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Latin Islam Since 1 1 S Eptember Latin Islam since 11 September Brieger, P. Citation Brieger, P. (2002). Latin Islam since 11 September. Isim Newsletter, 11(1), 8-8. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/1887/16827 Version: Not Applicable (or Unknown) License: Leiden University Non-exclusive license Downloaded https://hdl.handle.net/1887/16827 from: Note: To cite this publication please use the final published version (if applicable). 8 Current Issues I S I M NEWSLETTER 1 1 / 0 2 A r g e n t i n a PEDRO BRIEGER Latin Islam since The attack on New York's Twin Towers on 11 Septem- ber 2001 had negative repercussions all over the globe, including in Argentina. Since then, leaders of the Muslim community in Argentina have been invit- 1 1 S e p t e m b e r ed by the mass media to explain the causes of the at- tacks, as if Muslims all over the world were in some way linked to the terrorists and their ideas. Although against cemeteries are always the work of Personal experiences gave a great deal of publicity to his situa- they were approached with respect on many radio the police, who in this way attempt to settle When consulted on the subject of discrim- tion, and although he never received an of- and television programmes, there were clear expres- internal political issues of the country. 'We ination, most of the members of the Muslim ficial answer from the university, in October sions of discrimination and ridicule of Muslims and are already familiar with this story', writes community tend to say that there is no dis- 2001 he was informed that the subject their beliefs. Kollman, '[e]very time there is a moment of crimination in Argentina. Imam Mahmud would be reinstated to the architecture fac- convulsion in the Buenos Aires police corps, Husain, ex-president of the Association for ulty. Noufouri, who was a cultural aide at the At dawn on Sunday, 14 July 2002, the main a spectacular desecration of graves takes the Spreading of Islam in Latin America and Islamic Centre of the Argentine Republic cemetery of the Muslim community of Ar- place…. Just like with the Jewish cemeter- director of the Centre of Higher Islamic (CIRA), affirms that despite his problem he is gentina was the object of an attack. Just a ies, the attacks were now against Muslim Studies in Argentina, has tried on more than not discriminated against for being a Mus- few miles from the centre of Buenos Aires, graves. The idea is to create an international one occasion to organize the Islamic com- lim, although 'there is always some kind of taking advantage of the fact that the ceme- impact and to put Minister Cafiero (chief of munity politically, but his attempts have differential consideration when they find tery does not have special security, uniden- security of the province of Buenos Aires) on failed. Husain compares the experience of out I am a Muslim.' tified persons entered and desecrated the spot.'3 Kollman is convinced that the at- the Muslims with that of Jews, who organize One of the most symbolic cases of an about 150 graves. Although the graves were tack on the Islamic cemetery is a discrimina- themselves easily because 'they have a his- openly anti-Islamic attitude took place on not completely destroyed and the buried tory act, given the fact that 'there is no his- toric experience of persecution, they are in a television. In September 2001, after the at- bodies remained untouched, it was clear tory of desecration of Catholic cemeteries, hostile environment. The Christian environ- tacks on the Twin Towers, the journalist that the intention was to cause as much and here the Muslims are clearly a scape- ment is hostile to Jews, and as a minority Guillermo Cherasny, known for his public damage as possible to the maximum num- goat, as Jews are in other cases.' Beyond the they need to always be represented politi- statements in favour of the military taking ber of graves. The Islamic Cemetery of internal Argentinean political motivations cally. This has not been the case with Mus- armed action against the democratic sys- Buenos Aires was inaugurated in 1961, and that the facts may be based on, and even lims. We could say that Judaism as a minori- tem, said in a broadcast of his television pro- ty always acts with a minority awareness, gramme B r o k e r s that 'Arabs and Muslims are whereas Islam as a minority acts with a ma- damn nazis'. These words gave cause to a jority awareness. Tradition itself has led public legal complaint of CIRA against the Islam to do so, because it sees itself as all journalist Ð which is not over yet.8 peoples, all persons, all races, and all cul- It is still very difficult to determine if the tures. It does not see itself as a