Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi Saad has done well in his life. He worked hard and smart to be what he has become. Starting early in business, he later pursued higher studies in the US and returned with a PhD. Now, famous and important, he thought it was time to settle down and marry the wife of his dreams. After a long and persistent search, he finally found her. She was a smart, beautiful, loving and caring woman, with broken heart. Her first arranged marriage to her cousin, at the age of 16, ended in a terrible divorce. Her husband was a drug addict and treated her like a slave. She was so insistent on not failing her marriage that her family suspected, but never knew how bad the situation was. Finally, they found out when her husband locked her up for days. He had beaten her so badly and wanted the injuries to heal before they could see her. Now, with two kids and still in her twenties, she was looking for a kind heart in a good man to give her what the ex-husband denied. Saad was that man, and she couldn't be happier when her family accepted his proposal. One month later, her honeymoon ended with another disaster. She was happy and in love, but her family decided to end the marriage, immediately! Why? A cousin had just found that the husband was not what he pretended to be. He was not tribal and his father was an ex-slave. Either he divorced her or they would get a judge to divorce her on inequality bases. If her brothers hesitate to force him in this matter, all their sisters would be divorced at once, their husbands threatened. With broken heart, the woman accepted their decision. With wet eyes the husband divorced her. He knew if he resisted, not only she would be divorced from him, but his entire career and social standing would be threatened. Even though, he wasn't black, and never been a slave, his father was! It could have been his great grandfather, and that would have made no difference. His and his children's children will always be tainted. I tried to convince even one family member, using Islamic argument, that it was wrong and unfair, but couldn't. It was like a holy tribal law for them—only pure Arabs can marry their daughters. Now to your comments, dear readers, on my last article “I'm black! So what?!” Dr. Rasheid Small writes: Whatever form of abuse, whether sexual harassment or racial discrimination, its root cause lies in education, upbringing and the moral values of our societies. Abuse in modern society, like that during the period of ignorance, is a reflection of authority and power. The question to be addressed is why has abuse become acceptable in modern society where we claim to have the best of technologies, the most educated of people and a fair justice system? I would say: Humanity has lost or been stripped of its morality. Through the demonizing of religion/beliefs we have plunged humanity and society into a bottomless pit immorality, and a situation where everything goes as long as it does not affect “me". The problem will persist as long as educational systems are devoid of moral values.” Clean heart! “Only teaching children to make their minds free from any type of prejudice would make for a racism-free society. Parents should teach them to respect everyone regardless of caste, color and creed. Allah made us equal and he is not bothered by our appearances, yet concerned about our intentions and deeds.” Maria Khan Bigotry “People have gotten so superficial and immature in today's world. They see the color, caste, tribe, and religion to ascertain a person's worth. If this is what we want to teach are little ones, we get a society filled with hatred, bigotry and self loathing.” Dr. Leena Black is beautiful! “Saudis and the whole Mideast are a black race. We are all made different because Allah SWT wanted it that way. Black is beautiful and so are other colors of nature.” M.H. Kayani Institutional Racism “If the institutions in KSA are racist then nothing will change. What we need are open laws and transparent policies, including anti-racist training programs in businesses, schools and government. Then, you will begin to see cultural change in the country.” Ramon Mohamed Discrimination “Even Saudis are victims of their own citizens' discrimination!!” Bash Gul Equality teaching “Prophet Muhammad SAW taught us that we are united and equal in Islam. Treat each other with the respect you would want from another, even if that other is a non-Muslim. Muslims are those who respect and honor, not disgrace and shame.” Umme Musab Occasional Incident “One must not forget that Abu Jehal can be found anywhere and anytime.” Saadatullah – Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter: @kbatarfi
