Arab Media Compares France Riots To Palestinian Intifada

by Jalal Ghazi

(PNS) -- Islamic leaders in Paris, Al Jazeera television reported, have called on the government to take four concrete steps to stop the rioting that has rocked hundreds of France's cities.

Meanwhile, coinciding with the 51st anniversary of the Algerian Revolution, the riots in France are being viewed especially by Algerians through the lens of the ugliest and darkest period of modern Arab-French history.

Muhammad Humish, secretary general of the Union of Islamic of Organizations in Northern Paris, criticized the government's treatment of the riots as a security problem.

Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin had announced plans to deploy 8,000 police and 1,500 military reservists and revived a 1955 law giving police the right to declare curfews if deemed necessary.

Humish instead called on the French government to stop economic policies that for decades have pushed out low-income families from major cities like Paris.

Humish told Al-Jazeera that he and elected Muslim officials representing District 93, where many of the riots are taking pace, met with the Interior Minister Nicolas Sarcozy for two hours and presented him four recommendations.

"First, that Sarcozy address the young rioters by telling them that he understands them, just like the late De Gaulle did (in the 1968 student riots).

"Second, form an investigation committee to probe the deaths of two teenage boys who were accidentally electrocuted last Thursday in Paris' suburb of Clichy-Sous-Bois and the lobbing of teargas bombs into a Mosque during prayers.

"Third, to develop an emergency plan to deal with housing, transportation and jobs problems in poor neighborhoods.

"Fourth, to help the marginalized youth achieve more political representation."

Al-Alam television from Iran strongly criticized Sarkozy's controversial description of the rioters as "scum." Sarkozy had also challenged the youths by saying "[Sarkozy] will fight them in the back alleys of the suburb because he once was a 'Suburb Boy!'" The Al-Alam reporter accused the minister of blatant racism.

An Arab woman and French citizen told Al-Jazeera, "the responsibility does not lie only on the shoulders of the interior ministry of Sarkozy. President Chirac must intervene and tell U.S. whether we are French or not. If we are, then why aren't they treating U.S. like other French citizens and why aren't they crating job opportunities for us?"

Hitham Manah, a spokesman from the Arab Committee for Human Rights, told Al Jazeera that while he rejects violence, rioting has become the only way for millions of marginalized Africans and Arabs of immigrant parents to liberate themselves from racism and poverty. Millions of immigrants live in poor and isolated ghettoes, some of which were built right after the Second World War.

Manah compared the riots to the first Palestinian Intifada (1987-1993). While young Palestinians used stones against Israeli tanks, Arab and Africans living in ghettoes are burning cars in wealthy neighborhoods to get the world's attention.

Meanwhile, in the eyes of many Arab media, the French government's neglect of marginalized youths isn't much different from its refusal to honor repeated pleas to apologize for atrocities committed against the Algerians during the 132 years of French occupation.

France even refuses to reconsider the parliament's decision on Feb. 23, 2005, to ratify a law glorifying "the positive role of the French presence overseas" and stipulating that "school curriculum recognize in particular the positive character of the French overseas presence, notably in North Africa."

Algerian Television, broadcasting from Algiers in Arabic and other languages, has been glorifying "the Algerian struggle for freedom" with more emphasis than usual as the riots spread in France. One of its reporters said, "Algerian martyrs were killed in fierce and unbalanced gun battles with enemy troops; they refused to surrender to the French, preferring to die in dignity and pride."

Amal Musa wrote in the Nov. 3 issue of Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that North Africans are reconsidering their relations with France. She noted that North African students are less inclined to learn French in schools and poets and writers do not use French as much they used to.

While students are turning away from French there is growing interest in learning English. Musa also pointed out that the French crisis has diplomatic repercussions as North African countries are increasingly negotiating partnership agreements with the United States.