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Ziyad Motala

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The Hajj and the Apartheid Train: Where Is the Muslim Outrage?

Posted: 12/10/10 09:05 PM ET

A pivotal theme in current Islamic political discourse is a demand for justice, a key tenet of the Quran. A popular complaint in Islamic political argument is discrimination against Muslims in the west such as the ban of the veil in European countries, minarets in Switzerland or racial profiling in many western countries. Unfortunately, there is a conspicuous lack of looking inwards to practices within Muslim countries. Muslims from all over the world have just completed the annual pilgrimage, the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. The Hajj represents a critical pillar of Islam and is supposed to represent a universal gathering of Muslims, which transcends race, ethnicity, color or any other distinction. Muslims are supposed to meet in the sacred precincts surrounding the holy city of Mecca as equals wearing the same simple clothing meant to symbolize perfect brotherhood, where individuals or groups do not see themselves as separate entities and differences of lineage, tribe or race have no bearing.

The experiences of the Hajj are very different depending on which part of the world you originate from. If you hail from Saudi Arabia or the Gulf states, you will perform the hajj in relative luxury and privilege, which is denied to Muslims from the sub-continent, Africa or the rest of the world. Those from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states have a different Hajj based on luxurious accommodations, and preferential treatment in performing the rituals. The latest egregious practice is the high-speed rail service, which transports the pilgrims from Mecca to the sacred sites where the rituals of the Hajj are performed. The train is reserved only for Saudis and citizens from the Gulf countries. Citizens from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries can be transported to the holy sites within a few minutes. For others, they will have to take the bus or walk which could take many hours each day. I cannot think of any other place in the world today that practices such crass racism. Imagine a train in the United States that states no Arabs -- just people from the west -- can ride in. The real tragedy is the lack of outrage from Muslims.

The Hajj as a gathering of Muslims, based on equality, simplicity and brotherhood is a fiction. The Hajj is a gigantic money making endeavor. All visits to the holy place have to take place under the auspices of a Saudi institution or company, which is totally Saudi-owned. Every opportunity is geared towards profit maximization. The Saudi companies in turn enter into agreements with parties in the local country where the pilgrim resides. The Saudi company takes care of the negotiation with the local hotels and other parties to organize and pay for the accommodations and internal transportation and the like. Saudis have profited greatly from the pilgrims who have been exploited on a scale that is beyond imagination. A two week visit to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj period (if you are not sponsored) in modest accommodations costs more than a month-long world tour (not counting the fact that for five days during the two week period, the pilgrim is staying in a tent). Imagine the outrage if a Saudi was told that he could not do business in the United States (including booking a hotel) except though a United States entity?

Saudi Arabia represents one of the worse examples of a stratified society at the apex of which sits the descendants of its founder Ibn Saud constituted in the current royal family. And then appears a pecking order based on lineage or clan and others recognized as Saudi. Then come hundreds of thousands of individuals (including second and third generation Saudi born), followed by hundreds of thousands of foreign guest workers.

The sum total of rights and privileges enjoyed -- be it access to jobs, education, access to property, welfare benefits or the performance of the Hajj depends upon where one belongs in the pecking order. Those at the top enjoy considerable rights and power over those at the bottom. The most affected group is the foreign worker, particularly the foreign woman worker. These guest workers operate under a kafeel (master) to whom many are indebted for years, a situation that invites trafficking in people and a relationship akin to slavery. Over the past few days, we have been informed about several incidents of abuse of foreign guest workers from Indonesia in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Where is the outrage from Muslims and their scholars? Each year, thousands of female workers seek protection at foreign embassies from abuse and rape. International human rights groups and others have documented the rampant abuse, lack of fair trial standards, denial of freedom of movement, forced labor approaching conditions of slavery and beating of foreign workers. Also documented is the weak judicial system, which offers little protection to those at the bottom, rung of society. The judicial system gives more credence to the wealthy and locals in disputes involving foreigners.

Islamic law derived from the sayings of the prophet Mohammad articulates a vision of human dignity (in ways analogous to modern human rights) in stating "No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; nor has a white man any superiority over a black man, or the black many any superiority over the white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from Clay". Conspicuously absent are protests among Muslims about racism, racial discrimination, gender discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance prevalent in so many Muslim countries starting with the cradle of Islam, Saudi Arabia.

