UAE Students Forced to Take Obedience Classes as Gulf Free Speech Crackdown Continues

Published September 25th, 2017 - 02:03 GMT
Students in the UAE are set to have lessons in ‘national obedience’ added to the curriculum (Wikimedia)
Students in the UAE are set to have lessons in ‘national obedience’ added to the curriculum (Wikimedia)
  • Students in the UAE will be forced to take classes on 'national obedience'.
  • The state monitored scheme comes amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent during the Gulf Crisis.
  • The latest hardline stunt comes after several Gulf states introduced laws to jail those who expressed sympathy for Qatar.
  • Meanwhile, the ongoing crisis has boosted solidarity in Doha as the tiny state remains defiant.

 

Students in the UAE are set to have lessons in ‘national obedience’ added to the curriculum, under controversial new measures.

The moral education classes are set to take place in every school and will be based on national obedience, tolerance, and patriotism.

Officials have attempted to paint the program as a broad ranging scheme designed to build a better society.

"Through [moral education] students will learn about themselves and the family, friends, peers. They will focus on values such as fairness, affection, tolerance, equality, appreciation, compassion, and empathy," Clive Pierrepont, director of communications at Taaleem told The Gulf News.

"They will also look at features of the government, conflict, trade, and travel, and many other areas based on the four pillars," he added.


A chart sent to schools has shown that the course aims at inspiring "solidarity", "respecting law and order" and "civic duties".

However, critics say these measures are an attempt by authorities to further control the population and quash dissent.

The move comes as the UAE desperately attempts to foster patriotism as the war rages on in Yemen and the country remains embroiled in the ongoing Gulf Crisis.

Earlier this year the UAE and Bahrain banned people from publishing expressions of sympathy towards Qatar and offenders now face a jail term of up to 15 years.

This includes users posting such opinions on social media sites.

The latest news follows attempts by other Gulf states to enforce national pride since the spat started in June.

Saudis were also urged to launch a witch hunt against their fellow citizens who posted opinions which appeared sympathetic to Qatar on Twitter.

Last month Saoud al-Qahtani, an adviser to the Saudi royal court, launched the hashtag #TheBlacklist and called on Saudis to "put any names you think should be added to #TheBlacklist hashtag".

The Egyptian regime has also headed up a long-term smear campaign against Qatar since the ouster of democratically-elected president Mohammed Morsi in 2013.

Cairo has imprisoned scores of journalists and opposition figures on charges of spying for the tiny Gulf state.

Meanwhile, in Qatar itself, the ongoing crisis has stirred up national pride with many Qataris showing their support for their country, which is under attack.

Earlier this year, mobile phone operators displayed patriotic messages in support of the kingdom. Many Qataris have also taken to social media to show solidarity with the state and voice their support for Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

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