Pharaohs and Slaves – the Dark Side of Dubai

Almost three years ago I passed on an opportunity to work in Dubai. Firstly, I heard from my colleges that there was a sign or an instruction in the airport saying you can’t enter the country if you passport was stamped “Ben Gurion”. Secondly, after growing up in Russia, I am allergic to any country or a group framed by a cult of personality. Thirdly, I suspected that the slavery problem was practically and morally much more serious than people were willing to admit. And now there is this article in The Independent – the Dark Side of Dubai. An eye opener. Why do the American banks lend to Dubai, despite the blatant slave labor? Why CNBC and most newspapers did one puff piece after another, completely ignoring the slaves? It’s the nameless Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Korean untouchables whose blood is mixed into the pyramids under the shining portraits of the Sheikh. Read the amazing journalism by Johann Hari. Truly this is what offline or online storytelling is all about. (via Gene Expression)