 
 
 
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08:59 PM on 12/17/2010
You've confused a whole bunch of issues, from commercial interests around the Hajj to general treatment of foreigners, which are entirely separate. KSA has a right to make it's own laws, including allocating commercial opportunities to favour their citizens.

"Imagine the outrage if a Saudi was told that he could not do business in the United States (including booking a hotel) except though a United States entity?".
Sorry, I can't share your sense of indignation here.
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lisakclayton
11:53 PM on 01/19/2011
Perhaps you aren't outraged because you are not Muslim. But I can tell you as a non-Khaleeji (not a citizen of the Arabian Gulf) Muslim that this is truly outrageous. And as an American, I would be just as outraged if we had trains in the US that discriminate based upon race, ethnicity or creed.
12:05 AM on 12/15/2010
"The Hajj as a gathering of Muslims, based on equality, simplicity and brotherhood is a fiction. The Hajj is a gigantic money making endeavor... Every opportunity is geared towards profit maximization."
I'm sorry to hear that you, too, are suffering from worldly greed attacking your holy days. We are entering the Christmas season, which should be a sacred celebration for all Christians, instead we are inundated with commercialism and crass bids for our money and attention. The world hates those of us who have faith and devotion in our hearts, no matter what name is on our religion.
05:39 AM on 12/14/2010
I have been to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for hajj this year. I have noticed that some pilgrims had more luxurious hajj than the others. But it was not their race that made them the privileged pilgrims, it was actually the money they paid for hajj. I have seen and met a few people from south asia who had very luxurious hajj just because they opted for better (i.e. costly) hajj packages. I don't see this as racism in any sense. Readers must keep in mind that Gulf states and KSA are richer than south asian and african states.

The train, again, will be available for everyone. This year it was in testing phase and was not open to all. Its a new project, and without proper planning, it is risky to make such small train publicly accessible to 3 to 4 million ppl. The access might be restricted through a costly ticket :) who knows?
07:45 AM on 12/14/2010
The price of Hajj is not based on market forces. It is artificially controlled and manipulated in a very sophisticated way (with a lot of bribery and favors) through a host of princes and government functionaries.

Religions sometimes dumb down people’s senses. Muslims need to ask themselves, even if the train is limited in the first two years, in the mainstream of international decency, no one (but misguided Muslims) would accept the proposition that rationing can be done by giving preference to people based on nationality or race. That is a mindset that Muslims need to break out of and reflects a broader inferiority complex that many Muslims feel towards Arabs. Human rights and equality are values for all.

As a matter of fact, the Saudis and Gulf State Arabs are locals who have not suffered a fraction of the hardship that the Indonesians, Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshi, Africans and Chinese have suffered making their way to Hajj. Is Hajj really equal? Why should the Gulf state Arabs be afforded the best of privileges unless one subscribes to the view that they are superior to other Muslims?

The real irony is whilst Arabs discriminate against other Muslims they show great deference to white Americans and Europeans who in turn despise and discriminate against them more than any other Muslim group. This Arab discrimination against non-Arab Muslims also finds its ways into Mosques in the United States and the United Kingdom.
06:59 AM on 12/16/2010
Those who suffer more during hajj are awarded greater by Allah than those who suffer minimally.

I can't justify the allocation of the train only for Gulf Arabs, but it is planned to include 100s of 1000s of hujja eventually.

http://www.emirates247.com/news/region/saudi-launches-second-phase-of-makkah-train-2010-12-05-1.325006

I preferred walking to most sites, although getting lost in Mina was not as pleasant.
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Ahmed Ahmad
Atheists UNITE!!
11:24 AM on 12/13/2010
Worse than that, there is severe spiritual discrimination in the birthplace of islam, where no non-muslim place of worship cannot be built, other religious scripture are confiscated. No non-muslims are even allowed to set foot in Mecca:

koran 9:28 O ye who believe! The idolaters only are unclean. So let them not come near the Inviolable Place of Worship after this their year. If ye fear poverty (from the loss of their merchandise) Allah shall preserve you of His bounty if He will. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise.
05:05 AM on 12/14/2010
Considering that nonbelieving humanity has a long history of seeking to corrupt, defile, and rebel against God, His revelations, and His believers, and since Islam is God's last revelation to mankind, its quite reasonable that Arabia be a sanctuary from the corruption of rebellious Man.

