Venting Post: Dealing with Double-Standards by your own people
I was born and raised from Arab immigrant parents in the United States. After 9/11, I went through all the normal forms of racism...I mean random security...at the airports. So when I go back, especially through London, there's nothing new there.
However, not only am I being discriminated against in those two countries but also when I come back to work here in Doha. In order for me to get an official contract to sign, they want me to give them my CRIMINAL RECORD. I asked if everyone had to do this, but they replied that only if you have an Arabic name do you have to be humiliated like this.
I understand the paranoid racism in Britain and America, but also here? In the Middle East? Supposedly where I thought I could come back and get away from all that?
It seems there is no where I can go without being lambasted for being an Arab, or rather Muslim, because even if you're Pakistani or Indian and your name sounds Arabic you have to submit your criminal record as well.
Don't worry caucasians/asians/blacks or whoever else is reading this, you don't need to provide your criminal records unless you adopted an Arabic name.
If any Qatari government officials happen to be reading this, consider these points and don't deport me:
1) Do so-called terrorists have criminal records? Did Bin Laden have one? Did Zarqawi have one? How many terrorists have ever committed a crime?
2) Is this helping or making it worse? How many terrorists have you caught or deterred? How pissed off do you think are the people who are subjected to this humiliating decree who have to submit another document to this woeffully inefficient bureaucratic system, shaving off another few days of time?
3) If someone DOES have a criminal past, how does that disqualify him or her from their current job, especially if they have been doing well? And what type of criminal record would an ARAB have? Because you know all the Arabs are embezzling, murdering, raping and committing general debauchery!
4) How much money did the Americans pay you to import racism into the one place where it shouldn't exist?
Shall I come in for a cavity search as well so you can pull the c-4 from my...well...I suppose this post will have to remain G-rated.
sure it's silly they would ask for a criminal record clearance because of your name, but honestly I would be happy if they requested it for everyone. Hopefully, this trend will spread. it's too bad to hear about your experience though.
ie no criminal record is a new requirement that applies to all nationalities wishing to enter Qatar for the first time.
It has nothing to do with terrorism but everything to do with "new" crimes being committed; robberies, credit card fraud and murders.
Conutry > Is it Fair ? Come on guys !!
It's racial
Johar Ab.....
Give notice to TG, he knows everything.
Een worked in a circus with a Clown as per his statement.
Johar Ab.....
I was refering to the Arabs, Pakistanis, and Indians who immigrated to America but then were persecuted after 9/11. The number taking off hijabs, shaving and flying American flags in their cars, houses, and Mosques, Temples, Churches was astonishing. As if the flag was going to save them from racism or the ostracism and violence associated with it.
I am not even going to touch the South Africa issue. TG a lot of people don't care about issues that affect others unless it affects there pocket book and lively hood.
Act your age not your shoe size
All points raised by AS are Very true.
Criminal record is required from almost all the work force going to come here but ur point is still very much valid as ppl with Arabic name and with specific nationalities do have to either wait for longer time to get things done or they may get rejection on some ridiculous basis.I know one of my friend here in Pakistan a qualified accountant who got a job offer from Behrain ,he signed the contract but they refused his visa.The cause of rejection was just shocking for me.You know what, they rejected it because his last name was Naqvi.Now this is something really rediculous and a piece of ignorance depicted by them.
So I agree with AS and believe that things gotta change atleast here in GCC countries.At last I thought and believed these are independent muslime countries and so should depict likewise.
I was impressed by your post..it was articulate and reflected the kind of experience faced by many...Despite being invited to this countries with several follow ups and counter offers during regular refusals by me...Some frustrated clown with invented parentage from Rhodesia asked me to bogg off...because he could not argue on a better intellectual level...
Couple of supplementary thoughts:
1. Why do you allow visa on arrival to certain nationalities? Don't you queue outside embassies?? Don't you go and spend your money once you go there?? I am happy in our country NO ONE gets visa on arrival...
2. Racism is a thinly disguised sense of inferiority..and its done out of sense of inadequacy...so rejoice..since you have made it big enough to face it...Institutional and state directed one is a different matter..and I guess here middle east takes the cake...(Oh no..I am not ranting for the labourers..Even for citizens in these countries there are 10 types of treatments and its obvious)
3 qd06: "I find it sad but rather amusing that it was ok when it was only directed towards African Americans"- What do you mean??? It was OK with whom??You forgot that the South Africans lived up with the worst kind of international boycott...except for White Anglo-saxon countries...(The same grouping which is crying hoarse on Zimbabwe)
4.Countries and people facing discrimination..do not necessarly learn from it..they do the same to weaker and poorer people..
5.Countries not having clarity and fairness of thought/action are condemned to their destiny controlled by others. "Who is incharge of your world??" is a current hotly debated subject..
I have an Arabic name also. They just did a background check on me which is standard. After 9/11 this type of checking is standard for everywhere. I agree though the travel regulations and searches has gotten a bit ridiculous especially in Muslim countries.
I had a bag full of Islamic books the last time I left Pakistan and was interrogated like I had a bag full of explosives. :-) I think the hole thing is rather comical. I have dealt with this type of racism my whole life being African American and Muslim so it is no big deal to me. It just shows people ignorance.
It is only now that a lot of Arabs, Indians, and Pakistanis are learning about how racist their adopted countries really are. I find it sad but rather amusing that it was ok when it was only directed towards African Americans but since it is against them now they get upset. Why doesn't everyone like me I look like them and talk like them I just have this funny name on my passport?
Wake UP The problem existed way before 9/11 and if you or your parents had chosen to listen to the Muslims who were there way before your parents immigrated we probably would not be in this strange predicament now. In essence look at yourself not the Americans, British or the Arabs who have adopted the fight against Terror ( Fairytale).
If someone is sick you don't blame them just give them some medicine and take some also to keep from getting the same sickness.
I am very sick also so I am going to take my daily dose.
Act your age not your shoe size
I will disagree with whoever told you that the Arabic name is the culprit. This criminal record law applies to everyone (at least those ppl that I know) including french, british, arab, and mauritian.
Don't take it personal. Consider it a small tax for working in a well paying tax-free country with lots of benefits. If you don't have a criminal record, I doubt this request warrants all the anger.
when i first realized not everyone had to go through an eye scanner in dubai, i felt "special"..but u know what they say, what doesnt kill you...makes u wanna kill someone else..:)..ok, joke, let me rephrase that...what doesnt kill you makes u wanna...get an evil eye. hope u get to stay where u wanna be.