Law Enforcement Contact with Arab Americans and Other Middle Eastern Groups

1. Law Enforcement Contact with Arab Americans and Other Middle Eastern Groups Chapter 8

2. Learning Objectives for Chapter 8 • Describe the historical background, demographics, and diversity within the Arab American and other Middle Eastern communities in the United States • Discuss the implications of communication styles, group identification terms, myths and stereotypes, and family structure of Arab Americans and other Middle Eastern groups for law enforcement

3. Learning Objectives for Chapter 8 • Describe the impact of the extended family and community, cultural practices, gender roles, generational differences, adolescent and youth issues on law enforcement contact • Highlight key law enforcement concerns and skills, resources, and practices for addressing some of these concerns

4. Should I say Arab, Arabic or Arabian? • Arab is a noun for a person, and is used as an adjective as in “Arab country” • Arabic is the name of the language; it is generally used as an adjective only when describing the language (as in the "Arabic" language; the "Arabic" script) • Arabian is an adjective that refers to Saudi Arabia, the Arabian Peninsula, or as in Arabian horse Detroit Free Press (2001): 100 Questions You Have Always Wanted to Ask about Arab Americans

5. 1. Aden 2. Bahrain 3. Egypt 4. Iran (non-Arab) 5. Iraq 6. Israel (non-Arab) 7. Jordan 8. Kuwait 9. Lebanon 10. Oman 11. Palestinian Authority 12. Qatar 13. Saudi Arabia 14. Syria 15. Turkey (non-Arab) 16. United Arab Emirates 17. Yemen Middle Eastern Countries

6. Not All Middle Easterners are Arabs • Iran, Turkey, and Israel are non-Arab Countries • Not all Muslims are Arabs and vice versa • Many Arabs are Christians • Muslims are composed of dozens of ethnic groups

7. Other Arab Countries Outside of the Middle East • Algeria • Tunisia • Morocco • Libya

8. IRAN—Non-Arab Country • Iranians use Arabic script but speak mainly Farsi (Persian) • Majority are Muslims but of the Shi’ah sect of Islam • Persians are the largest group (50 percent) followed by Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Armenians and Assyrians • Extended family, pride, dignity, and honor are similar to the Arab world

9. TURKEY—Non-Arab Country • Majority speak Turkish but some minority groups speak Kurdish, Arabic, and Greek • Majority are Muslim • Extended family and emphasis on pride, dignity, and honor are similar to the Arab world

10. ISRAEL—Non-Arab Country • 80 percent of population is Jewish • 20 percent of population is Arab (Christians and Muslims) • Most Israeli Arabs are Palestinians from the Arab-Israeli war in 1948 • Six-Day War in 1967 resulted in the Israeli occupation of land from parts of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan

11. Arab Immigration to U.S. First wave between 1880 and World War I from Syria (and now known as Lebanon) • Immigrated for economic reasons • 90 percent Christian • Appreciated the police who were respectful • Farmers and artisans selling their goods from town to town

12. Arab Immigration to U.S.Second Wave Came After WWII as Students/Professionals • Immigrated because of economic and political instability (brought a “political consciousness”) • Largest group—Palestinians (around 1948) • Other groups—Lebanese, Yemenis, Syrians, and Iraqis • Second wave instrumental in changing the nature of the Arab-American community in the U.S.

13. Demographics in the U.S. • 4.0 million Americans of Arab ancestry (about 1 percent of the U.S. population) • 12,000 visas issued in 2000 (with numbers dropping after the September 11, 2001 attack) • Largest concentrations in Los Angeles/Orange County, Detroit, New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. • Largest cluster of communities in California

14. Differences and Similarities • Come from at least 13 different countries • Visitors from the Gulf states tend to be wealthy • Immigrants from Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine tend to be poor

15. Basic Arab Values • Dignity, honor, and reputation are very important • Loyalty to family surpasses personal needs • Communication is courteous and hospitable • Adjusting the truth is self-justified to save face and honor

16. Negative Stereotypes • Movies and television have depicted Arabs poorly • Portrayed as ruthless terrorists, greedy rich sheiks, religious fanatics, belly dancers • Western images of Arabs—Ali Baba, Sinbad the Sailor, Thief of Baghdad, harem dancers • Other stereotypic images in films and television

17. “Terrorist” Stereotype and Post-9/11 Backlash • General Arab- and Muslim-bashing after September 11, 2001 • Emergence of new legislations for search and detention • More stringent tracking of visitors and students • Requirements for voluntary interviews

18. Islamic Religion • Not terrorists or fanatics • Is not Mohammadism • Allah is God not Mohammad • Mohammad was a prophet • Allah is the Arabic word for the God of Abraham (used by both Arab Muslims and Arab Christians)

