Arab minorities: a threat or opportunity?
It's true; Arabs make up a cultural and sociological asset in Europe. However, the question becomes more complex when it comes to the way others look at Arabs, and to the way Arabs look at others, or at themselves…
Like any other ethnic or cultural minority, Arabs contribute in the economic and social life of the host country. A considerable number works in the services sector and plays a key role in the “economy of immigration” (trade, import-export of goods from their countries of origin, food industry). One should visit the shopping streets of Barbès in Paris, Brabant in Brussels, or other main streets in any major city of Western Europe, to get the picture of the intensity and diversity of economic and social activities that take place there.
Around holiday seasons, when these minorities start to get ready to visit their countries of origin, one can stand aghast at the sight of hysterical shopping that breaks out all in their countries of residency, apart from the immense turmoil and traffic in all transportation means (land, sea, and air). What happens is a mere transfer of goods and ideas from Europe to the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries.
Despite the fact that these minorities are often marginalized within the European society, and sometimes confined to cultural ghettos, this economic and social activity is producing a more refined form of wealth: great-heads and executives. And we can find them today in universities, hospitals, and in business. The youth, from the second and third generations, started to openly claim their rights to participate in the political life and media. In the European Parliament for instance, it is no more unheard of to find an assistant or deputy that have Algerian or Lebanese origins. In Brussels, a dozen out of the 75 members of regional parliament and more than 35 members of the city’s 19 municipal councils are from Arabic origins. This phenomenon is gaining more importance day after day and could spread to all other countries of the European Union.
Islam and European citizenship
Yet, for Arab minorities, life is not always as velvety. Since the dreadful events of September 11, relations among different communities became factitious and tensed. Many Europeans have been hit hard by the violent and terrorist attacks and do not hesitate to consider the Arab-Muslims as a fifth column endeavoring to spread “Islamist Internationalism”.
The fear of those minorities is mostly reflecting in the work field. Many surveys in France and Belgium have shown that employers prefer not to bring on board executives from Arab or Muslim origins. In a survey organized by an anti-discrimination organization, an employee of one of the Interim agencies in Brussels admitted that some employers explicitly ask recruiting agencies not to send them names of engineers with Arab connotation, or résumés of women with a veil (hijab). Examples of racial discrimination are more perceptible when it comes to seek a job or an accommodation.
The case of Theo Van Gogh
Between November 2004 and February 2005, a film reporting the assassination of Theo Van Gogh, reflects the gap that separates today Arabs from other communities in Netherlands. This situation could unfortunately be generalized to other countries in different levels. In his film “Submission”, Theo Van Gogh directs a scenario written by a Dutch deputy from Somali origin, Iyan Hirshi Ali, illustrating, from her own point of view, the violence practiced on women in Islam. In this film, some Suras from the Koran were written on the body of a nearly naked woman, while another woman in prayer was wearing erotic veils. What came after is well-known… The nephew of the artist Van Gogh was assassinated by a young Dutch originally from Morocco, condemned today to life sentence.
In Amsterdam, discussions about this matter can be summarized as following: well known for his alignment to the Left and his ideas favoring immigration, the sociologist Paul Schiffer considers that “the red line has been already transgressed and the immigrants who do not like to respect the rules in the Dutch society, have to simply go back to their countries and obey to their own rules”. Some old retired Moroccans learning to recite the Koran were wondering what the Dutch really wanted from them. They also went to say: “do they want us to ask our girls to unveil parts of their bodies and not to have any sense of shame? No we will not do that.”
The head of the Centre for Mediterranean cooperation realized with a bit of disappointment that “Arabs in Europe are the first victims of terrorism after those who have been actually bereaved”. “Our opinions are declared illegal because we support the Palestinian cause and because we are against the war in Iraq in which Dutch soldiers participated”, he concludes. These examples feature well the complexity of the equation between both the European authorities and the elite of Arab minorities who reside in the countries of the European Union.
