Racism in Saudi Arabia
Tulja Bhavani Temple[1]Racism against foreigners "Non-citizens"
Foreign labor workers are commonly discriminated against, especially workers from developing countries. In some cases, foreign workers have been raped, physically abused, [2] overworked, deprived of earned wages, or even imprisoned. Human Rights Watch (HRW) describes these conditions as "near-slavery" and attributes them to "deeply rooted gender, religious, and racial discrimination".[3] Workers are often unwilling to report their employers for fear of losing their jobs or further abuse.[3]Workers from another country are racially exploited .
Discrimination against the historically urbanized Saudi citizens of non-tribalist, non-Bedouin origins or "Hadar" lit "civil"
Saudi citizens of non-Bedouin origins or "Hadar" lit "civil or urban" my face is discrimination. These include people from Medina and Taif in the Hijaz area, as well as people from Jeddah, Mecca, and Yanbu in the Tihamah area where people often have a multi-ethnic makeup. The diversity of this area is due in part to it being the only geography in the peninsula that had open trade and connections with the outside world. The tribal Saudi Bedouins discriminate against the Saudis of non-Bedouin origins "Hadar" by calling them (tarsh bahar) literally meaning (sea-traveler), a term which dates back to the fall of the kingdom of Hejaz into Saudi hands. The "Hadar", known for their distinctive dialect, considered themselves much more sophisticated and civilized, while the Bedouin conquerors saw themselves as being more racially pure and, thus, responded by calling them (tarsh bahar). Hijzies sometimes answer back by simply calling Bedouins "Bedouins" or sometimes "Soroob", a slang term for Bedouin, backward, or savage. The Saudis of non-Bedouin origins are not usually allowed into the military services, though there are many exceptions. There are no laws against racism in Saudi Arabia, and since the government is of a tribalist Bedouin background, one can safely say that discrimination and racism is sometimes institutionalized in Saudi Arabia.
Religious or sectarian forms of discrimination
Religion belief is often a basis of discrimination in Saudi Arabia, most prominently the discrimination against the Shia sect of Islam minority in the Eastern and southern regions of Saudi. The Shia are not allowed to join the military, and forbidden to hold key positions in government. This is in contrast with Hadar who have a long tradition of holding key positions in the government, dating back to the early days of the Saudi conquest of the Kingdom of Hejaz. The Sufi sects of Sunni Islam present in Tihamah and Hijaz are not exempt from harassment from the strict main stream Wahhabi sect. Although there is a discrimination against non-Muslims (usually western foreigners), in general this goes unnoticed as these cases are relatively uncommon compared to those of other minorities.
Tribalism or "tribe vs tribe"
Another form of discrimination is between different tribes, or favouritism of one's own tribe to others. This occurs among Saudi of Bedouin tribalist background, and has roots in the vicious tribal wars and conflicts which predated Saudi Arabia.
Antisemitism
In Saudi Arabia, antisemitism is common within religious circles. Saudi Arabian media often attacks Jews in books, news articles, at their Mosques and with what some describe as antisemitic satire. Saudi Arabian government officials and state religious leaders often promote the idea that Jews are conspiring to take over the entire world; as proof of their claims they publish and frequently cite The Protocols of the Elders of Zion as factual. [4][5]
Social opposition to discrimination/Racism in Saudi Arabia
All these forms of racism and discrimination are in a sense accepted socially speaking, meaning there is no vocal or serious social opposition to them. A person who opposes any form of racism in Saudi is considered nicer and/or politer, many do so from a religious stand point, so they could also be considered more religious. In other words, in Saudi Arabia racism is not endorsed socially and/or legally but it is not a taboo by any means, as it is in the West.
Racism on Social Media
Racism or Tribalism of any kind is prohibited in Saudi Arabia on the media. Violators are punished severely, and in some cases are banned completely from media platforms. Recently the King Salman's nephew was banned from talking in media after referring to an individual as "trash bahar" during a call to a TV sport program.
References racism is wrong
- ↑ Bhavani Mata Temple Zare
- ↑ Chamberlain, Gethin (13 January 2013). "Saudi Arabia's treatment of foreign workers under fire after beheading of Sri Lankan maid". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- 1 2 Human Rights Watch (14 July 2004). "'Bad Dreams:' Exploitation and Abuse of Migrant Workers in Saudi Arabia". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ↑ CMIP report: The Jews in World History according to the Saudi textbooks. The Danger of World Jewry, by Abdullah al-Tall, pp. 140–141 (Arabic). Hadith and Islamic Culture, Grade 10, (2001) pp. 103–104.
- ↑ http://www.freedomhouse.org/religion/pdfdocs/KSAtextbooks06.pdf PDF 2006 Saudi Arabia's Curriculum of Intolerance, Report by Centre for Religious Freedom of Freedom House. 2006