Western media are now at last beginning to notice that the oil rich Gulf states of the Middle East are studiously looking the other way in regards to the Syrian refugee crisis, if not holding up metaphorical signs saying ‘Germany – this way.’
The Washington Post quoted Amnesty International as saying the “six Gulf countries — Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain — have offered zero resettlement places to Syrian refugees.” Opined the Post – “That’s a shocking figure, given these countries’ relative proximity to Syria, as well as the incredible resources at their disposal.” Hear hear!
Of course, none of the nations mentioned above are legally (as opposed to morally) obliged to take any Syrian refugees at all. None were stupid enough to hand over their rights as sovereign nations to human rights lawyers and diplomats lawyers by signing the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention.
Notwithstanding the fine work of the Washington Post, the western media, and the activist and human rights lobby therein, have largely ignored these further inconvenient facts. There are few accusing the Sultans of hardness of heart, or demanding Saudi Arabia take its thousands.