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This Is Not a Good Time to Be an Arab in Spain
Proof that al Qaeda or Islamic militants carried out the Madrid train bombings would be a nightmare scenario for Muslim residents of Madrid who fear it could fuel a new wave of animosity towards them. .... As one of 300,000 Moroccans, Spainâs biggest resident Muslim community, Ahmed said he was deeply saddened by the bombs on crowded trains which claimed 200 lives. "We donât want it to be al Qaeda, just as the Basques donât want it to be ETA. But what difference does it make, knowing who it was? Weâre all affected," said a 13-year Madrid resident, who declined to give his full name.High Court Judge Baltasar Garzon, an investigating magistrate who has led separate probes into al Qaeda and ETA, has said in court documents he believes al Qaeda had "sleeper cells" in Spain possibly awaiting orders to attack. Spain has jailed some two dozen al Qaeda suspects .... Last May, suicide bombers attacked a Spanish restaurant, a five-star hotel and a Jewish community centre in Casablanca killing 45 people, including 12 suicide bombers. Suspects in the Casablanca bombings and a 2002 synagogue bombing in Tunisia also have been arrested in Spain. Lavapies, the city centreâs most multi-racial district, is no exception to the sombre air enveloping the rest of Madrid. ... Most of those interviewed in Lavapies hardly dared contemplate the possibility that al Qaeda may be to blame. ... "We donât know who it is, we just have to count the bodies. They attacked the poorest people who were on the train at that time of the morning. Our people were killed too," Mustafa said. Those most willing in Lavapies to fully express those fears came from non-Muslim countries. "Not all Basques belong to ETA, nor all Arabs belong to al Qaeda. But if it turns out that al Qaeda is behind this tragedy people will turn against the Arabs around here," said Gema, a young shop assistant whose parents are from Vietnam. Moroccans said their lives in Spain were pretty good despite a recent crackdown on illegal immigration. Lavapies is often the scene of random police checks for residency cards. Asked if life will get worse if al Qaeda was behind Thursdayâs killings, Mustafa said: "I hope not. Maybe theyâll come, and get me and they might get you too for talking to me." .... Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2004-03-14 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=28070 |