I see what you’re getting at but you’re not correct.

This cartoon is based on a relatively well known urban myth that you’ll no doubt come across as you spend more time in the Gulf. It is ‘used’ by Gulfies as a way of displacing blame of the poor treatment of such servants – ‘yes they are treated poorly but my friend’s uncle’s best friend’s dog walker’s neighbour’s kid was harmed/abused/whatever by their nanny x years ago.’

I didn’t just make the myth up. After speaking to Kuwaitis about it a lot in July it came up frequently as, as I said, some kind of quasi-justification. I couldn’t agree more that this rumor/myth is essentially ‘ludicrous’ but c’est la vie.

Again, I see your point about what the cartoonist was aiming at, but don’t agree. I’d like to hope that that was his goal, though. Indeed, if it was his aim, it was an utterly useless and counterproductive cartoon as for the vast, vast majority of people reading that, I’d bet that they’d have my reaction, that he’s making a vicious attack on a totally disenfranchised group of society.

I lived in India for years (this servant is clearly meant to be South Asian), and I never knew any stereotype of the sociopathic servant. So I’m not sure how this could be a “racist” stereotype. Are Indian women particularly angry, or violent towards children? Not in my book.

Think about it, which is more common: Gulf nationals and ex-pats mistreating their help, or the help going “postal” and attacking their charges? The latter is ludicrous, while the former is commonplace. Ergo, to me the cartoonist is saying, “Hey Qataris and others who mistreat their domestic help, be careful, you might be in for some just desserts.” To the cartoonist I say bravo — bout time somebody said it.

Lastly, the cartoon is not about “maids killing babies,” as you put it. She threatens to make the baby sick and dizzy — criminal, no doubt, but a much lesser crime than murder.