ai weiwei calls on gulf countries to do more to help syrian refugees
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Ai Weiwei calls on Gulf countries to do more to help Syrian refugees

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleAi Weiwei calls on Gulf countries to do more to help Syrian refugees

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei takes a selfie with women at the Islamic Art Museum in Doha, Qatar,
Doha - Arab today

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei called on wealthy Gulf Arab countries to take in more Syrians displaced by six years of civil war, saying the surge of refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East was a "test for humanity".

Ai, often described as China's most high-profile artist and dissident, has won acclaim for artwork highlighting the plight of Middle East refugees fleeing in boats to Europe. 

Last year Ai wrapped the giant columns of the Berlin Konzerthaus with 14,000 life jackets brought from the Greek island of Lesbos on whose beaches over a million migrants have entered the European Union.

He has visited camps in Greece, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan to film a documentary about the refugee crisis.

Speaking after a talk in Doha on Tuesday night at Qatar's Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), Ai said a Gulf Arab policy of not granting Syrians and Iraqis refugee status was short-sighted.

"Many Gulf states refuse refugees. I don't think that's an intelligent act because many refugees even have the same religious background to them and talk the same language," Ai said speaking in the ziggurat-style museum's vast marble lobby.

"I think this only shows very short-sighted politics... like you're refusing to help out your brothers or your relatives," he said.

Civilians fleeing Syria's nearby war have found scant refuge in the Arab world's richest countries despite several being backers of combatants in Syria's conflict, including Qatar.

Gulf countries say they have in fact taken in hundreds of thousands of Syrian citizens since the civil war there began in 2011, including half a million in Saudi Arabia and 100,000 in the United Arab Emirates - just not as refugees.

Like the rest of the expatriates that form a majority in many Gulf countries, Syrians have been admitted mainly as temporary guest workers, which generally means they must have jobs lined up before they arrive, or as their family dependants.

Gulf countries also say the criticism also overlooks the billions donated to Syrian refugee camps abroad, as well as the delicate demographics of countries where expatriate workers are as numerous as locals or outnumber them.

Ai said the Gulf Cooperation Council countreis should sign the U.N. convention on refugees which has governed international law on asylum since World War II.

"(Signing the convention) is not just to help but to testify that a state can understand what humanity is about," he said.

"Because this is really a test of our humanity and willingness to defend those integrities of human life. It doesn't matter how rich you can be or how self-protected - if we cannot meet this challenge I think the future is very dark."

Source: Timesofoman

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

ai weiwei calls on gulf countries to do more to help syrian refugees ai weiwei calls on gulf countries to do more to help syrian refugees

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 15:49 2017 Tuesday ,04 April

Europol, Georgia sign pact to combat terrorism

GMT 17:34 2017 Saturday ,19 August

India rail accident kills 10

GMT 07:44 2017 Saturday ,19 August

Firms flock to Syria fair with eye on reconstruction

GMT 18:11 2016 Saturday ,03 December

Congress and Trump agree to turn the heat up on Iran

GMT 13:12 2017 Tuesday ,05 December

Lebanon's PM Hariri withdraws his resignation

GMT 08:39 2017 Friday ,17 November

Baidu speeds up AI progress

GMT 03:33 2017 Tuesday ,21 February

Deadly blast strikes demonstration in Kabul

GMT 10:04 2011 Sunday ,11 September

Vauxhall/Opel to unveil 2-seat electric car at IAA

GMT 05:16 2016 Tuesday ,30 August

Fukushima Nuclear Plant Prepares for Typhoon

GMT 20:05 2011 Saturday ,27 August

Egyptair resumes Baghdad flights after 21 years

GMT 19:35 2011 Tuesday ,26 July

Ozil : Real \'more mature\' this season

GMT 05:41 2017 Thursday ,09 March

El Jaish Win Qatar Men's Basketball League

GMT 22:04 2011 Thursday ,08 September

Museum of the great syrian revolution monument

GMT 11:15 2015 Thursday ,01 October

Thuraya's CEO named Satellite Executive Of 2015
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle