
A teacher at one of the leading Indian schools in Qatar has reportedly resigned after sharing an inflammatory cartoon of the Indian premier Narendra Modi on her Facebook page.
The unnamed female instructor, who worked at MES Indian School, recently posted a caricature of the Prime Minister, which featured his face superimposed on the body of a black and white striped dog shown emptying its bladder, the Peninsula reports.

After some parents objected to the post, calling the Abu Hamour-based school to complain, she was asked to resign, the newspaper states.
Apparently at issue was that the MES name and logo appeared alongside the cartoon, bringing its reputation into disrepute – which may simply mean that the teacher had listed her employer in her profile.
The instructor quit yesterday after being suspended for three days during an internal investigation, the Peninsula added.
The teacher is quoted defending her actions and saying that she did not create the image, but just shared it to comment on alleged restrictions on free speech in India.
“I didn’t create the caricature nor did I post it to insult Modi. I just used it to protest against what has been happening back home,” she told the newspaper.
She added that she didn’t know the name of the school had been linked to her post.
While the school management did not formally comment, a member of staff confirmed the incident to Doha News, saying: “It’s true that a teacher left after they posted some pictures on their Facebook profile of the Indian Prime Minister.”
Online risk
The incident is one of many “cautionary tales” regarding social media usage in the workplace in Qatar.
Many individuals in Qatar have said they are not permitted to list their employers’ names on their social media accounts. This is perhaps an effort on their companies’ parts to avoid indirect damage to their reputations, lest something offensive be posted.

Last July, for example, an IT engineer contracted to work for RasGas was fired after he posted an insulting message about Muslims on Facebook.
While he did not specifically mention the name of his employer, it appeared in his profile next to his post.
At the time, the company explained in an email to all staff from then-acting CEO Nafez Bseiso that the contractor’s actions were “illegal and unethical.”
He continued:
“The use of RasGas’s commercial name, logo or trademarks is restricted to RasGas business-related matters and must not be used to promote personal views on non-business-related matters, including social media and other platforms.”
Violations of this policy would be “firmly dealt with,” he added.
Teachers’ standards
This latest incident also highlights the higher social standards expected of teachers in Qatar, who are perceived as role models to young people.

In September last year, the Supreme Education Council (SEC) published a new 10-point teachers’ code of conduct, which aimed to enshrine “core values” and “expected professional behavior” of teachers.
While the code only formally covers educators in independent (state-run) schools, it defined what it regarded as appropriate conduct from teachers in Qatar not only inside the classroom but also beyond.
The ethics code, which the Education Minister said is “derived from the doctrine of the Qatari society and philosophy,” involves respecting Islamic values and national customs and traditions.
However, the doctrine provoked some controversy for including vague directives such as “dressing modestly” and appearing to limit drinking and smoking outside of working hours.
While some teachers supported the introduction of the new rules, which they described as being “very important and much-needed,” others said they were an infringement of their personal freedoms and should not extend to their private lives.
Thoughts?
Indian premier ? Prime Minister ?
Frequently interchanged, although I believe in Australia and Canada they are two very different positions.
Yes, Prime Minister is federal, Premier is provincial.
This is news ?
Exactly, this blog is like a gossip magazine.
You’re wrong. It’s not a gossip blog. It’s a Qatar bashing blog.
Deleted for being trolls.
This is not news because it’s an Indian. If it were a Westerner, it would be big news with tons of comments.
some people are just over sensitive. He is a politician, and as such is fair game. Why ruin this woman’s teaching career over a cartoon, which she didn’t draw, probably laughed at and shared as one does on Facebook. She should be reinstated and the power of social media explained to students,
She did not share it , instead she made it as her profile cover. Have u seen that picture ? A dog is inserting his $#@$ into our prime ministers …..! Do u think this is just a jock to be shared and ppl to be laughed at ? Many ppl warned her to remove that pic and she arrogantly responded that this is the way Modi to be treated…. Pls note I am not a Modi supporter…
there is nothing wrong with the picture. it falls under the freedom of expression guaranteed in India. Moreover, it is laughable that people who have uploaded derogatory images of ManMohan Singh, Nehru and Gandhi are objecting to this picture.Hypocrites!! She is totally within her rights to upload the picture. On the other hand the teacher has been receiving death threats on fb.
