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עמוד:*46
46 * to Bahrain tomorrow" . 21 The official in Doha wrote to his counterpart in Bahrain about the incident and remarked : I have no hesitation in saying that I think it impossible to allow Smith to remain here . the British community is small and such things as this reflect on everyone… and also the ruler is more fanatical in his religion . 22 Even in the premature phase of the emirate's development in the 1940 s, Sheikh Abdulläh Āl Th ā n ī was concerned about European cultural influence . The concern was ` that his subjects would follow the cultural style of the Bahrainis, who had been swallowed by the British in that aspect . He was keen to keep foreigners away, fearing that they would teach his subjects about alcohol drinking . 23 This fear was justified . Just one decade later, the Qatari Qadi needed to address the issue using pamphlets calling on people to give up smoking, drinking, and gambling . 24 During this decade, alcohol consumption became more prevalent, as several incidents among the ruling class indicate . In June 1952, four teenagers from the Beni Ahmad section of the Al Thani family assaulted the director of customs, Mohamed bin Uthman . The assault was the result of bin Uthman's highly probable accusation that the teenagers had imported alcohol . 25 From this story, it seems that Abdullah's fear was justified and the risks of exposure to alcohol had already reached the royal family . It wasn't the only instance in which the ruling class was involved with alcoholic beverages . Abdullah Darwish was the consultant to the Qatar Petroleum Company, who served as adviser to the ruler and became the éminence grise of Qatar . Documentation of Darwish's conduct around 1956 can indicate his state of mind regarding the consumption of alcohol . Darwish hosted several foreign nationals . The description by a foreign observer of the conversation when the topic of alcohol came up can shed light on Darwish's views : "of course it is well known that I never touch the stuff", at that there were a few carefully controlled smiles . "however", he went on, "if you must drink, IOR / R / 15 / 2 / 379 ] K . W . Arton, Eastern Bank to political agent, Bahrain, 30 August 1950 . [ 21 IOR / R / 15 / 2 / 379 ] political agency, Doha to political agent, Bahrain, 30 August 1950 . [ 22 Al - Marwani, IslamicReligion inQatar During the Twentieth Century, p . 90 . 23 FO371 / 126872 ] Qatar Diary no . 5 for the Period May 1 to May 31, 1957, 1 June 1957, p . 1 . [ 24 Foreign Office Annual Reports1930 - 1960, vol . 3, [ FO 371 / 98324 ] Persian Gulf Monthly Diary, 10 July 25 p . 616 . See also : Michael Q . Morton, Mastersof the Pearl : A History ofQatar ( London, UK : 1952, Reaktion Books, 2020 ) , p . 122 .
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אדמוני, אריאל
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