The Racism Plague

It is no surprise to most of us that racism is a global affliction. Racism is not confined within the borders of a certain country or a culture, rather it is widely expressed and practiced against almost all kinds of racial and social groups. In my country, I have personally witnessed instances where people from different nations were abused, exploited and treated with a shameful and false sense of superiority. Although claiming righteousness, many Saudis discriminate against Asian and African laborers, exposing, thus, deeply rooted prejudices, fears and insecurities. Saudis should reflect on the reasons behind such feelings and ask the people who build their homes and clean their houses and streets:

Walk down any Saudi street and ask anybody who looks as though they come from points East, how do the Saudis regard and treat you? Ask the Pakistani taxi driver. Ask the Bangladeshi street-cleaner, in his orange jump-suit, sweeping up the tissues and fast-food boxes that we thoughtfully throw out of our car window as we pass. Best of all, if you get the chance, ask our Indonesian housemaids.

Here is one truly sad story [Via John Burgess] about a hard working Indian in Saudi Arabia who has been continuously subjected to ugly forms of racism just because he belongs to a certain race that most Saudis deem inferior.

Why Is There So Much Hate Inside Us? (Article by Abdullah Al-Mutairi • Al-Watan)

In the shop next to my house, there is a home delivery service which is run by an Indian. He is a good man, hardworking and devoted to his job. I talk to him whenever he delivers something to my house and he talks to me about the time he spent working in Abu Dhabi and of his dream to live in London.

Last week I asked him to deliver a newspaper to my house. When he delivered it to me, he asked me whether I wrote in it. I told him that I did and he asked me to write about why young Saudis hate foreign workers, particularly Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. He asked, “Why do they throw rocks at us when they see us in the street?” He said that in India they were taught to love others because that is the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). I was moved by his words and promised him that I would write on the subject.

So, what to do to stop this disease? Surely, drafting a covenant to combat racism or publishing statements about how Islam prohibits discrimination won’t simply do. Unless practical measures, awareness campaigns, enforceable laws and educational tools are devised, we will be swimming in a sea of ugliness for a long time.  

Comments

[Organic Muslimah]

I am loving this blog. The issues discussed are very much similar to my concerns. I will link to you :)

[Ahmed Qasmelbari]

Thanks to Arab News Newspaper daily for its highlight and brief introduction about this fantastic blog, which without these highlights we would never get know about it. Frankly speaking, issues reflected here are rich and worth reading. Saudi media outlets generally refrain from discussing these issues openly and neutrally. However, the blog convinced us that the expats' faint whispers might now be heard of and listened to.

[Jade Al-Harbi]

Hey there,
Well, I feel so sorry 4 the Indian guy who was discriminated by teens, I would not love 2 hear this happenin in my country as a Saudi boy. I have been overseas 4 a while and I know how it's like, it's feelin of social isolation..etc. Racism can be found anywhere on our planet not just here. I rarely hear stories similar to our topic (kinda weird..) It's time to think rationaly and start lovin urself instead of hatin yourselves and guys wait a second: whatz his fault to be thrown or to be from different ethnic group asians blacks whatever it's not an excuse, gotta live life and enjoy it mate.

Cya all

[Touria]

I heard that there are Saudi Arabia Blacks who are very poor and treated like dirt, just for the color of their skin. These are Saudi nationals, not foreigners. Could someone please verify this information to me?