A former Saudi-based Indian journalist replies to my tweet: "I really don't understand what is your problem with Arab governments? Why don't you focus on Muslim issues in India first?"
I can't answer that in 140 characters on Twitter so here is my public note.
I often criticize and ridicule Arab governments for their policies, mostly it is about their foreign relations and activities but some criticism is also directed at their internal decisions that are in blatant violation of universal human rights.
To me, Arab governments and officials are not special. I also slam Israeli policies in Palestine, Zionist groups, Iranian extremism, Pentagon-backed weapons trade, European colonial tendencies, Uncle Sam's genocidal wars, etc.
During the Balkan wars, I found Slobodan Milosevic's policy of ethnic cleansing utterly disgusting. Also revolting was the hypocrisy of London and Washington on the issue of apartheid in South Africa.
I do not follow Indian politics too closely so I avoid commenting on it in social media.
There are many reasons why I talk about Arab issues and feel strongly about them: My favorite subject during Master's was "Politics in West Asia (Middle East)"; I spent 14 years in the Gulf as a journalist and know a few things about the region.
Why do I criticize Arab governments?
For their hypocrisy on matters ranging from recreation to religion, a lack of transparency on policies, control-freakism without limits, torture chambers, their investments in tools of repression.
Arab governments should not expect that their targeting of journalists and dissenters is going to endear them to people.
Not only do they carry out such things within their borders they also try to grow their repressive arms overseas.
Even minor Gulf Arab officials are so spoilt that they demand royal treatment abroad, especially when they are in Asia and Africa.
I know journalists who have been victimized by the UAE and Saudi governments.
We can all see how pitiless crackdowns on dissent are being organized by the Arab League states ever so fearful of their people.
This note will become too long if I describe my own brush with authoritarianism.
