Social media was ablaze with reactions to the death sentence for the Reem Island attacker Alaa Al Hashemi. Other topics floating around this week included the Kuwait mosque bombing and the announcement that Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz will be giving away his vast fortune to charity. With so many items making waves in the media, it has been a busy week.
Al Reem murder
A 30-year-old Emirati mother of six, Alaa Al Hashemi, was found guilty of stabbing American Ibolya Ryan to death with a large kitchen knife in a toilet cubicle at Boutik Mall in Abu Dhabi. The court also convicted her of constructing a homemade bomb, which she planted in front of an apartment owned by an Egyptian-American doctor. The bomb failed to detonate.
Writing on Twitter, blogger @Emaratist said that the “death penalty was necessary when you think that she had ended someone’s life”.
Naser @Rosessima noted that some people “think the Al Reem death penalty happened only because she killed an American. They failed to realise that the murderer also targeted an Egyptian family”.
Another Tweeter@bent_uae_zayed wrote: “We thank God for enforcing the death penalty on this criminal, in the UAE there is no room for extremists among us. Thanks to UAE police and Emirati judges who help keep our country safe.”
Questions for a radical
A Saudi bomber targeted 2,000 Shia worshippers in a Kuwaiti mosque during Friday prayers last week. The attack was meant to stir enmity between the country’s majority Sunni and minority Shia communities, and harm the comparatively harmonious ties between the sects in Kuwait. Twitter users sent a number of messages to the attacker.
Hassan @HSajwanization shared a photo of murdered young boy and said: “Ask yourself: what is the fault of this innocent young boy?”
Khalid @kalzaabik posed another question: “Ask yourself is there any Hadith or a Quranic verse that orders Muslims to kill themselves?”
Mohammed @Mohd_AlDossary said that everyone should “remember that you represent a nation not just yourself and the damages of your actions will harm a nation”.
Ahmed @ASBinHuwaiden appealed to the bomber directly: “Dear son, remember that what you are trying to do, doesn’t relate to Islam or Muslims and killing innocents is prohibited in the Holy Quran”.
Charitable foundation
The announcement that Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz is to give away his $32bn (Dh118bn) fortune to charity triggered a debate.
Some users felt that the prince was merely being diplomatic by announcing he would give his fortune to charity. Some others wished to be given a small amount of his fortune. Suad @Arifiss wrote: “This is outstanding news, Alwaleed has always been keen on doing good deeds.”
Dana @dana_ksa told her followers to pay attention and “read the news properly, he didn’t say that he is giving away his fortune all at once but he will give out a certain amount of money each year through his philanthropic organisation”.
Hafez @Hafez_AlMedlej sent a message to those who have been critical of the decision: “To those who are trying to question this great deed of Alwaleed, he’s always loved charity and he is one of the most giving people.” Several others wished to get a sum from Al Waleed’s fortune, Mamdouh @mamdouhEdebwi wrote: “Just give me 500,000 and I will pray for you and will ask my kids to pray for you too.”
Mariam @MariamFeroun, meanwhile, thought Al Waleed’s fortune could “end world hunger”.
Sarah Khamis is The National’s social media editor
On Twitter: @SarahKhamisUAE