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Gulf News looks back over the years at concerns and issues raised by readers in their letters to the newspaper. It’s a retrospective that offers an insight into the community, the development of the country and the paper’s journey. This week’s letters are from 1980.
Spread the message
The first congress of the World Islamic Press, which met in Jakarta (1980), has recently proposed to establish a worldwide Islamic newspaper. It is, indeed, one of the long-felt needs of the Islamic world as this will help promote Islamic values and ideals. However, we hope the conference would take similar actions to produce television films and movies to support the cause of Islam. This, in fact, should be given priority over the newspaper project because a wider audience can be reached through the electronic media and its impact is greater.
From Mr Javid Rauof
Dubai
Wider audience
I endorse the views expressed by Javid Rauof on the proposal by the newly established World Islamic Press to promote a worldwide Islamic newspaper. Javid had said that a programme to produce television films and movies to support the cause of Islam should be given priority over the newspaper project. This is a very practical and sensible approach because the film medium is more effective in communicating with the masses. The newspapers are influential only with the literate few.
From Mr K.N. Modi
Sharjah
Consequences
There seems to be a widespread fear among Arab nations that the war between Iran and Iraq will ultimately escalate and destroy the economies of countries in the region. The editorials in most GCC newspapers and even the views expressed by leaders reflect this fear. Meanwhile, the American government is keeping its Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) ready to "protect" US interests in the Arabian Gulf. In the meantime, Syria has signed a friendship treaty with Russia where Soviet troops will be permanently stationed in Syria. Syria will also receive arms and other war materials from Russia. Israel, too, is watching the situation closely and they will be waiting to exploit the divisions amongst their enemies. It is said that Israelis now possess nuclear capabilities. We hope in the light of this explosive situation Arab leaders would take urgent steps to bring the feuding brothers together and have a peaceful settlement. Only Israel will benefit from this feuding.
From Mr Abdul Rahim
Sharjah
Stop fighting
War is a dying business and the Iraqis and the Iranians are finding that out every day. For once, after years of colonial domination, the voice of Islam is being heard throughout the world. We have proven to the world that given a chance, we're second to none. But now the war between two brotherly Islamic countries is tearing at the heart of Islam. Muslims are dying, Muslim cities are being destroyed, Muslim economies are being paralysed and the enemy is nowhere in sight. We must not forget that arms supplied by the enemies of Islam are carrying out the killing.
From Mr Nouman Ali
Dubai
United not divided
It is anybody's guess that the only victor in the conflict between Iran and Iraq can be the crafty Zionists, who must be watching with some glee the bloody battle now raging between two supporters of Palestine. The post-Shah Iran dealt the hardest blow to Israel by completely overturning the cosy relations which otherwise existed between the two American supporters in the region. Iraq and Iran have a heavy responsibility before them, the liberation of Palestine. If only for that reason they must patch up their differences and united fight the real enemy.
From Mr Ibrat Ali
Dubai
Unable to connect
Having moved recently from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, we found that the service of International Trunk Services in Abu Dhabi is remarkably poor. It sometimes takes many days to get numbers in cities that are not connected by direct dialling services. A case in point is our effort to get numbers in Kolkata, India, which we could not obtain even after trying for seven days consecutively.
From Mr A. Chatterjee
UAE
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