God preempted the likes of those who's sole purpose is to commit heresy, blasphemy, rebellion, corruption at his Holy Sanctuary, much like how rebellious Man has done everywhere else on earth.
04:51 PM on 12/20/2010
"Arabia be a sanctuary from the corruption"

That was meant to be a joke right?
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Butterfly M
10:31 AM on 12/13/2010
There is no outrage, because the standards we expect from some people are much lower than others.
05:35 AM on 12/13/2010
Actually we come from the GCC, we used buses (better than many others) and we styed more than 9 hours on a bus to be able to reach Muzdalifa (a 20 minute trip). Other bus trips were very long too. Everyone who came from where I came used buses and stayed in tents. Some opted to walk the distance and embarked and actually arrived before everyone else. I understand that the train is still in experimental stage and was used for Saudis only. We also were stranded in the airport for 9 hours. I am not sure the GCC people get a prefrential treatement. I would walk next time I go.
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Peter Combs
Amused by the illogical..no, NOT a Republican
10:27 PM on 12/12/2010
This has been going on for years....add it to the list of faults with a deeply primitive and hypocritical faith...(not unlike most)...
01:26 AM on 12/13/2010
And your personal beliefs are sublime and pure and can lead humanity, if only humanity knew of your perfection?

Islam is for all humanity for all time, not just the privileged of the West, who are themselves inheritors of the achievements of global imperial brutality, destruction, and deceit.

And more and more, the people of the West are seeing their society's demise, 'austerity' and the polarization of wealth and power right before their eyes- deception and hypocricy by the ruling oligarchies of the West, in the name of 'security' and economic solvency.
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03:05 AM on 12/13/2010
I'm all for peoples freedom of expression but I have to call you out on this one. The Ottoman Empire was not exactly nice to everyone either. The wealth of the west and the Ottoman Empire were not purely based on imperial brutality, destructio­n, and deceit. These Empires became strong because they valued science and free thought. I don't see theocratic states being a shining light for the way forward.
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wbthacker
Can YOU pass the Turing Test?
10:23 AM on 12/13/2010
Yes, things in the west seem to be falling apart.

If this continues at the current pace for another hundred years, the western nations will be a poor, backward, and culturally bankrupt as the typical Muslim country.
09:36 PM on 12/12/2010
Excellent article. There seems to be a larger message, discrimination by the Saudis and Gulf states against other Muslims from Africa, India, Pakistan and other parts of the world.

On the train issue, supposedly in the coming years, more people will be able to use the train. However, if you speak to high-level Saudi officials, they tell you the increase roll out is only meant for the Saudis and the Gulf state residents in the next few years. For the foreseeable future, it will not include Indonesians, Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshi and Africans. http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2010/11/13/red-workers-green-trains-make-hajj-easier-some

Regardless, such an important service restricted to their "own" is part of a pattern of behavior starting with the number of visas issued to Gulf state residents which is completely unfair and disproportionate to the world wide Muslim population.

Discrimination, lack of justice for non-Saudis and non-Gulf citizens is a reality for the majority. Slavery is a reality in the Gulf States. Saudi Arabia criticizes the west for its materialistic values, but it is the most materialistic society devoid of humanity that exploits the poor simple pilgrims from the poorest of countries, who have saved money their entire lives, and workers from poor countries, that are exploited on a scale that is unprecedented. Workers live in fear of the khafeel (master) under whom they work under a feudal relationship. And they describe their society as the most Islamic!
01:33 AM on 12/13/2010
The Saudi regime is part of the American led World Order. It enforces nationalism and the superiority and 'rightness' of certain people over others- that's the Western way which they enforced upon the world, including the Muslim world.

That's how Israel is allowed to exist: its the culmination of the Western worldview and way so that just as Israelis have a right to the Holyland, the Saudis have a right to Arabia, and so forth.


And this heirarchy is backed by militaries that are increasingly dependent on technology and even foreign contractors (ie. mercenaries) more than the support and devotion of their own people. The Saudi military continues to rely on foreign military help despite having one of the world's largest military budgets.

