Although it was a matter related to sports, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman took it upon himself to hold accountable a prince who made racist remarks, and ordered him punished. This is the third message the state has conveyed in the past two weeks against discrimination in society. The first message was due to a tweet by an employee, and the second due to sectarian discrimination in employment.
The Saudi state’s law of governance and essence is clearly against sectarianism and racism. However, there are certain practices by individuals or groups that have increased due to media mobilization. This makes the state’s stance essential to protect citizens and residents alike, redirecting the moral compass toward the right path.
With this message, King Salman is solidifying basic rules of rights and duties among society’s various components. The king punished a member of the royal family to deliver a frank message against discrimination and racism, and said the Kingdom is bigger and more important than all differences.
The issue is not just related to laws but also to morals, as our society’s piousness and nature reject insulting and abusing others, and shaming one is more influential than government laws. However, these moral standards and ethics have begun to decline with time.
There are no societies void of racism. Unfortunately, the more a society modernizes, the more discrimination appears among its members. This is contrary to what some people think, that modernity disciplines people and their ethics. There are several means to address discrimination — the best is to spread a culture that fights it on all levels, whether tribal, sectarian, gender or nationality-related.
Narrowing differences requires a long-term educational program that entrenches the spirit of patriotism and fights racism on all levels. Such a program also needs a plan that eliminates and pursues racism in all government departments, as well as in media outlets, schools and employment.
Many countries resort to a harsher punishment against those who are publicly and deliberately racist or discriminatory.
Not everyone who is racist or discriminatory is from ignorant mobs; we also see this among the educated. This is because such acts have become increasingly habitual, and over time, they have become acceptable and social forms of bullying about which people keep silent.
Media outlets and social networking websites play a major role in spreading or fighting discrimination. They also have a big role in highlighting such acts and holding accountable those committing mistakes. This will contribute to cleansing society of such defects that divide people and allow attacks on others.
Racism also includes discrimination against foreigners by making unjust collective accusations against them. Verbally abusing Bengalis, Ethiopians and others due to crimes committed by members of these communities is a flagrant violation against the innocent majority. We are unaware of the extent of the harm caused — either verbally or physically — due to bad propaganda spread by irresponsible media outlets.
Generalization is a hateful form of racism. Those of us who have lived in western countries are aware that these practices are wrong and dangerous, as they incite naïve people against others and persecute society’s weakest and most helpless.
