Rasha Helwa: does racism spread in the Arab world? | opinions | DW



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On January 5, Algeria Khadija Ben Hamou, 26, won the title of Miss Algeria in 2019. Overall, the Arab region or the world would not have been so interested in the Miss Algeria competition if there had not been a stir .

Unfortunately, the clamor surrounding the competition is not positive, but waves of continuous attack on the winner, claiming that "does not fit the standards of beauty", as if there was a protocol that provides for the provisions of beauty, we do not know the status .

Although it is important to deepen the competitions of queens of beauty, both in the Arab region and in the world, and present opinions that support and oppose these platforms and the consolidation of gender roles of women in societies, this article will go on. Khadija bin Hamo and Miss Saudi Arabia, the angel of Yusuf, more than a year ago, were attacked by an attack on his facade, in the context of Miss Algeria, against the color of his brown skin and against the region . From which it came, the state of Adrar in the southwest of Algeria.

This occasion and how ironic it was Khadija bin Hamo for the color of his skin, his curly hair and the shape of his nose, etc., It confirms once again the answer to the question: there is racism against the owners and women of black / black skin in the Arab region? Yes, this racism is embodied in a series of popular proverbs, such as: "The white handkerchief of your black day", in which the white color expresses the "good" and the black is the "bad".

"Algerian society is colorful and problematic and in every family we find a variety of skin colors, and it is unacceptable that the color of its skin is a reason to criticize it." Unfortunately, there are racists who take advantage of every opportunity to free their backward ideas and beliefs. "

The attack on Khadija was not limited to the media platforms, as the Kuwaiti media also played a role in the attack: "You have nothing to do with beauty, this is my responsibility: l & # 39, Algeria deserves to be better represented, "said Khadija. God willing, you will marry quickly so that you can pray ".

In addition to these campaigns, many supported Khadija by many: the Syrian artist Asala Nasri defended Miss Algeria, saying: "Beauty has no standard, except those who put their spirit, heart and eyes to accept what they think "He said.

In an interview with Algerian journalist Salah Badis on the subject of Khadija Ben Hamou, he said: "There are many points related to the Miss Algeria competition: after every year there is always ridicule and criticism, including the fact that we are Muslims and we do not have women competing for competitions, beauty queens, etc. Some people are receptive to the idea of ​​competitions, but they do not like the girl who won the title in previous years, the winner was a white girl , and it is ridiculed that it is not beautiful and beautiful women, etc. .. "" Despite the attack on Khadija, it is worth remembering that at the same time no racist statement was issued by a public figure or a artist in Algeria, unlike some Arab journalists, "said Badis. "All the public figures in Algeria have supported Khadija." The problem is starting to be small and growing, but at the same time I can not say that there is no racism in Algeria ".

When every racist attack is exposed to dark-skinned owners, it is important to ask oneself where does all this come from? Of course, the answer is broad and has many reasons that are hard to mention now, but in the context of "beauty standards", we ask: how our popular heritage, which sings in black women through poems and songs, has become a striker? There is a global system that has a role in defining "beautiful standards of women" through television, cinema, media, etc. This system, which is also present in our Arab screens, is embodied in how we show dark skin on television and in cinema. Is there any appearance? And how this repression can be absorbed into the color of a skin sometimes called the earth in its name: the dark earth. This degree of negation and oppression of ourselves? So, the question of beauty is not essential here, but our social responsibility to end this exclusion embodied in many ways.

* The subject expresses the writer's point of view and not necessarily the opinion of an institution DW.

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