means whether you like it and how you holding such events or carrying out such ball player Zinedine Zidane’s infamous are almost worshipped by their fans.

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