DUBAI //A Belgian prisoner has been hospitalised after apparently being on hunger strike at Dubai Central Prison for nearly two weeks.
Oliver L told The National last week that he was joining the hunger strike of his Irish cellmate, Christopher Renehan, to protest against cheque fraud laws.
The Belgian ministry of foreign affairs said they were monitoring the inmate's well-being.
"We contacted the prison hospital and they have updated us about [Oliver's] condition," said Mr Joren Vandeweyer, the deputy spokesman at the ministry.
"The Dubai prison has assured us he is doing better and was returned to his cell, as well as the fact that on Sunday he had a court appearance.
"What concerns us since is his hunger strike, and we are closely monitoring his situation so that he receives medication and assistance if he chooses so."
Oliver's wife said yesterday that her husband collapsed on Saturday morning. The 51-year-old, who has been on hunger strike since April 16, was transferred to a medical centre at Dubai Police headquarters.
"He is very sick and ill because he is not eating. He is getting weaker and could not stand up," she said.
Mr Renehan's father, Michael, said he spoke to his son on Sunday and heard that the strike was continuing.
"When you start going to the third or fourth week, that's when you'll notice the body getting damaged," he said. "We are all very upset. I'm going to try to go to Dubai this week to talk to him."
Three Pakistani men also joined the strike last week. An official from the Pakistani consulate said the men were taking part despite the consulate's efforts to dissuade them.
"We met with the prisoners, who have all been sentenced for financial and bank-related cases, and told them not to enter into a hunger strike but they insisted," said the welfare and community attache, Dr Riaz Hussain Laang. "We told them we will look at their demands but informed them of the correct procedures and advised them to abide by the laws of the UAE."
Lt Col Abdel Hakim Al Munser, director of Dubai Central Prison's male section, maintained yesterday that no prisoners were on hunger strike.
"They are all in good condition and have not been in a strike because they have been eating," he said.
amustafa@thenational.ae
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
On Instagram: @WithHopeUAE
Although social media can be harmful to our mental health, paradoxically, one of the antidotes comes with the many social-media accounts devoted to normalising mental-health struggles. With Hope UAE is one of them.
The group, which has about 3,600 followers, was started three years ago by five Emirati women to address the stigma surrounding the subject. Via Instagram, the group recently began featuring personal accounts by Emiratis. The posts are written under the hashtag #mymindmatters, along with a black-and-white photo of the subject holding the group’s signature red balloon.
“Depression is ugly,” says one of the users, Amani. “It paints everything around me and everything in me.”
Saaed, meanwhile, faces the daunting task of caring for four family members with psychological disorders. “I’ve had no support and no resources here to help me,” he says. “It has been, and still is, a one-man battle against the demons of fractured minds.”
In addition to With Hope UAE’s frank social-media presence, the group holds talks and workshops in Dubai. “Change takes time,” Reem Al Ali, vice chairman and a founding member of With Hope UAE, told The National earlier this year. “It won’t happen overnight, and it will take persistent and passionate people to bring about this change.”
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Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
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