UAE and Bahrain issue US travel warnings to citizens
Two Gulf states have warned citizens visiting the US to 'avoid crowds' and not to wear national dress, after a week of unrest and killings in the country.
2 min read
11 Jul, 2016
Anger erupted in the US after the killing of two black men by police [Getty]
The UAE and Bahrain are among three countries to issue travel warnings to their citizens in the US.
Bahrain became the latest country to warn citizens traveling to the US, after the killing of two black men by American police and the unconnected fatal shooting of five police officers in Dalas this week.
Manama issued the warning via Twitter, urging Bahrainis to "be cautious of protests or crowded areas occurring around the US".
The UAE also echoed this call in a statement similarly worded to the US State Department's own travel warnings, The Huffington Post reported.
"Please be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid crowded places when possible… Exercise particular caution during large festivals or events, be alert and stay safe," the UAE embassy in the US warned.
Caribbean archipelago state the Bahamas also issued an advisory to its citizens, many whom have African heritage due to the "shootings of young black males by police officers".
The US has been rocked by anger and tensions after reports of police brutality and killing which activists say is racially motivated.
The Black Lives Matter protest movements have organised demonstrations across the country, against "institutionalised racism" and police violence against black men.
Muslims is the US have voiced concern about victimisation by law enforcement officers, and racism or Islamophobia from the public at large.
Earlier this week, the UAE government was angered after the rough arrest of an Emirati man by US police.
The UAE said the man who was wearing national dress suffered "abusive treatment", while the foreign ministry expressed "discontent".
A video emerged on YouTube showing the arrest of Ahmed al-Menhali who was wearing a traditional white Emirati gown - known as a thobe - after an employee suspected that he had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group.
Bahrain became the latest country to warn citizens traveling to the US, after the killing of two black men by American police and the unconnected fatal shooting of five police officers in Dalas this week.
Manama issued the warning via Twitter, urging Bahrainis to "be cautious of protests or crowded areas occurring around the US".
The UAE also echoed this call in a statement similarly worded to the US State Department's own travel warnings, The Huffington Post reported.
"Please be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid crowded places when possible… Exercise particular caution during large festivals or events, be alert and stay safe," the UAE embassy in the US warned.
Caribbean archipelago state the Bahamas also issued an advisory to its citizens, many whom have African heritage due to the "shootings of young black males by police officers".
The US has been rocked by anger and tensions after reports of police brutality and killing which activists say is racially motivated.
The Black Lives Matter protest movements have organised demonstrations across the country, against "institutionalised racism" and police violence against black men.
Muslims is the US have voiced concern about victimisation by law enforcement officers, and racism or Islamophobia from the public at large.
Earlier this week, the UAE government was angered after the rough arrest of an Emirati man by US police.
The UAE said the man who was wearing national dress suffered "abusive treatment", while the foreign ministry expressed "discontent".
A video emerged on YouTube showing the arrest of Ahmed al-Menhali who was wearing a traditional white Emirati gown - known as a thobe - after an employee suspected that he had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group.
Footage shows several policemen armed with rifles take down Ahmed al-Menhali, and then handcuff and search him.
The foreign ministry issued a statement to its citizens urging them not to wear national dress "especially in public areas, to ensure their own safety".
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