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| Fifth Column |
| US Muslims seek UN help against govt bias |
| 2003-02-01 |
| The American Muslim Council on Friday asked UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to conduct an inquiry into the "political repression of Muslim and Arab and Asian Americans by the United States government." In a letter sent to the UN Chief, the Executive Director of AMC, Eric Erfan Vickers cited six examples of political repression by the US government, including the new INS policy targeting Muslim countries. Vickers said: "Our hope is that if the UN can shine some world light on the 'un-American' practices of the US government, then perhaps this country can begin to right itself." Vickers told Annan that the AMC was seeking his intervention "because all our frequent calls on America's political leaders to cease the government's religious and ethnic profiling have fallen on deaf ears." That indicates that the American gummint is not suicidal... "Thus, regrettably, the American citizens victimized by this repression must look to the world outside for relief from these shameful and undemocratic practices by our government," he added. Mr Vickers said: "We have no illusions about the power of the UN to inquire into wrongs by the US. However, our hope is that if the UN can shine some world light on these 'un-American' practices by the US." I don't think squalling to the UN is the way to make a case. If Kofi were to try and do anything with this, that would make matters even worse. I don't think the UN is well-beloved in many circles right now — maybe even less well-beloved than the AMC, in fact... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #2 I think the AMC is referring to Muslims of Pakistani origin as opposed to the Middle Eastern Arabs and Persians. Brits often refer to Pakistanis and Indians as "Asians" whereas we call them simply "Pakistanis and Indians" and reserve "Asian" for "Orientals", e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Vietnamese, etc. |
| Posted by: JDB 2003-02-02 00:44:53 |
| #1 I love how the "American Muslim Council" feels qualified to represent all Asian Americans! I really don't believe Asian Americans feel repressed all. They sure haven't been complaining much, and they all seem pretty well-integrated into American society; excelling in both education and economic endeavors.... |
| Posted by: Scooter McGruder 2003-02-01 14:08:25 |