18 - 24 October 2001
Issue No.556
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 18 - 24 October 2001 Issue No.556 |
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Reaching out
A new campaign by the Arab League aims to bring Arab ex-patriates and Arab communities abroad closer to home, Dina Ezzat reports
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa is expected to arrive in Washington on Saturday for a week-long visit to the US. Moussa will visit several US cities with the aim of offering support to Arab Americans who have been subjected to sporadic but increasing incidents of hate or discrimination since 11 September. Moussa is planning meetings with US administration officials, relevant civil society groups and, naturally, representatives of the Arab American community.
Muslim mourners pray at the casket of slain Arab-American shopkeeper Abdo Ali Ahmed in Fresno, California. Relatives believe Ahmed, who was shot Saturday at his convenience store in nearby Reedley, was the victim of a hate crime. (photo: AP)
"From the very beginning, we have been in touch with American officials to make sure that Arab and Muslim communities in the US would not be subject to acts or campaigns of harassment or hate," said Moussa, who had been in touch with US Secretary of State Colin Powell on the issue. "But today we need to reach out to these communities, offer them support and make sure that their concerns are attended to," he added.
Early next month, Moussa is scheduled to travel to Europe for the same purpose. During the past five weeks the Arab League has been notified of many complaints by Arab communities in Western nations. Arab diplomatic sources say that despite the reassurances offered by senior state officials in the West, including US President George W Bush, Arab immigrants and expatriates, not to mention Arab citizens travelling overseas, have been subjected to what at times amount to serious harassment.
Earlier this week Saudi diplomats in Washington complained to the US administration about the "worsening treatment Saudis are being subjected to in US airports, public places and at the hands of law enforcement agents." According to one informed Arab diplomat, Saudi Arabia, a close Arab ally of the US, has had to ask hundreds of its citizens to leave the US.
In his daily Close Up column in Al- Ahram, Salama Ahmed Salama on Tuesday took note of a "racist campaign" against Arabs who live in the West. Salama maintains that some Arabs living in European countries have been coerced to spy for security agencies. "What adds insult to injury is the ill-treatment and insults that [Arabs] have to encounter in airports ... where every Arab is guilty until proven innocent," Salama wrote.
Increasing concern about anti-Arab sentiment prompted the Arab League to set up the Arab Immigrants Unit (AIU), which will be affiliated to the recently-established Arab Immigrants Department (AID). "The Arab League is taking an increasing and dedicated interest in Arab immigrants," said Mona Kamel, desk officer of the AID/AIU. Kamel said that Moussa had launched the AID, which will eventually come under the Commissioner for Arab Immigrants, "as an essential part of the restructuring of the Arab League." The idea behind the AID is to "build bridges with Arab immigrants," Kamel added, "but since 11 September, the prime concern has been their safety and interests."
The AIU is pursuing complaints either with the concerned governments or, if need be, with concerned international organisations. According to Kamel, the AIU will carefully pursue complaints, keeping in mind local sensitivities so that the complaint will not backfire on the person or his family. Kamel noted that the AIU will be working to lay the groundwork for a "dialogue of civilisations" and not to "play into the hands of those circles who want to launch a clash of civilisations."
The establishment of AIU comes only a few days after the initiation of an Arab League-affiliated board of Arab intellectuals whose mandate is to encourage informed dialogue and defend the image of Arabs and Muslims.
Arab American activists have responded positively to the launching of the AIU. Representatives of Arab American groups told Al-Ahram Weekly that they hoped the AIU, along with the AID and the future Arab League commissioner for immigrants, will help improve the image of Arabs and Muslims abroad. They also expressed the desire to establish better contacts between the groups abroad and the Arab world.
"The establishment of AIU is a positive development indeed," said Dyab Abu Jahjah, President of the Arab European League (AEL), a Belgium-based non-governmental organisation active in Arab communities across Europe. According to Abu Jahjah, the establishment of the AIU is an indication of "a renewed interest" in the lives of Arabs abroad. "It is badly needed, especially at this period of time". Stressing the need for "structural" cooperation between the Arab League and the Arab communities in the West, Jahjah said that increased collaboration could "support Arab causes and bring the communities living abroad closer to the Arab world."
Since its inauguration earlier this week, the AIU has been receiving complaints from individuals of Arab and Muslim origins by fax and e-mail citing cases of ill- treatment. These complaints are not only coming from the West, but also include Asian countries. This came as no surprise, given the recent measures taken by some Chinese airliners to prohibit citizens of 18 Arab states from flying on its airplanes. Citizens of these countries are also facing harsh restrictions regarding entry and residence in China.
Arab League sources say that they have taken up the issue with Chinese officials in Cairo and Beijing. According to the same sources, the Chinese authorities insist that these new measures are not targeting Arabs as such since citizens of other nationalities are required to follow the same rules. Moreover, Chinese officials argued that these measures are only temporary.
Secretary-General Moussa acknowledges that the current moods of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiment might well be temporary. However, he also acknowledges the need for a permanent system that allows the League to follow up on the affairs of Arabs abroad, noting that meetings with Arab American communities will always be on his agenda.
Complaints or messages can be sent by regular mail to the Arab Immigrants Unit (AIU), Arab League, Cairo, Egypt; Fax: (20) 2-576-1017, (20) 2-574-0031; E-mail: aiu@leagueofarabstates.org
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