Page 7 - Pakistan Link - November 10, 2017

OPINION NOVEMBER 10, 2017 – PAKISTAN LINK – P7

n By Dr Akbar Ahmed A Sikh Champion of Muslims with broad consequences.
American University Arjun also discussed the effi cacy of Coun-
Washington, DC tering Violent Extremism (CVE) programs,
which are designed to target individuals who
o the well-known American maxim at the National Press Club launching my book, may become terrorists. Th ese programs are a
‘driving while black,’ a more recent one Th e Th istle and the Drone. Aft er the program, form of predictive policing, he explained, as
Thas been added aft er 9/11, ‘fl ying while he came up to me and began discussing his civil they use an individual’s prior history to deter-
Muslim,’ as Muslim passengers on planes are and human rights work on behalf of not only mine ‘threat scores’ and geographic analysis of
now frequently targeted for Muslim Americans, but minorities throughout criminal activity to assess potential ‘hot spots.’
speaking Arabic, wearing the the US. I was impressed: He was fi ghting for jus- Arjun believes these programs are based on ab-
hijab or merely looking ‘Mid- tice within the system. stract methods and junk science that ultimately
dle Eastern.’ When I invited Arjun to speak before my serve as another mechanism for surveillance of
Professor Anila Daulatzai, World of Islam class at American University Muslim citizens.
a Pakistani-American, became recently he made some core points related to Arjun argued that the US government
a victim when on September the rise in hate-related incidents against Mus- needs to begin addressing the structural racism,
26, she boarded a fl ight in Bal- lims since 9/11, noting they are trending at least discrimination, and criminalisation that foster
timore, expecting to land in Los Angeles a few fi ve times higher than prior to the attacks. He hate and violence against Muslims, who remain
hours later to take care of her elderly father. said we are living in an ‘open season’ of preju- disproportionately targeted by American na-
Aft er informing fl ight attendants of her dice against Muslims. Perpetual war in Iraq tional security policy.
non-life-threatening allergy to dogs, she seated and Afghanistan has contributed to prevailing Arjun also pointed to media representa-
herself in the back of the aircraft away from two negative attitudes, he argued, and the Guanta- tions that encourage Islamophobia. He cited a
dogs on the plane and prepared to grade her namo Bay detention facility in Cuba stands as Media Matters Study conducted on three days
students’ papers. She was suddenly requested by a testament to negative treatment of Muslims of media reporting aft er the recent “Muslim
the fl ight crew to provide medical documenta- suspected of terrorist activities. Ban.” Th eir fi ndings revealed that of 176 guests
tion of her allergy, which she had already men- Arjun also spoke of police tactics that oft en on Fox news, CNN, and MSNBC, the three
tioned was not serious, and upon not being able serve to perpetuate discrimination. He shared major broadcast news networks, only 14 guests
to produce it, was told to exit the aircraft . how a team of Associated Press reporters re- were actual muslims.
When she refused, the police came and vealed that covert domestic surveillance pro- Viewing the compassion he brings to his
violently dragged her off the plane, as seen in grams established in New York City following Th ose listed may be unable to see their families work, I could not but think of the wisdom of the
a video of the incident that went viral. Follow- 9/11, for example, were explicitly designed to or even apply for loans and employment. Listed founder of his faith, Guru Nanak, who famously
ing the incident, multiple charges were issued monitor Muslim citizens, representing an aban- individuals are generally considered too dan- said, “Th ose that have loved are those that have
against her, including disorderly conduct and donment of rights to privacy that all Americans found God.” While Pakistan has somewhat of a
failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order. are entitled to enjoy. None of the surveillance He cited a Media Matters reputation as encouraging religious intolerance,
Daulatzai’s lawyer, Arjun Sethi, classifi ed was based on reasonable suspicion or probable Study conducted on three days in fact, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, which I
the arrest as the confl uence of sexism, racial cause, but instead solely based on identity. Th e visited not long ago, is in Nankana Sahib, Paki-
profi ling, and discrimination. surveillance did not result in a single convic- of media reporting aft er the stan, and I can report that it is spotlessly clean
Formerly national legislative counsel for tion. and tended with special reverence and aff ection
human rights and national security related af- Th ese surveillance programs, he noted, recent “Muslim Ban.” Th eir by the local administration.
fairs for the American Civil Liberties Union and have been complemented by watch lists. Th ere fi ndings revealed that of 176 Here in America, Arjun Sethi, is champi-
presently Co-Chair of the American Bar As- are three types of watch lists administered by oning the great Guru’s message of humanity by
sociation’s National Committee on Homeland the Transportation Security Administration: guests on Fox news, CNN, fi ghting for the civil rights of Muslims and of all
Security, Counterterrorism, and Treatment of a Terrorist Watch List of 2 million individuals and MSNBC, the three major Americans.
Enemy Combatants, Arjun has spent most of suspected of terrorist activities; a Selectee List, (Th e writer is an author, poet, fi lmmak-
his career focused on countering racial and reli- which requires listed individuals to undergo en- broadcast news networks, only er, playwright, and the Ibn Khaldun Chair
gious profi ling, advancing counterterrorism re- hanced screening measures before fl ying; and a 14 guests were actual Muslims of Islamic Studies, American University in
form, and combating hate-motivated violence. No-Fly List of some 100,000, which forbids list- Washington, DC. He formerly served as the
I fi rst met Arjun, who has a Sikh back- ed individuals from boarding an airplane. Th e gerous to fl y, but not dangerous enough to be Pakistani High Commissioner to the UK and
ground, a few years back following a talk I gave consequences of these watch lists are serious. arrested, which keeps them in an uneasy limbo Ireland. He tweets @askakbar)

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