Censorship has created wrong impressions.

Living in Dubai has given me the opportunity to become aquainted to some degree with the local custom and feeling. For years now, I have had some very close relationships with a few people who were born and bred Emiraties. On a personal level, they are no different to other non Emiratie friends, we share the same thoughts, fears, hopes and dreams.

The most noticeable difference I would say about some, is their perception of real life here in the Emirates. Suggestion that spousal abuse, human trafficking, the prevalence of AIDS, child abuse, incest etc also occurs here, is often denied or believed to happen far less than in "The West". Others know that these things happen but pride would never allow them to admit it. The prevalence of continued censorship in the media and the world wide web contributes to the Emiraties lack of knowledge and acceptance that these things really do happen here on a regular basis.

Surely, censorship of this type is dangerous for the people. Woman are frightened to report abuse within the family, to the authorities or even to family members, due to the shame and stigma it brings on the family. Women who have been raped, rarely confide in their families as they are often considered to have brought the rape upon themselves. Reporting the crime to the Police has often resulted in the women being punished even though they were the victims, so crimes of rape are often not reported

Certainly, over the last few years the media has been allowed to open up a little and some topics which were previously banned from going to print are now included in the newspapers. However, I feel that this is only the tip of the iceberg and freedom of the press is still in it's infancy.
Freedom of the media and free access to media would help bring openness and discussion to some of these taboo subjects which presently enslave it's victims to silence and misery.