Noureddine Fridhi
Head of the MBC-Al Arabia-Al-Hayat Bureau, Brussels
(Excerpts from Cahiers Euromed, 2005)
Is it really true that minorities live in non-stop fear and neglect? In 2003, during a visit in England, I felt amazed with the frequent numbers of Indians and Pakistani workers in the United Kingdom. I do not find anybody who criticizes them, although, what happened between India and Pakistan, and still happens these days is really so harsh. Besides, the presence of the Jews as minorities in Europe or in the states has the same discrepancy. So I do wonder why we are always judging the nations by the worst men in it. Arabs, yes and Muslims, specifically do their jobs in excellent manners and Islam obliges Muslims to do their jobs in a perfectionist way, since by this one will be rewarded twice.
Human rights is in the right path thanks to the European Neighbourhood and Partnership policy (ENPI). Many initiatives related to the issue have been done so far, as well as projects in order to help the legal systems function in accordance with the principles of international conventions on criminal and prison law. Also, The ENPI is working hard to push the partners’ countries to good governance in the field of Justice.
All societies have to trust and respect the Arab identity, and eliminate all forms of protest participation of Arab minorities in both political and social life. It is urgent to take action on behalf of states to prohibit the dissemination of racist ideas leading to hostility and violence and to legitimate the discrimination they experienced, although that we all recognize the presence of a huge number of Arab eminent personalities all over the world.
After all these years do you still think Arabs are minorities??? After they reached the four corners of the globe and resided almost each and every big and small country??? Did you forget that Arabs come from 21 countries most of them are underdeveloped economically and are one of the major sources of legal/illegal immigrants??? Don't you know that marriage and children forms the stone corner of most Arabs lives and did you forget that Arabs are famous for having lots of children while European couples rarely get married? Not to mention children… Did you forget that most Arabs can divorce and re-marry again while having children from different wives and ex-wives??? Egypt population for example raised from 18 millions in early 50’s to more than 78 millions today? When will you start facing the facts that Arabs aren’t minorities? One day you will wake up finding them ruling some of the European countries... Don’t be shocked as it’s the target of many… And this is not a non achievable target by the way, as you can see after decades of European Origins ruling the USA, now it’s ruled by a president of African roots, so why not an Arab next time? Arabs are a fast growing opportunity and if not well employed and developed, they will turn into a wild random threat.
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I would like to be brief and thank Europa Jaratona program for its achievments in Jordan.
On: E-TVET reform (Jordan)
It is good to hear that there is someone who really cares about our historical monuments. While reading the article, I was hoping to find so many Tunisian names to make sure that, also, in our country there are people who are hell-bent on preserving what is left of a glorious history. Tunisia, thanks to its location, welcomed many civilizations whose leaders built huge and glorious buildings. Not only in cities near the shores, but also in the far west cities like Sbitla, Kasserin...
I believe that in order to save the surviving monuments, there should be a campaign to make Tunisians aware of the significance of such a loss if those buildings become ruins.
On: Initiatives to preserve Tunisian architecture
I have read this article with cautious and i was not happy of the approaches being written due i guess to lack of real understanding of current environmental issues we are facing. The problem of pollution will not be tackled only through fundings bec most of the money used is not appropriately used and if ever used we seek the traditional methods the old fashion way. We need to look at alternatives , less costs , better and more sustainable output. Waste problems are derived from mass consumerism and lack of understanding of what our lives should mean to us as far as human values and choices we should take in life. Building waste water treatment is needed but what is more needed is eduation and awereness and return to ethics and values. We can keep dumping money on projects but who would assure me that our resources are being well taken care of and not depleted in a fast way? Where is the concept of sustainibility?
On: Mediterranean pollution “hot spots” under control by 2020?
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In my current year of study in Barcelona, on the other side of the Mediterranean facing Lebanon, I was often amused by the striking resemblance between the different Mediterranean communities in welcoming one another and making co-Mediterraneans feel at home. In my "observing" opinion, and at least speaking of Barcelona, the Capital of the Mediterranean, one is only excluded from society if he/she chooses to be. Societies are not complex, a little tolerance opens the doors for mutual respect. I actually feel happy when people here tell me they have never heard of Lebanon, or confuse it with Libya ( the phone company still enlists me as a Libyan instead of Lebanese)...I feel happy because I know that ignorance of the other is what really separates us, not the Mediterannean sea, and although it now seems larger and deeper, we are on the right track and just like it seemed impossible for ex-soviet countries to join the EU 20 years ago, things have indeed worked out smoothly and a multicultural European community is emerging.