33 some peace and quiet. There was no more shouting or noise, nor the constant smell of food. My father regularly attended the open council held by his nephew, Sheikh Saqr al-Qasimi, the ruler of Sharjah. Often, individuals with grievance would come and sit before my father, who would promptly redirect them to Sheikh Saqr, saying, “There is the ruler, not me… This is the ruler to speak to.” Occasionally, Sheikh Saqr himself would point this out, addressing the complainant and saying, “Come over here; I am the ruler.” As such incidents became more frequent, my father felt increasingly uncomfortable attending the ruler’s open
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