When it comes to human rights and basic freedoms, the Arab and
Muslim world could learn a thing or two from Israel.
In Iran, a woman must receive her husband’s permission to
leave the country or start a business. In Saudi Arabia, a woman may
not leave her home unless accompanied by a male relative. In
Lebanon, many Palestinian women face tremendous social pressure to
stay out of the workplace, and are sometimes even restricted from
working by their male relatives.
Kuwait expelled 300,000 Palestinians as collective punishment
for the first Gulf War. Pakistan’s main human rights
organization counted that at least 461 women lost their lives in
“honor killings” in 2002 alone.
Former President George H.W. Bush was forbidden to say grace
before the Thanksgiving meal on Saudi soil, despite the brave U.S.
troops stationed there to prevent Saddam Hussein from over-running
the country. In Egypt, persistent persecution against the Copt
minority has caused a million of them to emigrate.
In Iran, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned music
as corrupt, leading to the banning of music lessons in Iran. People
of the minority Baha’i faith cannot vote in Iran and are
provided no legal protection under the law. Since the revolution,
hundreds of Baha’is have been executed.
And still, a brave few fight back against these injustices.
There is one Middle Eastern country that stands out amid this
bastion of hate and mockery of humanity. Israel continues to shine
as a bright star of hope, democracy, freedom and tolerance.
Israel gives all its citizens ““ which include people of
numerous races, religions and social statuses ““ equal
protection under the law. I recently had a debate with Azmi
Bishara, an Arab member of the Israeli Knesset. One point he
emphasized was the freedom he has to stand up in the Knesset and
publicly criticize Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Abdel
Rahman Zuabi, an Arab, held a prized seat on the Israeli Supreme
Court. Ali Yahya, also an Arab, has served as an Israeli
ambassador.
Israel has had a woman serve as prime minister. Openly gay
individuals have served in the government. The Baha’i
headquarters is located in Haifa, a northern Israeli coastal city.
Arabic is the second officially recognized language of Israel. In
1999, an Arab woman was named Miss Israel.
But I am sure a Jewish Miss Saudi Arabia is just around the
corner.
Only in Israel are people of all faiths granted free and
unfettered access to pray and attend religious services. Unlike the
illegal 19-year Jordanian occupation of the West Bank, during which
no fewer than 58 synagogues were desecrated or destroyed, under
Israeli rule Arabs, Christians, Jews, Baha’is and people of
every other religious conviction have been free to worship as they
choose.
Amazingly, these rights have been maintained despite a brutal
terrorist war aimed at the destruction of Israel, headed by
numerous Palestinian terror organizations.
In this conflict, every person must choose to support one of two
undeniable realities.
You can side with the aforementioned corrupt dictatorships and
autocracies that impose their beliefs on others, persecuting
minorities and denying them basic freedoms.
Or, you can support Israel, which has shown unparalleled respect
for minority rights and freedom of expression and association in
the Middle East.
I, for one, choose Israel.
Keyes is a second-year undeclared student and the executive
director of Students Against Dictators.