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Indians suffer prejudice in
Paris
WSN News
PARIS: Prejudice and paranoia have come
together in Paris, most so at the Charles de Gaulle airport. While
the situation is worse for those with Islamic names and from Islamic
countries, Indian travellers say they face similar suspicions for no
fault of theirs.
“Asians are subjected to stricter security checks, especially when
they try to enter Europe,” a traveller said. “They don’t even allow
us to carry drinking water or liquids. Even medicines are not
allowed without prescriptions”.
As suspicion and racism manifest themselves in subtle ways, the
gradual impact is being seen on identities. “I feel that as human
beings we tend to put people into slots. Even Indians do it. This
situation is not going to help relations in England and Europe. It
will reinforce stereotypes,” a traveller said.
“Two Asians were asked to leave because they were wearing bulky
clothes. I have travelled to 25 countries. This is the first time I
have been asked to take off my shoes.But if this is going to make
our life safer then why not”. Most Indians travelling to Europe say
that they are willing to comply with the additional security
measures, but the added glare of suspicion makes them uneasy.
Though racial profiling is not officially in place, the recent turn
of events has stoked the already existing Islamophobia in Europe.
This has made things difficult for Indian travellers in general and
specifically for those with Muslim names. The paranoia over air
safety is part of a climate of heightened racial tensions in Europe.
In England, the underground bombings in London followed by news of
the failed attempt to blow up airplanes has added to the tension.
“Everybody is scared. I am right next to the station and I’ve lost a
lot of customers as people are scared because of the bombings in
London,” said Patel, a local newspaper stall owner. “We don’t
deserve this, none of us, no matter what nationality we belong to,”
said Lorna Douglas, a London resident.
Religious and racial tensions ere already simmering in France after
the ban on wearing religious symbols in public schools, a move
opposed most vigorously by Muslims. Then came the protests over
Prophet Mohammed’s cartoons, which fuelled opinions that Islam is
oversensitive.
Though many felt the cartoons were in bad taste, the nature of the
Islamic protests actually led them to defend the Danish paper that
commissioned the cartoons. “The reason the cartoons came up was
because a Danish writer could not find anyone willing to illustrate
his book on religion. They were too frightened,” said Gunther
Adolphsen of Radio Denmark.
“They went to an association of cartoonists, of which12 responded
while the rest didn’t dare. The feeling is that Dane liberalists are
becoming undermined by fears of Islamic reaction. Cartoons are a
result to show that we dare”. Next came the Paris riots after two
immigrant teenagers got electrocuted allegedly during a police
chase.
6 September 2006
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