19. The Qur’an (Koran) and the Pillars of Islam 1. Profession of faith in Allah (God) 2. Prayer five times daily 3. Alms giving (concern for the needy) 4. Fasting during the month of Ramadan (sunrise to sunset) 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca (in Saudi Arabia) at least once in each person’s lifetime

20. Taboos in the Mosque Other than emergencies, officers are advised to: • Avoid entering a mosque, or certainly the prayer room of a mosque, during prayers • Never step on a prayer mat or rug with your shoes on • Never place the Qur’an on the floor or put anything on top of it

21. Taboos in the Mosque • Avoid walking in front of people who are praying • Speak softly while people are praying • Dress conservatively (both men and women are required to dress conservatively; shorts are not appropriate) • Invite people out of a prayer area to talk to them

22. Ramadan: The Holy Month One of the holiest periods in the Islamic religion: • Train oneself in self-discipline • Subdue the passions • Give people a sense of unity with all Muslims

23. Ramadan: The Holy Month • 29th day of the month at the new moon— holiday is over • People celebrate up to three days with a feast and other activities • Families pray in the Mosque on the last day

24. Knowledge of Religious Practices • Help officers avoid creating problems and conflicts • Provide awareness necessary for clear communications of officer’s procedures • Facilitate understanding of similarities among Christianity, Judaism, and Islam

25. 1. All three religions are monotheistic, that is, each has a belief in one God 2. All three believe that God is the origin of all, and is all-knowing as well as all-powerful 3. All three have a Holy Book A. Christianity—Bible B. Islam—Qur’an C. Judaism—Torah * The concept of the 10 Commandments are in all three Similarities between Christianity, Islam, and Judaism

26. Arab Family Structure • Arab Americans typically have close-knit families • Extended family members are often as close as the “nuclear family” • Family loyalty and protection is one of the highest values of family life • Newer refugees and immigrants may be reluctant to accept police assistance

27. Head of the Household • The man is overtly the head of the household • Wife tends to be more “behind the scenes” • Fathers are strict disciplinarians in many Arab countries • Roles have changed for established Arab Americans • Men exert influence and power publicly

28. Children and “Americanization” • Similar process for the second generation as found in other immigrant groups in the U.S. • Shame may be brought to the entire family if an individual family member's behavior is inappropriate — In rare and extreme cases, disgrace to the family can result in a crime against the family member perpetrator by the father or brother, for example

29. Cultural Practices: Greetings, Approach, Touching, and Hospitality • Address with a title and their last names— Mr. or Miss (women keep maiden name) • Shake hands and then place right hand over the heart; men may kiss on the cheek • Public touching of the opposite sex is forbidden in the traditional Arabic world • Hospitality is a duty or obligation

30. Verbal and Nonverbal Communication • Warm, expressive and animated • Intimate space—“feel a person's breath” • Distinctly different gestures • Shout when they are excited or angry • Emotional and sometimes perceived as loud in communication style

31. Perception of and Relationships with Police • Diversity of immigrants’ experiences with the police (before and after being in the U.S.) • Major differences in the institution and required responses to police in the Arab world • Punishment may be stricter in the home country • Police procedures may need to be carefully explained

32. Women and Modesty • In the traditional Muslim world, women do not socialize freely with men and are required to dress modestly • Great deal of diversity in the U.S. among the groups • Officer’s sensitivity and awareness important • Police procedures may require accommodation

33. Arab Small Business Owners • Racial and ethnic tensions exist between Arab grocers and liquor-store owners in low income areas (such as Detroit and Cleveland) and members of other minority communities • Dynamics between Arab store owners and African Americans are similar to Koreans and African Americans dynamics in the inner cities • The non-Arab often views the Arab as having money and exploiting the local residents for economic gain

34. Hate crimes declined as community and law enforcement worked together Top FBI officials met with Arab and Muslim leaders to provide assurances for safety and prosecution Continued positive collaboration needed to prevent backlash Local community efforts reinforced positive relationships Hate Crimes against Arab AmericansPost-9/11

35. Sensitivity to New Legislation • New Homeland Security measures require that many local and federal law enforcement officers be in contact with Arab American or Muslim American communities • Differences in police departmental participation

36. Sensitivity to New Legislation (continued) • Importance of communication and collaboration with Arab American and Muslim American community leaders • Cultural awareness and sensitivity will help build stronger community relations and cooperative efforts

37. 2006 Vera Institute of Justice Study “In the aftermath of September 11, Arab Americans have a greater fear of racial profiling and immigration enforcement than of falling victim to hates crimes.”