A Bad Time To Be Arab
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.
under the US we were all under scrutiny.
I will hoist that up the flag pole and see who salutes it!!
Not an official, but I wouldn't mind answering
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?
Yes, AFAIK, most have records. I'm sure Zarqawi has one in Egypt.
Why do you assume this is about terrorists?
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?
Why do you assume this is about terrorists?
If you're not afraid of anything, just get the required document. If you were asked to present this document in the US or UK, you would just comply to the rules.
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?
Yes, we don't want criminals here.
And what type of criminal record would an ARAB have?
I don't know, every criminal is different, be he Arab or otherwise.
Because you know all the Arabs are embezzling, murdering, raping and committing general debauchery!
Nobody said that, you're the only one saying it.
4) How much money did the Americans pay you to import racism into the one place where it shouldn't exist?
You got it wrong, we're paying them. :)
Do you really think that this is a conspiracy???
oh boo hoo, grow up dude, its not only people who have arab names who need a criminal record report.
baldrick, judging by the number of resurrected threads lately, it seems we have officially exhausted every topic ever known to man. We all might as well quit QL and go out and get a life.
:-D
I guess this rule was started in 2006. The Qatar immigration asks non-Arab as well. I am not Arab. But I had to provide the police clearance from home country when I changed a sponsorship even I was in Doha for 10 years. STRANGE. Shouldn't I get Qatar police clearance rather than home country as I was in Qatar for 10 years?
Don't get upset for this. Just provide it.
Magic, do you mean that you have never even gone on holiday, never actually left Qatar for 16 years?
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your race to which you did belong is not the very reason why you were demanded to provide such documents... rather, it is the rule of the law of Qatar for each of the non-national working expats to provide such requisites before their commission to work here... so if you do not want not to undergo with their rules... never step into this country... that's the simple rule you must to know...
>
The Immigration rules are plain stupid: I have been in Qatar since 16 years and have not left this place for a single minute. When I wanted to change my sponsor I needed a criminal record from Germany. (Which, of course has 'no entry'). So, you don't have to be an Arab to be 'discriminated'.
Smartypants.
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Well I've learned smething new today at least..
"Because you know all the Arabs are embezzling, murdering, raping and committing general debauchery!"
Ba$t@rds! - I'm so angry now
Diamond ... wanna bet? Look here ---> http://www.qatarliving.com/discussion/cat-breeds-in-qatar-30aug2006#comment-906426
Hmmm, nothing's ever random ;) -------------------------------------
As everyone else is digging up really old posts, I thought this one would be mine. Just random. Don't read anything into it :o)