The Holocaust

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There comes a time in history when people must forget, forgive, and move on. Everyone suffered. Rights were returned. The page must be turned.

*Image provided by http://www.myriamabdelaziz.com/#!portraitofagenocide/c24vr 

Veil or Unveil

     The visit of Michelle Obama to Saudi Arabia to condole Al Saud for their loss caused vehemence on social networking sites. The first lady was portrayed as an arrogant, defiant, disgruntled and critical little princess who laughed at Saudi culture in the face of the royal family. The virgin eyes of many Saudis could not stand the image of an unveiled lady standing between men in a funeral (the horror). How dare she? How dare she use her position as the president’s wife to defy the essence of Saudi social conduct? Slamming the Saudi attire as inappropriate and feeling relaxed in her wardrobe...the shame.

It baffles me to see how double standards are so easily accepted in many Arab states, Saudi Arabia being crowned at the top of the list. The argument used by some Saudis (not all are closed minded of course – many are enlightened, educated and civilized) is that when in Rome do what the Romans do. Respecting the Saudi culture, good or bad, is only polite. Just like Mrs. Obama wore decent outfits and a veil in her state visit to Indonesia, to show respect to the Islamic culture, the same act of modesty should have been displayed in the Riyadh visit.

Their argument falls short of two important components:

1-    Mrs. Obama and the entire female population are not forced to cover up in Indonesia. The first lady had the choice to either wear a veil – in an act of respect to the culture- or not. Women in almost all Muslim nations across the globe are not confined to certain attire, and their relationship with the veil is governed by their own decision, not the state’s code of clothing. Saudi women are not given the freedom of choice, and are obliged to cover up from head to toe in dark baggy abayias to please hard-liners. No Sir, Michelle Obama will not be coerced into that and will not hide in the background to avoid confrontation.

2-     The argument goes that in a foreign state you must respect the general cultural. By that token, Saudi woman visiting western states must also respect the general culture and unveil in order to respect cultural sensitivities. A veil, which was reduced to a cultural identity rather than an act of modesty and a demonstration of respect to Islamic tenants, must be treated as such outside the borders of the Kingdom. 

Some may agree to humour these fundamental, sexist and absolutely ridiculous norms-of-conduct. Not Michelle Obama, not any woman with a shred of dignity.

What Muslims Need to Do

Paris. The world had it with Islamic militarism… the Charlie Hebdo incident and the shootings at the Jewish store east Paris were the last straw. World leaders joined hands in the anti-terror rally in Paris to express solidarity with victims’ families, renounce violence and reject any form of suppression to the freedom of expression. EU leaders are also holding meetings to study mechanisms to curb violent Islamic radicalism. Jewish communities in France and elsewhere in Europe are being provided extra-protection against possible acts of vengeance and retaliation. The Israeli government, mourning events, took full advantage of the situation and ran to the podium to draw parallels between jihadism and terrorism, ISIS and Hamas and Islamic extremism and the holocaust.

From the many articles and analysis I read on the matter, one particular op-ed stood out. The author, the respectable journalist and expert, Dr. AbdelBari Atwan, sympathized with the victims and renounced all acts of violence. Nonetheless, he demanded equal treatment to other victims in the same country where the drama was taking place. He pointed out to the many acts of violence and discrimination against Muslim citizens in European countries and the hate crimes committed against the Muslim community in the EU. Fifty mosques in European countries have been burnt down/attacked in the past few years, and governments have drawn a blind eye to such incidents. In conclusion, the author demanded equal protection for Muslim citizens against extreme-right wing movements as well as fair media coverage on what the Muslim community in Europe is suffering from.

I fully agree with the author’s standpoint. However, there is one important issue that he left out. The nature of the attacks against Muslim communities in European states is very different form the Paris attack. The former were orchestrated by independent agents with independent agendas and of diverse ideological affiliations, rather than acting on a religious doctrine. The world, as it appears, is ready to forget about crazy people whose acts are based on radical whims, but not forget those committed by any group operating under Islamic slogans. The fame of Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran’s entire regime and apparatus, Isis, Al Qaeda, Taliban and Al Shabab have dwarfed the threats posed by any other organized terror group and rendered them benign. They helped in creating the Islamic bogeyman. 

No one is really scared of Buddhists slaughtering Muslims in Myanmar, nor ETA militants targeting innocent citizens in Spain, nor racist policemen attacking minorities in the USA, nor a Norwegian gunman going on a killing spree, nor sikhists seeking vengeance from political leaders. The general public is in reality only scared of militant Muslims. Justified is their fear? Well, yes. It is sadly normal to be suspicious of a bearded man on a metro line or on a plane. The media has fed the audience pure terror, and as an average spectator, I would also be terrified. It is what it is, and it is OK to admit it. 

Reza Aslan, the renowned scholar and author of a series of books on religion, demanded that a distinction be made between Muslims and these scandalous Islamic organizations and what they represent. He hoped that people can distinguish between the interpretation of certain regimes of Islamic law and what the religioun is really about and that Islam not be associated with the practices, teachings and acts of terrorist groups and autocratic political regimes. Islam, Muslims, Islamic states and even Islamic militant organizations must not be painted with the same brush. His requests are very legitimate and noble. Yet, does the general public have the time and interest in researching the true tenants of Islam or the struggles of Muslims against their corrupt governments? Is an average 50 year old residing in a rural town in Spain willing to draw a comparative analysis of Islam in thought and practice? No. Who should be responsible to clarify issues then? Muslims.

Unfortunately, Muslims are now required to do what no other religion or ideology is requested to do. Muslims are asked to constantly clear the name of Islam and remind the world of the true teachings, tenants and message behind the religion, renouncing and fighting all claims that have been associated to it due to terrorist organizations. Muslims, as a community, are required to remind the world that they are doctors and nurses, thinkers and linguists, scientists and poets, pilots and inventors. The world needs to appreciate Muslims and their role in this world beyond the “oil and credit card” contribution. Muslim doctors are curing Christian patients, Muslim teachers are educating Jewish students, Muslim aid workers are saving the lives of Hindus, and Muslim scientists are contributing to science and technology. Muslims, in general, are doing well and are in harmony with the world.

There is a war launched against Islam from within, and the only way to fight it is from within. Islamic NGOs, youth associations, think tanks, professional organizations and every civic body must double their efforts to display to the world, through acts and tangible proof, the true face of Islam. The beautiful face of Islam.