If India sneezes …. should MES catch a cold ???? Appeal to the management to reinstate that teacher….
I don’t agree with this but let this be a lesson for all. Social media is just another side of your image that employers look at (and sometimes monitor). Don’t list your employer. Don’t share anything that you aren’t comfortable getting into the “real world”. Familiarize yourself with the privacy settings (especially when facebook changes its layout). Although I don’t think she did anything wrong, working as teacher you are judged more than most due to overly sensitive administration and parents (most times judged irrationally).
I don’t see any wrong with that cartoon .. the man (prime minister) has killed over 2000 people of particular religion.. and since he has become prime minister he is removing his people from jail which at the end means 2000 people killed and there is no hope for justice.
Teacher’s rule 101: DO NOT BEFRIEND YOUR STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS IN FACEBOOK.
Very sad. The death of freedom of speech is dying worldwide and those in power tightened their grip. Only the European countries (although not all) stand in defiance, even though the attacks continue.
Jesuischarlie
Try to deny the holocaust over there, or even make Jewish jokes.
Very much so 🙂
Coz a cartoon proves everything 🙂
Well actually I have heard many jokes about the holocaust so kinda disproves your theory…
You will find many borderline western comics make jokes about very taboo subjects, but granted its not the mainstream.
But please show me mainstream comics who regularly make fun of Islam!
I think you will find most western comics make fun of western stuff, so should we all get in a huff and shoot them?
The cartoon above is just an example, it’s not meant to be a qualitative or / and quantitative research about the subject. You can look up those on your own if you so wish.
Point is, while I would never argue that the extent and limits on freedom of expression in, say Qatar for example, are far below those of most Western countries, it’s a lie to pretend that those same countries don’t have their off limits areas and topics, and that those who violate these rules will be punished; either by law, or as was the case with the Indian teacher here, fired from the job.
Islam, A religion
The Holocaust, The systematic, designed and controlled murder of approximately 11 million human beings.
I kinda see why one is a bit more light hearted than the other
“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it.”
Adolf Hitler
Wasn’t that every prophet/messiah/religious leader ever that said that?
Feel free to look up the propaganda and hate directed at European Jews, and then compare it to the camping against European Muslims. That my dear is the point.
Never liked camping much myself and if these European Muslims are doing it they deserve to get wet and cold in the rain
Fixed it 😉
Well denying the holocaust is a bit like denying gravity exits, but even so its only banned in a couple of Countries and it’s pretty obvious why that is.
And as far as making Jewish jokes goes… Try telling Black, Muslim, Asian etch jokes and see what happens.
But hey why let the truth get in the way of a good anecdote eh!
It’s actually more than a couple of countries, 16 if I’m not mistaken.
And while it is often referred to as denial of the holocaust, it actually goes as far as to criminalize even the questioning anything from the number of jews killed to how they were killed.
Well personally I think the holocaust denial law is unnecessary and would agree it is hypocritical with regards to free speech!
But I would urge anyone who denies it happened or wants to quibble the exact numbers or how they were killed. To go to Auschwitz and see for yourself! It is truly horrifying experience even now, I can only imagine what it was like when it was in operation.
But anyway we are so far off topic it unbelievable 🙂
Only in a few european countries and even then I think it is wrong. It may be offensive but so what deny the holcaust if you want.
As much as I wish that you are right… you are wrong
Universal problem throughout the Islamic states. A woman in Turkey is facing 4 years in jail for sharing (not authoring) an unflattering caricature of Erdogan. One mans freedom of expression is another mans insult.
