http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=96000&d=10&m=5&y=2007&pix=opinion.jpg&category=Opinion
Thursday, 10, May, 2007 (22, Rabi` al-Thani, 1428)
Women Bringing Europe, Arab World Closer Together
Samar Fatany, Arab News
Women can play a greater role to boost relations between the
Arab world and Europe. This was very evident when a delegation of women from
the Arab world met with German women and government officials recently to
examine the challenges their nations face within their growing relationships.
Representatives from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Palestine, Syria,
Tunis, Mauritania, the UAE and Yemen explored the role of women and their
participation in society, gender policies, social issues and the business
environment.
The visit was organized by Germany's Federal Foreign Office
in Berlin. The group learned about the empowerment of German women and their
struggle against discrimination. The objective of the exercise was to influence
opinions and create a better understanding of the situation in the Middle East
and the Muslim population in Germany and the West.
The talks began with the Foreign Ministry's task force for
dialogue with the Islamic world. Officials outlined German efforts to engage
and support Arab countries through special funds promoting cultural and
educational initiatives in order to establish better relations with Arab civil
society - including women and youth who may not be familiar with German or
Western culture.
Ministry officials stressed the importance of intercultural
dialogue to empower women and support the next generation in building bridges
of peaceful coexistence and economic prosperity.
During meetings with women members of the task force of the
German Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration and other women of
influence in the German Bundestag, the group had the opportunity to discuss the
rise of Islamophobia, the hijab, the threat of terrorism and the condition of
Muslims in German society.
German participants voiced their concerns and the reasons
behind the problems that face the Muslim immigrants in Germany, who are mainly
of Turkish origin. One major problem, they explained, stems from the failure of
the Muslim immigrants to learn the German language, which hampers their
integration into German society. It also prevents children from accessing the
quality education available in German schools and alienates them from other
German schoolchildren. Another obstacle to integration is the tendency of
immigrants to group together in enclaves that remain isolated from the rest of
German society.
Another area of concern is the hijab. Although the situation
in Germany is less extreme than in France or Britain, it is viewed as a
religious symbol and limits the job opportunities available to devout Muslim
women.
Ministry officials outlined the policies of the new German
government of Angela Merkel to improve relations with Muslim immigrants and
increase cooperation with German mosques and Muslim groups to reduce the
specter of terrorism and confront the rise of Islamophobia. They also noted
passage of a new law requiring German language classes for all immigrants to
facilitate their integration into German society.
Findings were presented from a special summit held in 2006 to
outline a national plan addressing the issues of the Muslim immigrants in
Germany. Studies and research about the Muslim community revealed that the
situation of Muslims in Germany is not as bad as it is in Britain and France.
However, Islamophobia is on the rise and it remains a major concern for the
government.
The message was clear that fears of Islam and Muslims stem
from the ignorance of the religion. German officials and Muslim leaders are
working together to confront the rise of Islamophobia and to support the
peaceful Muslim immigrants and their integration into German society.
The delegation of Arab women made it clear that Islam is not
a violent religion, and Muslims are not the enemies of the West. The West needs
to understand that the majority of Muslims strongly identify with their
religion; this should not be viewed or interpreted as a sign of radicalization.
Moreover, women wear the hijab as a way of life and a religious obligation and
not as a religious symbol or a political statement.
Delegates also stressed that there is widespread condemnation
of terrorism among the majority of Muslims in the Arab world; however, Muslims
also find efforts to place collective guilt on Islam regarding terrorism
offensive.
The eight Arab women also discussed the future of Palestinian
women and children who are under siege. Talks with several German women in
politics, media and society revealed that some were unsympathetic to the
hardships suffered by Palestinian women and children, and they strongly
supported the continuing European Union and American boycott. They justified
the move because of the support of Palestinians for Hamas, a movement that
endorses armed resistance against Israeli occupation.
However, there were others who showed support and admiration
of the achievements of Palestinian women and their struggle to provide for
their families under the brutal Israeli occupation and a raft of daily
hardships. Two young Palestinian journalists in the group were very eloquent
and succeeded in presenting an accurate picture of the conditions Palestinian
women face and their courageous efforts to overcome them.
The highlight of the visit was a trip to Cologne and to the
headquarters of EMMA magazine. The group met with well-known feminist Alice
Schwarzer who showed great interest in Arab culture and the women of the Arab
world.
Schwarzer detailed her fight against the exploitation of
women in pornographic movies and magazines and her efforts to stop the abuse of
portraying women as sex symbols in the media and the cinema. She supported the
right of Muslim women to wear the hijab, though she was apprehensive of Muslim
women using it as a religious symbol or to promote a political agenda.
This exchange of views between Arab and German women
celebrated their common interests and shared values. It supports their
endeavors to eliminate discrimination against women and to raise the awareness
among women in their fight for rights wherever they are. This is certainly an
important step toward building bridges between the West and the Muslim world.
Germany is the current president of G-8 of industrialized
nations, and its support of Arab women is important. The interaction of the
Arab women from different Arab societies is essential to address the concerns
of Germany and the West toward Arabs and Muslims and to articulate positions on
many issues of conflict in hopes of eliminating fears and suspicions on both
sides.
Saudi Arabia and Germany have increased their efforts to
bridge the gap between Europe and the Arab world. Two recent events highlight
the progress toward strengthening political and cultural contacts between the
two worlds.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al-Faisal attended a
three-day symposium titled "Historical Contact Between Europe and the Arab
World." Held in Riyadh, the symposium was organized by King Faisal Center for
Islamic Research and Studies and the German Embassy.
Prince Turki Al-Faisal, board chairman of the center,
stressed the need for Europeans and Arabs to focus on cultural development,
political concerns and economic issues.
Prince Saud Al-Faisal also stressed the importance of the
recent GCC-EU ministerial meeting that took place in Riyadh where diplomats
discussed several controversial subjects, including developments in the region
and the Free-GCC Trade Agreement - the first region-to-region pact covering 27
European countries and six Gulf countries.
Clearly, these efforts on all levels bring the peoples of the
Arab world and Europe closer together and foster understanding. Such
initiatives are the key to better relations, world peace and global economic
prosperity.
* * *
(Samar Fatany is a Jeddah-based radio journalist. She can be
reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED])
