Two Arab states have issued grave safety warnings to their citizens – over potential violence in the United States.
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates both published safety advice over the recent unrest surrounding police racism and violence, warning citizens to be careful around crowded areas or in the event of protests.
Please be cautious of protests or crowded areas occurring around the US. Emergencies call the embassy at 202.342.1111 ext9 or 202.297.0537
— Bahrain Embassy (@BahrainEmbDC) 9 July 2016
Protests have rocked the United States over the last week, after the brutal murders of two black men – Philando Castile and Alton Sterling – by police were caught on camera and widely circulated.
Five police officers were killed in a targeted sniper attack in Dallas over the weekend, heightening tensions even further more than a year after the deaths of unarmed black men gave rise to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Bahrain hardly has its hand clean when it comes to state brutality: more than 80 people were killed during 100,000 strong protests in the small Kingdom of 2011-12.
The Bahamas also issued travel warnings against the USA, stressing the danger that young black men in particular face when confronted with a police force that uses disproportionate and sometimes deadly force against them.
Bahamas Minstry of Foreign Affairs; Travel warning for visitors to the US #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/6q7TTixjvC
— Scott Long (@scottlong1980) 9 July 2016
The United Arab Emirates had already issued a warning against wearing traditional clothing abroad after a UAE citizen was detained and searched at gunpoint. Ahmed al-Menhali was in Ohio to seek treatment for a stroke when a hotel clerk “raised suspicions” that he could have belonged to Daesh.
The police department later apologised for the incident. But Al-Menhali said he may have suffered a second stroke during the arrest, which was clearly extremely distressing.
It’s not, however, unique that the USA has been the subject of warnings from other countries. Canada has for many years informed citizens that its southern neighbour suffers from higher levels of violent crime, while the UK suggests it’s a good idea to avoid making jokes about bombs in airports.