LOL what an @$$. This topic is about India. Oh, about that women, I’d love to see anyone in speaker corner swear at that old witch.
Dimwit westerner showing his typical ignorance and frustration at not getting a chance to attack Qatar.
Deleting this for being a personal attack.
Can you please clarify the relationship between your problem statement and Islamic states? Please read carefully. Teacher was fired based on complaints from parents, who seem to be BJP supporters.
Issue of freedom of speech is universal. If you open your mind (a little bit), you may notice that several US journalists were fired for exercising their freedom of speech.
DN should at least report the matter factually and correctly rather than trying to cover it up. The teacher only shared the post on facebook. Neither did she make it nor post it herself. Qatar and even other Gulf countries have a large number of hindu right wing bigots living here. These ones are well known for sharing images and posts that insult Islam and muslims. And these very people then come to the Gulf countries for work. this is their typical hypocritical attitude. But what is bothering is the meek and shameful attitude of the school management. Don’t they have a spine? Are they living in fear of these right wing bigots? Are these hindu fascists going to dictate their terms in a Muslim society like Qatar? This is a serious issue. The role of the Indian Embassy is also dubious. They have no time to look after the issues of the Indian labourers. They don’t even bother conducting an open house. But they decided to forward a complaint they received from some hindu right wing bigots to the school management and asked them to take action. They surely have their priorities right acting as puppets in the hands of these khaki chaddis.
Indians in Qatar must come forward to support the teacher and a campaign must be started to reinstate the teacher. This is not an rss shakha.
This is generalising and stereotyping hindus.
Nope! He said Hindu fascists, so gets the benefit of doubt that he might mean fascist Hindus, who are as bad as any other extremists. However, the level of attack differs within the range of “take job” to “take life”!
And he is right about the role of the Indian Embassy. but they are afraid of political and diplomatic wasta from the relevant ministry in India. So they better pretend nothing happened and wait for their next promotion to Switzerland.
I always knew you were an Indian Hindu most probably a rss khaki chaddi. The moment a comment came about the hindu facsists you jumped to defend them. But you always generalise and stereotype muslims. Your hypocrisy is well known. Many qatari commentators have already exposed right here in DN.
PS- You can run your rss agenda in Gujarat.
why r u boiling this much? heheh I am neither rss or bjp. do u show the same attitude against the murders in syria?
I have the same attitude against the murders in syria but I dont know anyone who supports ISIS or lost a job for that?
Now that is beyond the mark personal attack, which commonly is the weapon of the non-rational and is considered extreme reply to a much milder statement. This escalation proves nothing but intolerance and exposes you to be stereotyped. I am sorry that I supported you!
Maybe a Hindu undercooked his food once or his wife ran off with a Hindu. He seems very irrational and that is part of the problem with india’s religious violence.
I thought the cartoon was about modi but he brings religion into it. As I’ve said before religion poisons everything and this is especially true in India
As far as my knowledge goes about India, it cannot survive without all its religions. And anything is poison if it’s taken too much! Anyway, I’m staggered that the comment is still not deleted by DN.
so now you want to act all innocent once your identity is out. The one who makes gerenalised statements about muslims and stereotypes is getting hurt now that hindu fascist have been blamed. Revel in your hindu right wing bigotry.
Really? Have you been on the bang lassai? You using the label Hindu fascist is the same as using the label of Islamic terrorist. It’s a generalisation. Which hindus are you referring to, can you name them? Or will you just tar all hindus in Qatar with the same brush?
Please also show me the statements when I have generalised or stereotyped muslims? I’m an atheists, so care neither for Hindu beliefs or Islamic ones.
You accuse him of making personal accusations and then go on to make the same on him. Hypocrisy much. Maybe you should preach what you yourself follow.
I’m sorry but you seem unable to read and that’s not my problem.
Deleting the whole personal attack thread.
