As thousands of US citizens continue to take to the streets against police brutality and racism, protesters from the Middle East are sharing advice on how to stay safe.
Protests erupted on May 26 after the killing of George Floyd in police custody was recorded and posted online by a passer-by, the latest in a series of killings of black people by the police in the US.
The video showed police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes – Mr Chauvin was later charged with second-degree murder.
Images from cities such as Los Angeles and Washington, as well as Minneapolis where Floyd was killed, showed police using pepper spray, rubber bullets and tear gas against protesters. These same tactics have been used by governments and police forces across the Middle East, prompting some with similar encounters to share advice.
Palestinian Rana Nazzal shared her experiences of avoiding being hit with tear gas and what to do if it happens to you.
“[The] most dangerous teargas injury is being hit with the canister (when fired out of a gun). Like bullets, they can kill,” she wrote in a detailed Twitter thread, stressing that although she had some medical training, she was not a doctor.
“Unlike bullets, teargas travels slow enough to watch it coming so don’t turn & run when they start firing. Watch them shoot it & dodge. Move calmly upwind,” she added.
A Twitter user claiming to have been part of the Gezi protests in Turkey, which marked their seven-year anniversary this week, also gave advice.
October saw the start of protests in Lebanon against a dire economic downturn and government corruption. Albeit muted because of the coronavirus pandemic, the demonstrations are ongoing.
Sarah Aoun and Azza El Masri took part in the uprising in Beirut and saw an opportunity to share what they had learned from months on the front lines of the protests.
"Sarah and I – along with many in our community – noticed that the footage coming out of Minneapolis was very similar to what we've experienced in Beirut, especially during the very first days of our October revolution in 2019," Ms El Masri, 25, told The National.
“It's not to say that our struggles were the same – they are not – but we noticed that police response, official reactions, and media framing mirrored what we'd experienced at the height of our revolution," the media researcher said.
The guide, issued on co-working software and document platform GitHub and as a Twitter thread by Ms Aoun, gives advice on which clothes to wear, what to take to a protest and a section on protecting your digital devices.
“Digital rights are human rights and no one's freedom of speech or protest should be impacted by the fact that they're out at a protest,” Ms Aoun said.
“There are mass surveillance devices being used to gather information on protesters. So it's really important for people to stay as safe as possible in the digital sense as well.”
Ms Aoun, a human rights technologist who works on privacy and security with journalists, activists and human rights defenders, now lives in Brooklyn and has been acting as a medic in the US protests.
“It seemed like the police were deliberately targeting the press as we have seen in the news everywhere, but they've also been deliberately targeting medics and they came charging at us a few times and arrested, one of my colleagues who was there as well.
Ms Aoun said it is hard to draw comparisons between the Lebanese and US protests, but that there were common threads in the police response that enabled them to put together the guide.
“There are some similarities in police tactics used when it comes to the tear gas and pepper spray, but overall the US has a much, much more sophisticated means of surveillance and targeting of people than Lebanon does,” Ms Aoun said.
The guide is an exercise in paying it forward.
“Just as friends in Hong Kong and Chile helped us [in Lebanon] navigate police abuse and gave us tips about best practices, we thought it would be good to do the same for those protesting in the US as a show of solidarity,” Ms El Masri said.
The guide has been popular. Ms Aoun’s tweet linking to the guide has been retweeted over 6,500 times.
“We have been inundated with messages of gratitude, not just from protesters in the US, but also in Brazil ... It has shown me that despite our differences, many communities continue to experience different facets of state violence and have found areas of solidarity within these differences.”
Social media in the Middle East was alive with solidarity for black Americans throughout the week, but some cautioned those posting to look closer to home.
“Many have noticeably forgotten the plight of black people in Lebanon,” said Ms El Masri.
"Migrant workers are subjected to some of the most heinous treatment at the hands of the government – that doesn't offer these workers legal protections – and employers, who underpay and abuse their workers."
“This is made possible due to the kafala system. Our solidarity with black protesters in the US falls short if we do not address the systemic racism that black people endure within our own home. True solidarity starts by the abolishment of the kafala system.”
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
MATCH INFO
Al Jazira 3 (O Abdulrahman 43', Kenno 82', Mabkhout 90 4')
Al Ain 1 (Laba 39')
Red cards: Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain)
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Result
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
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Past winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2014 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
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Dr Mark Mann, scientist
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Third Test
Day 3, stumps
India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151
India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining
MATCH INFO
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Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
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MATCH DETAILS
Chelsea 4
Jorginho (4 pen, 71 pen), Azpilicueta (63), James (74)
Ajax 4
Abraham (2 og), Promes (20). Kepa (35 og), van de Beek (55)
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Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
