Hend bint Faisal Al Qasim, the Emirati princess, tweeted to express her outrage after learning that Sudhir Chaudhary, editor-in-chief and CEO of Zee News, remained a panellist at an Abu Dhabi chartered accountants event despite being flagged for hate speech and Islamophobia.
On November 21, following the announcement that Chaudhary was one of the panellists at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India’s 33rd Annual International Seminar in Abu Dhabi, Qasim had tweeted, “When a criminal spews venom onto a society, that invites violence causing the burning of homes, businesses and mosques, a Muslim Holocaust is started, together with the abuse of other minorities – Dalits/Sikhs as well. Police sit & watch. I will not welcome such hate in the UAE.”
Later, in a letter to the Chairman and Managing Committee of the Abu Dhabi chapter of the organisation, around 30 members of the ICAI expressed their “disappointment and disagreement” with the decision to include “controversial” journalist Chaudhary at the event.
Alleging that he has been involved in “unprofessional journalism and criminal deeds,” the letter also cited Chaudhary’s arrest in 2012 in an extortion case filed by the Jindal group.
“UAE is known for tolerance, it accommodates people from all over the world of different faiths and culture. Should we invite an intolerant person and give scope to pollute such a beautiful feeling, that too when UAE is celebrating its 50th National Day?” the letter questioned.
Qasim had taken to Twitter later on November 21 to announce that Chaudhary had been dropped from the panel following the objections raised by her and the ICAI members.
However, despite being accused of “manufacturing and spreading fake news, Islamophobia and communal hatred, and doctoring tapes,” ICAI’s website still displays Chaudhary’s name in the list of speakers at its 33rd Annual International Seminar held on Thursday and Friday.
This has greatly angered Qasim, who took to Twitter on Thursday and tweeted, “Even if Sudhir Chaudhry comes, this has opened the eyes of the UAE community that there is a devious plot going on. Thank you for showing your true colours Neeraj Ritola (Chairman, ICAI Abu Dhabi Chapter). The Emiratis will not be quiet from now on and we look forward to erasing such sensitive positions forever. “
She added in Arabic, “We look forward to erasing and replacing these positions with Emirati citizens only.”
Recommended
She further tweeted, “Hell has no fury like a woman scorned, the flood gates are open now. Let’s sit and watch the fall of the titans. What took you decades in creating, my people will replace and learn. We don’t need to burn our fingers to know that fire burns. Vengeance is a dish best served cold.”
Referring to Ritola, Qasim also wrote, “He lives and works in the Emirates, but forgets to respect the religion and culture of the country by inviting an Islamophobe Sudhir Chaudhry to our capital Abu Dhabi.“