So simply blaming the Saudi regime is superficial and incomplete.
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09:20 AM on 12/13/2010
#66 - Salaam!
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Butterfly M
10:33 AM on 12/13/2010
What has Israel got to do with the primitive Saudies?
03:05 PM on 12/12/2010
Sharia and Islam itself by nature discriminates against non-Muslims and women. Under Islamic law 'all men are NOT created equal' as we believe in the west. Slavery was practiced in Saudi Arabia until the year 1962 until they were too embarrassed by the West (the Judeo/Christian culture which abolished slavery). The year Saudi Arabia abolished slavery (officially), citizens in Mecca and Medina rioted because they believed that slavery was an Islamic right. They were right since under Islamic Law slavery was never abolished and actually was highly regulated. No wonder at all that Saudis feel justified by their own religion to discriminate against others. Just read Muslim scriptures and see how much cursing and condemning of non-Muslims and others exist in Islam. But unfortunately the West is in denial.
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Wonderwheel
03:34 PM on 12/12/2010
I can sympathize with anyone who is an ex-Muslim and wants to expose the proplems with the former religion just as I can sympathize with ex-Catholics and ex-Jews. But let's not get too self righteious in the other direction. The "Judeo/Christian" culture that abolished slavery in the USA was not actually supported by the mainstream of the so-called "Judeo/Christian" culture. It was the work of the Abolitionist outliers of society (many of whom were Deists, agnostics and atheists and not either Jews or Christians) rather than the mainstream religionists or cultural apologists who established the foundation for ending slavery.
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Weirdwriter
04:55 PM on 12/12/2010
The Abolitionists were a mixed bag, true, but many were, indeed Christians -- in fact, the Abolitionist movement in the United States was led by Evangelical Protestants (rather a different group from those who make up the Religious Right today). Here is a Cornell University history site that discusses it: http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/abolitionism/abolitionists.htm

The strong influence of Christians is one of the factors that some historians believed was a motivation for keeping active Jewish participation in the Abolitionist movement down. Also, the number of American Jews at the time made them an ethnic minority.

However, they did participate in anti-slavery activity, although there was disagreement about slavery between Jews, just as with other groups of Americans at the time . Here is one article about that:
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history/Modern_History/1700-1914/America_at_the_Turn_of_the_Century/Civil_War.shtml

Historically, many Christians and Jews across the spectrum of their belief systems, have supported and actively worked toward social justice in the United States. It would be difficult to say that many "mainstream" adherents of those religions were not actively involved without verifiable evidence to the contrary.
01:20 AM on 12/13/2010
And yet, as nonMuslim power and secularism dominate and control the world order today, slavery is on the rise. In fact there are now more slaves in the world than at any time in history. And the price of a slave is now cheaper than 200 years ago.

The reality is secular world order is resulting in a global oligarchy which transcends borders and dictates laws and controls militaries and governments. And they don't submit to God or His Revelation. They do as they please, only faning religious 'tolerance'.

The world is reverting back to preIslamic history in many ways. In fact humanity falls into the same failures of managing human dimensions and instincts when it abandons God.

Saudi monarchy is part of that global oligarchy that transcends laws. And they are protected by America and the West as long as they show allegiance to this world oligarchy, this global heirarchy.
02:55 PM on 12/12/2010
BTW, people do not realize that there are truly wonderful people in Arabia too. Every hajj, there are 1000s of Saudi youth who volunteer, often in harsh circumstances 24/7, to aid pilgrims at every stage of the pilgrimage. They consider it a great honor for them and their families to host and assist pilgrims and their families take this honor very seriously.

The stories of parties in Jeddah are of a corrupted elite. The real story is that there are 1000s of youth who volunteer 24/7, often in the worst desert heat and desert cold to aid lost, needy, and wayward pilgrims, asking nothing in return.

They are innocent of the corruption and injustices of the regime.
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MarcEdward
likes all cats more than most people
02:21 PM on 12/12/2010
Great and informative piece of writing.
Thanks!
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Butterfly M
10:06 AM on 12/12/2010
The Caste system for Muslims.