minority.' desecration of graves at the Islamic Ceme- Nonetheless, until the reform of the Con- tery was an anti-Islamic action. The ambigu- stitution in 1994, advanced by ex-president ous relationship between misunderstand- Carlos S a ú l Menem, Muslims were discrimi- ing, ignorance, and discriminatory attitudes nated against at some of the most important against minorities, and the particularities of government levels, such as access to the Argentinean politics, which always contains presidency, which was off limits. As admitted elements of violence, do not allow us to ar- by his ex-wife, Zulema Yoma, Menem aban- rive at a clear-cut conclusion. In any event, doned Islam and converted to Christianity in regardless of the intention of those who 1966 because his main ambition was to be- desecrated the graves, for the Islamic com- come president of the country and the 1853 munity of Argentina this was yet another Constitution prevented non-Catholics from link in a campaign against Islam that was holding that position. According to that only enhanced after 11 September. Concur- Constitution, when taking office the presi- ring with the journalist Simon Birinder of dent and vice-president had to swear by say- the Buenos Aires Herald, one could also say ing 'I, [name], pledge by God our Lord and that, more than discrimination, 'it is unfortu- these Holy Gospels, to perform with loyalty nate but true, that few Argentines really un- and patriotism the function of president.'4 derstand what Islam is about.'9 Once in the presidency, Menem promoted the reform of the Constitution, and since N o t e s 1994 the only requirement to become presi- 1 . This information and the citations in this article, dent is to have been born in Argentinean unless stated otherwise, are based on a number of territory or be the child of a native citizen.5 interviews with those directly concerned The reform also altered the pledge, and conducted by the author in 2001 and 2002. when taking office the president and vice- 2 . C l a r í n, 16 July 2002. president now vow to 'perform loyally and 3 . R a ú l Kollman, 'Profanadores y p o l i c í a s', P á g i n a/ 1 2, with patriotism the function of president (or 16 July 2002. Islamic Centre there is little movement because Ð as Zule- though the desecration of the graves may vice-president) of the Nation and observe 4 . Roberto Pedro Lopresti, C o n s t i t u c i ó nA r g e n t i n a, i n the heart of ma Hamze, secretary of the cemetery since not have been targeted towards Muslims, the Constitution of the Argentinean Nation, edited by Unilat (Buenos Aires, 1998). (Article 93 of Buenos Aires. 1984, notes Ð there are only about 4 to 5 fu- the Islamic community did experience it as a respecting its religious beliefs.'6 the Constitution, pp. 62Ð3). nerals per month.1 The media did put the discriminatory act. It is only when one delves into the person- 5 . Article 89 of the reformed Constitution. See cemetery in the spotlight on the occasion of Adalberto Assad, president of the ceme- al experiences of Muslims in Argentina that Constitution o p . c i t. p. 61. the funeral of ex-president Carlos Menem's tery and the Argentinean Arab Islamic Asso- discrimination comes out into the open, 6 . '[ D ] e s e m p e ñ a r con lealtad y patriotismo el cargo son, Carlos Facundo Menem, who died in an ciation, believes that 'this is another attack going beyond the typical association of de presidente (o vicepresidente) de la Nación y accident under unclear circumstances in against our community by people who want 'Turkish' (which equals Muslim or Arab), observar y hacer observar fielmente la March 1995. to spread chaos in society. It also goes which Muslims have already come to accept Constitución de la N a c i ó n Argentina respetando The motives of the assailants were un- against the entire social fabric.' For Sheikh as part of the country's folklore. The archi- sus creencias religiosas.' Art. 93 of the reformed known, since no pamphlets were found ex- Abdul Karim Paz of the S h ici t e mosque at- tect Hamurabi Noufouri, son of Syrian par- Constitution, see note 4. plaining their actions and no anti-Islamic Tauhid of the Flores neighbourhood, 'it is ents, is professor of Islamic and Mudejar Art 7 . Quoted in the letter of Hamurabi Noufouri to the slogans were painted. On Tuesday, 16 July, the first time that the community goes since 1998 in the departments of Architec- architect Bernardo Dujovne, Dean of the Faculty of the newspaper C l a r í n, with the largest circu- through something like this; it is a very bit- ture, Industrial Design, Dress Design, and Architecture, Design, and Urbanism of the lation in Argentina, dedicated its editorial to ter moment.
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