It has been an intense week on Twitter, with the Saudi crane collapse that killed 107 people, eight Mexican tourists being mistakenly killed by Egyptian security forces, and people across the world declaring their support for a 14-year-old Muslim boy in Texas who was arrested for taking his home-made clock to school.
Mecca crane tragedy
At least 107 people were killed and more than 230 injured when a crane fell onto the Grand Mosque, just two weeks before the annual Haj pilgrimage.
Manal Al Maktoom @MMbinRashid prayed for the souls of the deceased. “May Allah have mercy on the souls of those who died in this incident and may Allah help speed the recovery of the injured.”
@girly4170 sent a warning: “Some traitors wait for the happening of certain incidents and try to spread negative rumours. May Allah protect Saudi Arabia and have mercy on the souls of the deceased and heal the wounds of the injured.”
Saeed @alskab1 shared a photo of King Salman holding the coffin of one the victims, adding: “The crane fell on the floor and their souls ascended to the sky.”
Bader @bade205r wrote: “King Salman compensated and visited the injured Iranians.”
@Teef222 wrote: “They died in a great hour and a blissful place, may Allah have mercy on their souls.”
Deaths of Mexican tourists
Twelve people who were mistakenly killed by Egypt’s security forces, including Mexican tourists, were in an “off-limits” area, the country’s interior ministry said. This left Egyptians confused after the accident and questioning what happened.
@AhmedEssamAbd was confused by the accident: “Not sure if Egypt is fighting terrorism or is fighting tourism.”
@akhbarak shared a heartbreaking video of the daughter of the bus driver: “The girl is crying saying: I’m waiting for my father to come for Eid.”
@khaledelbalshy shared one of the survivor’s statements: “We were making food when the attack took place.”
@AkhbarakMedia shared photos of Egyptians waiting: “Families of the victims of the oasis accident are waiting to receive the bodies of their relatives in front of the morgue.”
@calderxmalik: “They killed Mexican tourists in Egypt because they thought they were terrorists. I don’t know how to feel.”
I stand with Ahmed
Ahmed Mohammed, a 14-year-old boy who lives in Texas, was arrested by the police because he invented a clock that his school mistook for a bomb. He was suspended and threatened with criminal charges despite repeatedly insisting that it was just a clock, prompting tweeters to express their shock about the school’s perceived racism.
@iFalasteen shared a photo of the boy with his quote: “They took me to a room filled with five officers in which they interrogated me and searched through my stuff and took my tablet and my invention. They were like ‘So you tried to make a bomb?’ I told them no. I was trying to make a clock.”
@AsapSCIENCE: “In case you had any doubt, we’re supporters of Ahmed obviously.”
@SyedSaddiq: “Talent is suppressed by bigotry. Islamophobia is a cancerous tumour which hurts us all.” @gengbebel thought this situation needs clarification “Muslim not terrorist.”
@Main_Pakistani tweeted photos of a white boy and Ahmed: “White kid makes a nuclear reactor? He’s a genius. Brown Muslim kid makes a clock? A terrorist.”
@londerswonders tweeted: “I love this kid. He is going to make a difference.”
Keith @KeithMcC29 was concerned about what it said of their society. “We live in such an ignorant society, man. Kids shouldn’t have to deal with this.”
President Obama @POTUS directly addressed the inventor: “Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It’s what makes America great.” @ForeignPolicy responded: “President Obama shows his support for Ahmed with an invite to the White House.”
Sarah Khamis is The National’s social media editor
skhamis@thenational.ae
On Twitter: @SarahKhamisUAE
