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NABA ACHIEVEMENTS

In the West, power often works through lobbying, and for this organisation is vital. The organisation of British Arabs is the condition for their mobilisation, and mobilisation involves lobbying to empower the community. Since the establishment of ACF and NABA a few significant steps have been achieved:

·          As already mentioned, a meeting with the CRE to discuss official action against Anti-Arabism has been held.

·          The Minority Rights Group, which earlier this year produced a report on British Muslims, was approached by ACF/NABA, and expressed interest in considering the production of report about British Arabs.

·          emphasising to the BCC how distressing this attempt to drum up trade with the most anti-Arab racist regime in the world was to British Arabs, especially those of Palestinian origin, they apologised and issued this statement:

I confirm that Bradford Chamber of Commerce & Industry has no plans or intentions, either now or in the future, to organise a trade mission to Israel, nor to directly promote any business with Israel or Israeli companies.

I reiterate that we regret any offence caused and hope that this brings the matter to a satisfactory conclusion. Thanks for your co-operation.

Best wishes

Mike Cartwright
Communications Department
Bradford Chamber of Commerce & Industry

The contribution of NABA was crucial in this case, and was recognised by Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, who played a major role in the lobbying process.

·   Watford FC considered hiring their stadium to the Israeli national soccer team to play their ‘home’ matches, since UEFA banned them from playing in Tel Aviv for security reasons. Again, after lobbying by NABA and other groups, Watford FC, despite being in dire financial circumstances, issued this statement:

‘After being approached to host Israel’s home European Championship matches at Vicarage Road, Watford have officially written to the Israeli FA to turn down the request.’

·   Meetings with the police on issues of anti-Arab hate crimes and with the Football Association to promote ‘Arabs in football’ and ‘kicking out anti-Arab racism’ from soccer are under consideration.

None of these achievements would have been possible apart from the existence of ACF/NABA. Organisation and lobbying are empowering the British Arab community, winning protection from harassment, and aiding Arabs in the Middle East.

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QUESTIONS SUBMITTED TO HOME OFFICE <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

1.                  The size of the Arab Community in the UK is estimated at about 500,000;  why is it that they are not included as a separate group in ethnic profiling questionnaires issued by both government and private bodies.  Neither do the Office of Population Census include them as a separate group in the national census.  British Arabs are finding it increasingly offensive to always be classed as ‘other’ or, as our new generation now have to reply ‘mixed other’.

Surely it is now timely to recognise this large group.  In its present state it gives an impression of inequality if not, indeed, discrimination.  Adequate information from ethnic profiling would also enable us provide accurate information to governmental and non-governmental organisations on the conditions and needs of British Arabs in terms of health, education etc.

2.                  There have been recent reports in the media that David Blunket has recently signed an agreement that would allow British subjects to be extradited to other countries, and in particular America which is not signatory to the same type of Human Rights or legal systems that we enjoy in Europe, without the need for satisfactory evidence against them.  This has led to an enormous deal of disquiet among British Arabs (in addition to Arabs living in the UK who are not currently UK citizens).  Given the parlous state of affairs in the Arab world currently, they believe they will be unfairly targeted.  Can you please give us clarification on this.

3.                  There is very real concern among Iraqi Arabs who were given indefinite leave to remain in the UK, and those whose applications for either asylum or indefinite leave to remain were frozen at the outset of the War, will now be forcibly repatriated.  Given the ongoing chaos within Iraq we believe that this move is inhumane.  It will be several years before the conditions in that unfortunate country stabilise and to repatriate Iraqi citizens under these circumstances goes against the concept of the Human Rights treaty to which the UK is now a signatory.

4.                  The Commission for Racial Equality has a Board of Commissioners which consists of between 10-12 people.  Why is the Arab Community not represented.  Repeated requests to the CRE (other than a positive meeting with Mr Kurshid Ahmed then acting chair) have been rebuffed and we are offered only the services of an officer who deals with ‘Muslims’.  We have always been at pains to point out to governmental bodies, and to the CRE,  that Arabs consist not only of Muslims, but also Christians (several sects) and secular. This has been a point of contention with all the major political parties and, in particular the current government who, when there is any form of emergency, particularly in the Middle East, call in Muslim representatives.  These are invariably members of the Asian community and do not speak for the large Arab community within the UK.  We find it is extremely insensitive for the continuing lack of recognition, particularly from the CRE from whom we would expect better.

5.         British media, with only a few exceptions, continues to show a very biased portrayal of Arabs.   They are represented variously as fanatics, terrorists, white-slavers, lascivious oil sheikhs, illiterate Bedouins etc.   Thousands of years of culture are completely ignored as is the presence of a large urban, educated population.  My own country, Iraq (in better times) had equality of sexes in the medical, dental, engineering schools at a time when it was still rare in the UK.  British Arabs try to give their children, who in the main feel no ambiguity in their dual culture, a semblance of their rich heritage which is continuously abused by the media.

6.                  We would like to register our concern with the new policy that gives the Home Secretary the right to withdraw British passports from British subjects with dual nationality if they believe the person is a threat to national security.  We believe this is a draconian measure and against basic human rights.  It also takes away the sense of citizenship for people with dual nationality who will be treated differently.  There must be the same law for all citizens and not a separate law for people with dual nationality.  If you break the law, you should be judged in the court under the law of the land rather than it being in the power of the Home Secretary to remove citizenship.

7.                  Why are Arabs under-represented in the government and public service sector.  Neither has a single member of the Arab community been appointed to the House of Lords.  Considering their size, this places the Arab Community at a disadvantage in the public eye and gives the impression of being irrelevant and marginalized.  It also alienates members of the Arab community and in particular the younger generation and deprives them of role models as well as hopes and aspirations to public office.  When will the government rectify this by appointment members of the Arab Community to represent it in the House of Lords, particularly given that the Arabs represent about one in every 110 of the population?

8.                  There is considerable prejudice against Arabs in the professional sectors.  Why?

9.                  Do local authorities, the Police and the Home Office keep records of racially motivated attacks against members of the Arab Community?  If so, what the figures since 2 August 1990 and especially after 11 September 2001?  Is the trend going down?  What actions have the Government, the Home Office and the Police, as well as the local authorities, taken to reduce such attacks?

10.       We have a good number of Palestinian asylum seekers in Glasgow and elsewhere in the UK who have their applications for asylum delayed because of some uncertainty surrounding the status of Palestinians. The reason being a British law passed in 1952 that categorises the Palestinians in a special way.  We were told that this issue was being discussed at the Home Office and a resolution was expected some six months ago. To-date the issue is still outstanding.