Really. Couldn’t care less about the Hindus or modi. In fact modi’s actions against muslim minority in his home state is pretty disgusting.
Love Indian’s passion! (If somewhat misguided)
Deleting for personal attack.
India is a democratic country and Indians only don’t have democracy in them … Soch badlo Desh badlega ! where were these people when there were funny cartoons on manmohan singh & sonia gandhi when manmohan singh was the PM !
I think this is not a big issue to spoil a teacher career, she did a good job to teach students. Some dirty politics played by school management. There are some MODI bhakt (followers) in the school management team, in actual they are low level failure politicians turned teacher.
I thoight the school was run by a muslim manaGement. Didnt know modi bhakts and khaki chaddis are dictating terms in a muslim country?
If Obama can rule whole of the muslim world , why cant Modi?
One would have thought that this school was only CBSE affiliated. Now, it has become BJP affiliated as well! Politics should have been kept away from this school and the school management should have taken a more informed decision..
The Indian embassy never opens its mouth when it comes to issurs faced by the Indians in Qatar but it instructed the school to take actio. F*****g imbeciles.
The Indian embassy isn’t here to help Indians it is to make money for the ambassador and for indian companies by exploiting Indians
I WENT to this crappy school and received CORPORAL PUNISHMENT from its then “principal”…..they have NO STANDARDS …and are a bunch of INDIAN ” MUSLIM” COWARDS.
SHE was fired for being a FEMALE …lets call it like it is !!
If you received corporal punishment then you must have done something crappy/
Not sure I’d that is justified. When they beat you did they say this from a muslim coward?
whatever be the cartoon..every Indian has the right to freedom of speech and expressiion..India doesn’t belong to bunch if Hindu Taliban to dictate their way..but this so school..who should set an example ..has surely set an example for being spineless and peeing in its pants without properly investigating the matter..law them.take back the teacher if there is some bit of shame.and conscience left in them..
I hope you agree when muslim Taliban or Christian Taliban want to impose their way on children.
why does any comment on Hindu fascists infuriate you so much? Cant digest the truth is it?
I can’t say I am an expert on Hindu, muslim relations in India. I realise they do go round killing each other in religious riots and the politicians In India use the relgion angle to get votes. It seems you have the big problem with hindus.
why the frustration? because your identity was revealed?
It was? Haha. If it makes you feel better then please believe that.
Sad to read…why we make our politicians sacred cow…why parents complained..teacher has her personal life outside school
The lady teacher has set a bad example. Teachers should not behave like an irresponsible juvenile. The Qatar Govt should start criminal proceedings against her and if need be should be deported.
The lady teacher has been receiving death threats on facebook. Hindu bigots and Hindu fascists like you who support them must be reported to the cops and should be deported immediately. This is not Gujarat.
The teacher should be felicitated for standing her ground and should be reinstated.
Your comments prove that you are an Islamophobic hindu fascist. It is not the teacher that needs to be deported but bigots like you. Hindu fascists like have so many issues with muslims. And then you all run to Qatar for work. The hypocrisy you display is baffling.
Deleted for personal attack.
got popcorns?
Teacher set a bad example. Will she do the same thing abt Saudi King? Here someppl said Mr Modi Killed crores of people. How abt muslims killing their own people in Syria, Iran and all. Are they not humans> She is punished for her unexemploray behaviour. Social media is not to insult anyone
then everyone should be punished who made fun of EX PM Manmohan Singh when he was the PM.. they all should resign ..
Where were you when people had uploaded derogatory images of Manmohan Singh? Dod you hide in a cave then? Modi is no religipus figure. Moreover the teacher only shared the image, she did not create it. The issue is a bunch of hindu fascists want to impose their agenda in Qatar using the diplomatic mission as a cover. Maybe they should be reminded that this is not Gujarat.
The issues in Syria are terrorist organisations killing each other. As for Iran, maybe you should read a newspaper.
