ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER 21 December 2013 17 Safar 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5920 Price: QR2 ON SATURDAY The logo of Rabaa television channel. Uproot Egypt regime, says Islamic scholar DOHA: Noted Islamic scholar Dr Yusuf Al Qaradawi has called on all Egyptians, other Arabs and Muslims and free people of the world to stand up against what he says is a military coup in Egypt, and said they must together work to uproot the military regime in the country. “It is important for all the above people to stand up together and work to remove Egypt’s army rule,” said Al Qaradawi. He was speaking at the launch of ‘Rabaa’, a new Arabic TV channel, in Turkey yesterday. ‘Rabaa’ in Arabic means ‘four’, but it also stands for the place in Cairo by the name of Rabaa Al Adwiya where the Egyptian military, Dr Al Qaradawi said, massacred a large number of supporters of ousted presi- dent Mohammed Mursi. “What has happened in Rabaa Al Adwiya and Al Nahda Square were massacres,” the CULTURE Islamic scholar said. Pakistani women to play cricket in Qatar DUBAI: Pakistan’s women’s cricket team is to use the neutral venue of Qatar to host a tri-series with South Africa and Ireland, an official said yesterday. Pakistan Cricket Board interim chairman Najam Sethi said the first-ever triangular women’s one-day and Twenty20 tourna- CLASH ment will be held in Qatar from January 8 to 25 in Doha, making Pakistan the first country to introduce women’s cricket in this region. THE ISSUE Pakistan have been forced to play all its home cricket on neutral venues of United Arab Emirates since terrorist attacks on This is the time of the year festival where a host of foreign artistes were “Society is synonymous with an ever- the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in when the world slips into a to perform was shelved due to opposition from changing process. It isn’t something static,” March 2009 suspended all international the Qatari community. he said. “This is an era of globalisation and sports in the country. festive mood. And like every According to a famous Qatari sociologist, Doha is a global city.” year, this year too talk has Dr Ali Al Shawi Al Marri, however, that was “We were a traditional society some time GCHQ, NSA targeted begun in the Qatari community because it might have been way too much for ago. Yes. But with the changes taking place the Qatari society to digest. in our demography and culture, we are also charities, Germans about the nature of celebrations Commenting on a local social networking undergoing transformation.” that will unfold here over the site, a commentator said of the current festive “We now have a diverse culture, a rich cul- LONDON: British and American intel- next few days. season that many singers and musicians from tural mix among us, and that is a healthy situ- ligence agencies had a comprehensive list some Arab countries like Lebanon come here ation… Society resists change but it is after of surveillance targets that included the and introduce themselves to GCC audiences. all malleable.” EU’s competition commissioner, German f the social media is a barometer of the Another commentator said that it was “In the altered situation today, we must government buildings in Berlin and over- community’s feelings, there seems to be a alright for people to follow their traditions, accept such celebrations as for Christmas and seas, and the heads of institutions that perceptible change in the way people look but they shouldn’t be emulated. New Year.” provide humanitarian and financial help Iat Christmas and New Year revelries in “There are some people who travel overseas He said that in Arab countries like Syria, to Africa, top-secret documents reveal. the country. to celebrate Christmas and New Year,” said Iraq, Lebanon and Egypt, Muslims and The papers show GCHQ and America’s There is no trace of hostility in people’s yet another commentator. Christians actually celebrate these events National Security Agency (NSA) were comments. They are rather calling for the Al Shawi Al Marri went as far as conveying together. targeting organisations such as the United PAGEneed for moderation 6 in the celebrations and his greetings to people on the occasion. “Let Al Shawi Al Marri, who said he had lived in Nations Development Programme, the UN’s people not going overboard and offending me wish, through your daily, fellow Qataris the US for 12 years, hinted that the cultural children’s charity Unicef and Médecins du Qatari social and cultural sensibilities. a happy National Day and merry Christmas tolerance of the West was worth emulating. Monde, which provides doctors and medical Just a few weeks ago, a plan to hold a dance and happy New Year to everyone”. See also page 2 volunteers to conflict zones. THE PENINSULA & AGENCIES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 DECEMBER 21, 2013 ON SATURDAY 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home BY FAZEENA SALEEM held after a musical or theatrical performance or some other event, here is growing concern such as a wedding or a corporate in the Qatari commu- event. Guests are usually limited nity about the kind of to friends of the host. Tentertainment events “Recently we were invited to an that are organised by expatriates after event party. It was the first and the hospitality industry in the time I had heard of such a party, country, with young Qatari men and when we reached there, it and women terming some of the didn’t have a pleasing atmosphere events “culturally inappropriate”, for us. It is better they don’t invite and even “extremely offensive.” us to such events,” said a corpo- As year-end celebrations are rate worker. in the offing, the voicing of such He argued that invitees should concerns has increased. be informed about the nature of Some citizens suggest that they the event beforehand. should not be invited to events However, some expatriates that don’t conform to Qatari tra- say that certain celebrations are ditions and culture. Others say the unavoidable and they keep them relevant authorities should carry private, adding that they can’t be out a study to find out what sort held responsible for events organ- of events can be held in Qatar to ised by hotels, which mainly tar- fulfil the expectations of citizens get business. and residents alike while respect- “To my knowledge all my ing local culture and norms. friends keep their celebrations Many expatriates, on the other private. Some have celebrations hand, argue that their celebra- at home or within the residential tions and entertainment events compound. We do go for events are mostly private, and compa- organised at hotels and I’m sure nies that organise such events they follow all guidelines meant claim they try to strike a balance for such events,” said a western between respecting the country’s expatriate who didn’t want her culture and meeting the expecta- name in print. tions of expatriates. An Asian expatriate work- Qatari youth argue that the ing for a private company said, concerns about such events are “People look for entertainment not theirs alone. and hotels make business out “I think Qatar should avoid of their expectations. One can events that are extremely offen- choose to go for an event or not, sive. It’s not necessarily an expa- but the nature of the event is not triate versus Qatari thing. There decided by the guest.” are expatriates who could also “I believe certain things like find such events distasteful and costumes and even perform- against the fabric of this society, ances are taken into considera- and in turn there could be Qataris tion when an event is organised who are very liberal and welcome here. There was an international these events, although I believe ballet troupe here recently and they are not the majority,” said they even adjusted their costumes Nasser Al Naama, who is study- Call for respect as and wore less revealing clothes ing painting and printmaking. He than they usually wear,” he added. writes columns for online media Event managers are also con- and is also an entrepreneur. cerned about observing local He argues that Qatar is not norms and respecting the coun- against entertainment, but the try’s culture. country should not allow anything Once an event has been final- that could harm the country’s population grows ised and the event management traditions. companies have got confirma- “There is already a wide range tion about the artistes and the of events taking place. Qatar is venue, they seek approval from certainly not the sleepy backwa- the Ministry of Culture, Arts ter many purport it to be, but I and Heritage. The ‘Harazad’ divi- think there should be more events Citizens seek entertainment that does not offend sensibilities sion at the Ministry of Interior that are enjoyable and entertain- decides about the level of secu- ing for the youth. I personally rity required, depending on who like going to music concerts, but countries live in the country. is attending the event. I wouldn’t want the artists you Among the GCC states, the According to an event organ- see going to Dubai performing United Arab Emirates and Qatar iser, there are only a handful of here because it would be at the have the largest numbers of expa- event organisers in Qatar. If it’s expense of values, customs and triates relative to their local pop- a DJ event or something simi- religious sensibilities of the local ulation, according to a study.