Father’s action was irresponsible

A reader criticises a man who left his child in a Japanese forest. Other topics: Abu Dhabi rents, rules, fasting, Pope visit, Vietnam

A reader criticises the man who left his child in the woods to punish him. Kyodo via Reuters

The behaviour of the parents who left their child in the woods to punish him is unacceptable (Japanese boy abandoned in forest as punishment found alive after six days, June 3). I can imagine the horror the poor child had gone though. It's not a normal family and social services should think before handing him over to his parents.

Cynthia Keldany Trepanier, Dubai

Are rents really going down in Abu Dhabi?

Some property owners may be able to rent out places on Reem Island at the higher rate, but many cannot (Reem Island tenants' rents still on the march up, June 2). We were presented with a 10 per cent increase in February, three months before our lease-end date. We refused it so they came back with a 5 per cent increase.

We refused that one too and moved elsewhere to a smaller place in a different area of the city on the same rent we had been paying. The place we vacated is on the market now at a 2 per cent increase from what we had paid. So, rents are “going down”, but down from last quarter, not down from last year.

Lisa Kereliuk, Abu Dhabi

Unfortunately, landlords rarely view the properties they own as homes for fellow human beings. There’s precious little humanity in anything to do with real estate. It’s all about squeezing people for the maximum financial return, even when they already have more money than they know how to spend.

Name withheld by request

I thought it was against the law to increase the rent without at least a two-month notice period. Does that no longer apply?

Claudia Gabriel, Abu Dhabi

The laws of demand and supply don’t work the way they should in this country.

Sangeetha Bhaskaran, Dubai

We have to follow rules

I agree with Shelina Zahra Janmohamed that "women have no duty to fix themselves" according to the demands of others, but this happens to men, too, who have to conform to fixed sartorial standards at the workplace (What I should have told the stranger who disparaged my hijab, June 3).

A necktie doesn’t improve or detract from the quality of my work.

Nevertheless, someone has decided it is important and many men follow the rule or risk censure.

Jeffrey Martin, Dubai

No issues over Ramadan fasting

I have no issues with fasting (Single Muslim expats living in UAE face rigours of fasting alone, June 2). Ramadan is a month to focus on self purification. I don't get into the commercialisation of the month. As an American convert, I am used to fasting with no special time schedules or iftars. I guess it's about what you expect.

Keith Esa Washington, US

Useful tips on Vietnam

I congratulate the writer of the letter Can Obama visit heal wounds of the Vietnamese? (May 25) on expressing his honest views in beautiful words. The letter also gave some useful tips for travellers to Vietnam.

Aswant Kaur, India

Seeking to meet the Pope

I've been trying to meet the Pope for years (Pope Francis invited to visit the UAE, June 1). I went to the Vatican hoping to meet him, even if just for a second, but couldn't even see him.

I am extremely happy to know that he has been invited to visit the UAE.

I look forward to meeting him.

Be Be, Abu Dhabi

This is a wonderful news for both Christian and Muslim communities. May peace and brotherhood prevail. I am proud that the UAE is taking the lead in this.

Roberto Brita Lumen, Philippines