Shaikha Fatima condemns Al Reem murder

Dr Amal Al Qubaisi and Dr Maitha Salem Al Shamsi offer condolences to the children and ex-husband of American teacher Ibolya Ryan, who was killed in the washroom of a mall on Reem Island, when they visited them at their house on Monday. — Wam

Abu Dhabi: Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU) and the Family Development Foundation (FDF), has spoken out to condemn the heinous crime which claimed the life of an innocent schoolteacher on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi last week.

Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak hailed the Ministry of Interior’s efforts and speed in uncovering the crime and apprehending the suspect.

She also called on her sons and daughters in the UAE community to collaborate together to confront extremist ideologies and terrorism in all its forms and levels, which she said are a phenomenon that aims to threaten the stability and security enjoyed by the UAE.

Shaikha Fatima went on to express her deep sympathy and condolences to the victim’s family, saying she will do all she can to provide help in order to soothe the victim’s children, and provide the necessary care to help ease their shock after the horrific crime which deprived them of their mother’s love at a very young age, a time when they need her most.

Speaking about the female killer, Shaikha Fatima said that attacker lacked humanity in its various forms and meanings, and does not reflect the honourable image that Emirati women are known for, which is a model for love, goodness, peace, progress and harmony.

Shaikha Fatima also warned her sons and daughters across the large UAE community against following misguided ideologies, and urged them not to get misled by false conceptions which aim to taint the hounourable image of UAE society.

She also stressed the need to confront all attempts to harm the prestigious position that the country holds in various regional and international platforms.

Under the directives of Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Dr. Maitha Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State, and Dr. Amal Abdullah Juma Al Qubaisi, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Education Council, visited the victim’s children last night to check on their well-being and to deliver Shaikha Fatima’s sympathies, her strong condemnation of the crime, (the first of its kind in UAE society), and her willingness to provide support and care necessary for the children to help them re-build their future lives.

Shaikha Fatima’s help was greatly welcomed by the children, who expressed their appreciation and gratitude for the assistance which they said is giving them more strength to overcome their ordeal.