Sara, as someone who has grown up in Malta as a Muslim, can you describe your experiences of discrimination?
"I think that, rather than discrimination, it is racism or Islamophobia. It is fear. In general, I don't face discrimination but rather this fear and these misconceptions from people.
"Here is an example: on the bus, I feel people will not sit next to me, even if it's the last free seat. I do feel the Islamophobia - and that's a problem in itself. The fact that you are uncomfortable in the presence of someone is worrying. There is, however, a general discrimination against people who wear a headscarf. Many people have said that, in the private sector, they have often been discriminated against because of this."
In your opinion, what needs to be done in order for this fear to be reduced?
"I feel that, in various sectors, there are different things which can be implemented. For example, in education: students should be taught certain things from a young age, especially since education is compulsory. Through this compulsory education, everyone should understand that Malta is part of a bigger world than just that of Europe. This is very important, because most of our misconceptions come from not being knowledgeable about certain things. One example of this is how close we are to other countries!
"You would be surprised by how many people think that Africa is one country, when it is actually the continent with the most countries. Generalisations then come from this lack of knowledge. For example, if we know a person is Muslim, then we assume that they are from Africa or Saudi Arabia.
"I was educated in a state school and feel that we never really had the opportunity to learn about different countries and to understand that (despite geographical and cultural differences), everyone is just another person like us. Despite our differences, there are also many similarities that we share, and I think it is very important to learn this.
What could be done at the political level?
"In order to reduce fear, I would like to see politicians making stronger statements against discrimination, Islamophobia and racism. Sometimes, without really knowing - especially when it comes to immigration and refugees, politicians unfortunately end up saying things that ultimately harm the community at large. One example of this is referring to individuals as 'illegal immigrants' when discussing deportation. It is not even correct because the people described as 'illegal immigrants' are people with temporary human protection. Situations of this nature require familiarity with the jargon and are very sensitive. Misconceptions will then result in fear - fear of the unknown.
"Some people tend to just see migrants as people who are here illegally. Again, this is the exception rather than the rule. People seeking asylum spend a lot of time going through checks, before they are allowed to live freely. It should also be understood that not all migrants are Muslims - they can be Christians, Jews or atheists. Understanding the bigger picture is important in reducing the fear because it is usually our prejudice that brings us to the wrong conclusions.
"When making such statements, politicians need to be more careful in the words they use. Some people accept everything that politicians say so a degree of caution is needed.
In addition, this subject should not just be tackled by NGOs but also the government and various other entities to create safe spaces in which to listen to different religious communities, as well as anyone else who is finding it difficult to feel that they belong. This will also help them (the authorities) acquire a better insight when designing policy, and will ensure better implementation of the policy in question once it is adopted.
When I began wearing my headscarf at secondary school, I felt that it was at the discretion of the headmistress, as there were no clear guidelines. It could very well be that another headmistress would have been uncomfortable with this situation. Having clear guidelines would ensure a common approach and the protection of the individuals concerned. Things need to be highlighted in more concrete terms, and taking more pro-active action is key.
Can you tell me a bit about your activism?
I have co-founded the campaign called 'Redefining Us', together with my friend Naomi, which mostly tackles identity, so is quite broad-based. In fact, the name itself is derived from the idea of redefining (Maltese) identity. We have organised a number of events and raise awareness about such issues linked with racism, Islamophobia and discrimination. Sometimes I am invited to attend events because of the campaign, and sometimes as an honouree of the Queen's Young Leaders Programme. I have also worked on policy recommendations, especially in the area of online hate speech.
However, there have been other initiatives that are not policy-oriented but more action-based; I do it out of passion, making the most out of every opportunity which comes along. Attending conferences by anyone who offers me the space always means there is a different audience, and you never know who might be listening. At the end of the day, this activism is not something you can put a lot of funding into -it depends on people really, and whoever is there to listen. You just have to take the opportunity - and also have an ear open yourself to what the audience has to say.
In your opinion, is Islamophobia growing?
Yes. If you look abroad as well, it is an ever-growing movement with the support of young people too. Again - it is education that needs to change, and not just in Malta. These days the information is available to us, but if you see the way things are reported it always seems to be feeding the prejudice.
In many cases, people's opinions don't change until they meet someone - and this is something I see through my own experience. I am always being asked questions, including why am I Muslim and who do I believe in. I've actually looked up all this information in order to better educate myself and be able to give better answers and explanations. People's opinions depend on their experiences, education and to whom they are exposed.
It is also just about being more respectful and understanding towards people. Personally, I have never met a Hindu person, but if I do, I will be understanding and respectful towards them because being human is something that we can all understand, before identifying differences. At the end of the day, it is a lot about that: ultimately, everyone is just an individual.
How would you describe Islam as a religion?
With many of my relatives and friends being Christian, I find that the idea behind all religions is the same: peace, understanding, respect, love and the idea of God is that there is one protector.
Even when it comes to religious practices such as fasting, praying and visiting Mecca in Islam, there are similar customs in other religions. For example, the Muslim day of prayer is Friday, whilst for Jews it is Saturday and for Christians it is Sunday.
Ok, fasting for Muslims is different from fasting for Christians, but at the end of the day, the basic idea of sacrifice and self-restraint is fundamental. Islam speaks a whole lot about giving and sharing as well, and what I feel attached to most about Islam is that, in its ideal form, there is no hierarchy and that the Quran is subject to interpretation.
In my opinion, politics has somehow abused this however. Obviously, religion is a very complex subject, but it is the simple things that give it value - such as peace, love and understanding - which, again, are not exclusive to Islam. This is something I feel my experience has taught me, as I grew up with half of my external family practicing Islam and the other half practicing Christianity. It taught me that love, empathy and understanding are universal and that the more you educate yourself to appreciate differences, whilst also cherishing the similarities, the more peaceful and united the community will be.
After all, whatever our religion, nationality, skin colour, ethnic background or other differences, we all long to belong and to find happiness.
from The Malta Independent https://ift.tt/2JEn5Ev
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