Swiss ban on minarets

I agree with the Muslim Council of Britain that Switzerland’s decision to ban minarets is a tragic and deplorable development.

Of course a referendum was held on the banning of minarets in Switzerland. One could also see some democratic virtue in the Swiss system of putting such sensitive decisions to the people in a referendum. But the results reveal the extent to which far right racist groups are winning the battle of ideas on the future of Europe. They have no compunction in stigmatizing Muslim communities and scaremongering with their “Eurabia” thesis.

The steady growth of racist groups and political parties across Europe is a cause for alarm. The far right demonstrations in front of mosques in Britain, and Lord Pearson’s election as leader of the UK Independence Party (Pearson says he is committed to campaign against “Islamism” and immigration) show the shape of things to come.

Europe has been moving in the wrong direction in its attitudes and policies toward Muslims and other minority groups. The Swiss referendum results show how far and how quickly this is happening. As Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, put it, the far right is doing everything to undermine the heritage of coexistence between different faiths and cultures in Europe. The Swiss referendum results will only embolden them.

Syed Mahmood Hussain, UK, published 1 December 2009

Haj a complete success

No country in the world except Saudi Arabia could organize such a big event (nearly 2.5 million pilgrims from 180 countries around the world) so smoothly and successfully. All government agencies involved in Haj services deserve special praise for their dedicated efforts. I also wish to commend the laudable leadership of the government of Saudi Arabia. Saudis are doing an excellent job, addressing new challenges that come up every year. Saudi authorities have invested millions of riyals to make things as comfortable and safe as possible for the pilgrims. Drinking water, toilet facilities as well as medical and security services are free of charge. Medicos and paramedic staff were available at every corner of the tent city — treating the injured and attending to the sick. Cleaning squads moved quickly to remove any garbage left in the area by the pilgrims. Police forces, Civil Defense, Boy Scouts and Red Crescent personnel were to be seen everywhere.

This year pilgrims threw stones on five levels. The project has been very successful. The traffic was flowing freely and the chances of accidents or stampede looked slim and there were no reported deaths or injuries caused by overcrowding this year.

Our highest appreciation goes to Interior Minister Prince Naif and his security forces for making this year’s Haj a huge success. This shows creative management on the part of Prince Naif. I hope the Interior Ministry will continue and improve on this achievement. Thank you Prince Naif for a job well done.

Mir Gazanfar Ali Zaki, Jeddah published 1 December 2009

Haj a complete success 2

It is great that this year’s Haj has been completed peacefully. It is never easy to manage such a huge gathering. Full credit goes to the Saudi government, which has been organizing this pilgrimage each year with great enthusiasm. May Allah reward Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and his ministers and officials.

Syed Ashfaq Andrabi, By e-mail, published 1 December 2009

Babri demolition

While the Indian government seems keen to speed up hearings on Babri demolition-related cases and while there are voices from all corners against what the fanatics did to the 16th-century historic mosque, there are some politicians who still speak in favor of the demolition. For example, Uma Bharti is more concerned about who leaked the report (Justice Liberhan or Home Minister Chidambaram?) than what happened to the mosque on Dec. 6, 1992. More bizarrely, she is calling upon the BJP leader L. K. Advani to restart the process of building a Ram temple on the ground where the mosque stood. According to Uma (The Indian Express of Nov. 25), she had given a call to thousands of kar sevaks to come forward to build the Ram temple. It is as though she is not satisfied with all the killing that took place in connection with the temple campaign.

Rashid Mahmoud, Jeddah, published 1 December 2009

Climate change

This refers to the report, “Producers, consumers gear up for fierce debate in Copenhagen” (Nov. 29).

You should be covering the breaking story of leaked files and e-mails from the University of East Anglia where UK’s Climate Research Unit is located. This story casts great doubts on the legitimacy of much of the science and the ethics of the researchers. Christopher Booker says in an article published in The Daily Telegraph that climate change is the worst scientific scandal of our generation. Our hopelessly compromised scientific establishment cannot be allowed to get away with the Climategate whitewash, he says.

Peter J. Jones, By e-mail, published 1 December 2009

Vision and nightmare

This is regarding Uri Avnery’s article, “The vision and nightmare” (Nov. 30).

President Barack Obama and his administration stand helpless in front of Israel’s continued intransigence. Palestinian-Israeli conflict is the source of all extremism and related terrorism, which is expanding to more and more countries and threatening the peace of the whole world. The Palestinians and their sympathizers are feeling frustrated. If there is another intifada, the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan will become even more explosive. The US must be and seen as an honest broker in this conflict. So far it has failed miserably.

Seif A. Somalya, Jeddah, published 1 December 2009

Boxing events

It is sad that Al Jazeera did not telecast the fight of Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto when most of the boxing world was watching it. Al Jazeera usually shows boxing events live, notably the Mayweather-Marquez match. Is there discrimination here?

Carlos Cayanan, Jeddah, published 1 December 2009

Saudis and work

“Saudis work for foreigners,” reads the title of a report you published on Nov. 30.

So what? Does your reporter Ali Al Zahrani not know that Saudis are working as petrol station attendants or waiters in the US?

If Saudis don’t want to work for the Bangladeshis as they say, why don’t they rent the stall themselves, stand there for the whole day, be involved in transacting and getting the products etc, then hire Bangladeshis as labor? If they do that then they can turn the situation around.

Saudization is about having decent jobs for Saudis. Is working as a labor in a vegetable market under the “supervision” of a Bangladeshi a shameful act? Get a grip at yourself! I believe the report was malicious and provocative.

The report mentions the case of Yahya Awaji as if it he were in a humiliating and demeaning situation. What is humiliating and demeaning is to stay jobless and unproductive because of some false pride. You should have lauded the decision of this young Saudi man who accepted a job, in spite of its perceived social taboo. To persist in the notion that Saudis are born to be managers, supervisors, CEOs, directors etc. is the greatest disservice we can do them.

I have met many Saudis who have learned to work under foreign managers and supervisors. Instead of being bitter and resentful, they are trying to learn and using that knowledge to their own advancement.

Your report concludes with this para: He (Ali Awaji, a 27-year-old Saudi) said if Saudization rules were enforced in earnest at the market, thousands of jobless Saudis would be employed.” I am afraid these kinds of reports will prevent such a happy outcome even “if Saudization rules were enforced in earnest.”

Yusuf Germino, Jeddah, published 1 December 2009