Scores of Lebanese Shiites have recently been expelled from the United Arab Emirates, allegedly for their refusal to inform on Hizballah.
The expulsion of the Lebanese nationals started after the June 7 parliamentary elections in Lebanon, but had not been widely known or reported on until the group went public.
Lebanon’s President Suleiman reportedly traveled to the Emirates to try to persuade officials to reconsider, but the trip was in vain.
The group reports that they were asked by UAE officials to spy on Hizballah , and that they were informed of their deportation after they refused. Palestinians recently expelled from the UAE also report similar treatment when they refused to spy on Hamas.
Many of those expelled had lived in the UAE for most of their lives, and all deny supporting Hizballah.
Expatriates make up a significant portion of the UAE’s population, including around 100,000 Lebanese.
The real reasons behind the mass expulsions are still unclear at this point.
Every one of the expelled has denied supporting Hizballah, but even if the charges are true, it begs the question of why would UAE officials suddenly care so much about it. After all, money flows freely from all of the Gulf nations to mosques and religious organizations of questionable intent. So why care about Hizballah, and why now?
At this point, it seems like there are three likely factors as to why Abu Dhabi (UAE capital) took these actions: a perceived internal threat from the nation’s Shiite population, a perceived external threat from growing Iranian influence in the Gulf, pressure from the United States to disrupt any support for Hizballah, or some combination of the three.
Whatever the reason, it must be big. Many of those expelled have lived peacefully and successfully in the UAE for decades. Some have built businesses that employ Emirati citizens who are predominantly Sunni. It’s very curious as to why the UAE officials would take such a perplexing and disruptive course of action which will effect many of their own citizens.
From Beirut’s Daily Star:
Hussein Masood, a 39-year-old businessman who had lived in the emirates since the age of 4, said he still did not understand what prompted his expulsion in July….“I have three companies there, $5 million worth of contracts and 85 mainly Sunni employees who rely on me,” he added. “I can’t believe this is all happening because I am Shiite.”
There are many like Mr. Masood who only know life in the United Arab Emirates, and who have very little experience living in the country they were deported to. Whatever the reason for their expulsion, the lives that they have built there are on hold indefinitely. For now, they can only organize and prepare themselves for the long battle that lies ahead.