Its this caste system that made Muslims of Pakistan to kill 3 million dark skinned Bangla desh Muslims in 1971
02:28 PM on 12/12/2010
The caste system reenforced and protected by America to maintain America's global empire.
KarasudaJay
My micro-bio is empty.
12:21 PM on 12/13/2010
When in doubt, blame America. Country filled with backwards illiterates? Americas fault. Elected a dictator in the hope of getting free stuff? America's fault. Stuck in a backwards culture of ignorance and violence? America's fault.
03:50 AM on 12/12/2010
This is a good article that highlights the ills in Saudi Arabia. many believe that the Saudi government is out of touch with reality and they are outside of the shari'ah in many instances. Coupled with the MOU's with the US that allows for the US to use Saudi Arabi as a launching pad for attacks on other Muslims.
Now, the Saudis are facing a great Islamic insurgency from variety of groups trying to despose of the Saudl government.
Many of the true great scholars of he Saudi Ulema are in jail or exiled from Saudi Arabia.
Now, you can walk of the Bait haram and see Mcdonalds and other American fast food chains.
For years in other Muslim lands have been keenly aware of the Saudi diet for Asian and Black African women as servants and concubines. There have been lots of abuse since the real Saudi women in many cases is not easy to deal with so these men look for entertainment elsewhere or in their homes with woman servants. In the past, some Saudi women have taken to the streets demanding that Asia women in particular be deported since, allegations of whoredom and outright fornication have been leveled against them by angry Saudi wives.
Saudi Arabia as in other Muslim lands are gripped with a myriad of problems. The insistence of vacating shari'ah rules in order to applease the west is taking its toll
09:12 AM on 12/12/2010
So Manhajsadiqeen, are you saying the racism on the train during the hajj is somehow linked to the US? It is 100% a problem within your own culture that causes it. It has nothing to do with the US or the west or McDonalds. It may have nothing to do with islam. Perhaps its purely a chauvanistic Saudi attitude.
11:42 AM on 12/12/2010
The kingdom have left the tenets of Islam, this is the argument that is being raised by many scholars. The US would not have a foothold unless the government is weak and have vacated the shari'ah.
Food is essential for life as we all know and the food coming from western fast food outlets don't meet the Islamic criteria. Look at UAE who now have high rate of illenss related to consuming western diet.
Islam does not promote living under non Muslim rule or taking their laws over Islamic laws. The shari'ah does not say for rulers to allow enemies and non Muslims to use their land in order to kill other Muslims.
Waywardness of some of my Muslim brothers is evident here and it is not sanctioned in Islam. And, it is funny that the scholars who spoke against these things were jailed and others sent packing in exile and replaced with 'scholars of the castle' that give rulings based not upon figh but to appease the ruler.
The US is only using the Saudis and other Muslim governments because they are weak, apostate and out of touch with their populations.
A book 'CIA at War' gives some good details on the apostate that the US supports and the US uses in order to justify killing Muslims the world over and to remake Islam into a secular relgion.
02:41 PM on 12/12/2010
The Saudis have to maintain a kind of Arab nationalist elitism to reenforce the facade that is exclusive Saudi rights to Arabia.

Gulf locals are far outnumbered by expats and would be easily overrun by sheer numbers if it weren't for the American backed order which protect the fragile state of affairs.
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Jeff Rosenbury
I love all people -- in the abstract
03:16 PM on 12/12/2010
How does Saudi fornication appease the west?

Saudi Arabia is a rich country and it uses that wealth to tempt poor women from other regions. To our shame we do the same in the U.S. Thus have the rich always acted. But I don't think it's fair to blame the west for human nature.

The desire to trample the poor isn't going to go away just because current governments are exchanged. Whoever takes over will already be compromised by murdering the rich to take their wealth. How will they resist temptation?

Instead, live with the gifts God has given you. Call on others to repent. But when the only targets of your "justice" are those with goods you wish to steal, don't fool yourself that God isn't watching.
de-meme-ing
Buying USA Feeds USA, Supports/Preserves USA
12:40 PM on 12/11/2010
So, there is no real regard for justice, just demands that the West accomodate Islam? And when we do, what then? Will anything really change?

I would like to say that there exists no human trafficking in the West, but there does. I would like to say that discrimination doesn't exist, but it does.

I wish there was no pecking order, but there is. There is no fair sharing of US wealth amongst it's constituents, rather it is powerful politicians and back room deals that bring home the bacon to privileged constituents.

How is it that California fails to fall given it's deficit woes and it's refusal to change? Others are forced to bail them out.

Drugs ravishe the US, and threatens to get worse as cartels from Mexico infiltrate our home, our countrymen refuse to secure our borders.

Women are drug and deceived across our border, forced into the slavery of prostitution. Little, if anything is done to combat it.

College grants and small business loans are reserved for the favored immigrant of the day, not the citizens, they have to pay, or do without. Jobs are deported by the millions so that American business men can become billionairs.

I understand your indignation Mr. Motala, and I share it regarding the USA.

No sir, we are not all the children of Adam, nor Abraham, many are good people, always were, but seeking justice, recognition of that fact, is like whistling in the wind. God doesn't hear.

The myth lied.
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Jeff Rosenbury
I love all people -- in the abstract
09:35 AM on 12/12/2010
God hears the cry of the poor. But he has mercy and gives us a chance to change our ways.