Ultimately she set a bad example as a teacher. Thats it. Samething should have done to those who insulted Manmohanji.A teacher teach values to students. Her job is to respect the democratic rules where her country is based on no matter whoever the PM IS Manmohanji or Modiji. And I read newspaper and I know the terrorist activities all around the world and who are pioneering it.
we very well can see the fascist intentions of some in India. The blasts in malegaon, samjhauta express and Mecca Masjid. The thousands killed in Gujarat, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Surat, Bombay, Hyderabad, Assam and we all knew who was behind it. the very same people today talk of ethics and decency. The irony of it all.
Hindus are killed by Ghazni, tipu, aurangazeb, how abt that
How about the Aryans that killed the tribals and the Dravidans? How about the dalits that were killed and enslaved enmasse?
Iqbal, teacher “only” shared the image. Ok fine you also pls share it na and thus show your support
Why didnt you complain at the time?
It is ironic people who posted derogatory images of Nehru and Gandhi are now complaining. The hypocrisy of these bigots is well known. Anyways this topic has revealed the identities of many DN commentators, many are silent khaki chaddis living right here in Doha.
The standards of DN are falling by the day. The least they could do was contact the teacher and get her side of the story. The teacher has been receiving death threats on facebook. Imagine in a Muslim country, a bunch of hindu fascists are threatening her. And to make matters worse, the management of the school rather than supporting the teacher are acting like spineless cowards. They have just bent over backwards to appease one section.
This is the image that the bigots cant digest.
Share this image-
This should be shared as much as possible. Lets see who is going to fire me over this?
If you are a muslim, go check what is the ruling on posting these type of photos.
Modi is no religious figure. He is man who oversaw mass murders under his watch, asking his administration and police officers to look the other way. more like a modern day Hitler.
that still doesnt give you the right to post such photos.
If you have the balls tell me where you work and your full name.
All your comments Islamophobic and muslim hating. If you have balls tell me where you work, will be nice to get you jailed.
So you believe blasphemers should be jailed? Where do you live 1527?
Deleting for personal attack, and ensuing thread.
I personally don’t see anything wrong with this picture. The dog did what is its nature. The person in the picture could be anyone, Modi / Manmohan singh or some Muslim cleric. The school was forced to discipline the teacher because the image had the school MES logo next to it. That’s like making it obvious that the school which is an establishment of the Indian government, supports this. It took this action to clarify that it does not.
I have always advocated that Facebook is not just a social tool, its become a barometer of your character. If you keep posting video’s which support the ISIS ideology, you are portraying yourself as a de-facto supporter of such ideologies. Post’s on Facebook have to be act of responsibility. This is what the teacher did wrong. Personally, I don’t think she should have lost her job over it.
A lot of posts reveal the very fragile atmosphere of religious tolerance existing in India. Its unfortunate, but is in line with the bipolar existence of the world in present times.
The school is not an establishment of the Indian govt. It is run by a private management. A right wing supporter in Qatar tagged the picture to the Ministry of External Affairs in India which pressurized the school with the help of the Indian Embassy. The teacher was initially suspended for 3 days after which she apologised and was reinstated. But a week later she was asked to resign. This proves that the school was the pressurized by the Embassy which is acting like a wing of these fascists. The Indian Embassy officials who nvere look into complaints of Indian labourers went on a spree targeting the teacher.
Delete this PIC or else u also need to resign !
How about if the picture was ur dads?
Hardly enough to lose your job over. My God are Indians over sensitive.
Deleting for stereotyping.
When the Charlie Hebdo incident happened there were many on this forum calling for freedom of speech. Now those great warriors are hiding in their caves. Apparently freedom of speech for them is when it suits their agenda.
Why is MES siding with this and then complain against Hindutwa elements? Where is your spine?
I just hope someday FB will disappear.
respect all religion…. god in one
Quite a discussion! Closing the thread now.