Arab World: Tears Spilled on the Break Up of Sudan
This post is part of our special coverage South Sudan Referendum 2011.
South Sudan's independence referendum and the likelihood of its separation today has hit a raw nerve with some Arab netizens. Many worry this could be the first step towards carving up the Middle East. Here's a snapshot of their reactions on microblogging site, Twitter.
From Egypt, Hossam Moanis Saad laments the sad state of much of the Arab world:
آه يا أمة .. #egypt #tunisia #palestine #sudan #fb
Engy Ghozlan, also from Egypt, echoes similar sentiments:
#Palestine, #Iraq, #Tunisia, #Algeria, #Egypt, #Yemen, #Sudan… notice a pattern?!
And Omar Al Attas, from Saudi Arabia, adds:
Meanwhile, Egyptian Mohammed Mansour wonders:
And Saudi journalist Hassan Al Harthy spells doom and tweets:
And Abderrahman Najjar, from Egypt, is stunned:
In conclusion, Asma Mohammd, from Saudi Arabia, prays:
This post is part of our special coverage South Sudan Referendum 2011.
7 comments
What do they expected. If the north exploited the south and let them no freedom at all, and stoled their resources and make them slaves because they, the southerns, are not muslims, what do they expected? No, they are not muslims, neither arabs, and they have the right to leave and decide their religion, their goverment and their freedom. Yes, probably it will happened the same in Egypt, because peole who is “different” from te oficial type are not respected. Tha’ts what you want? that’s what you’ll get.
Funny to hear all the whining about South Soudan splitting. Where were all the whiners when 2 million people from the South were killed and their homes destroyed. You don’t build ummas with blood and religion alone, maybe one day we’ll learn
This is revolting. They moan the break up of the political lines of demarcation on the map of Africa (imposed by the Europeans mind you) as the break up of the “Arab World” simply because the state of Sudan was savagely and mercilessly dominated by a group of Arabic-speaking people who not only imposed their language, culture, and religion as supreme but fostered the war that killed over 2 million.
What is most disturbing about these posts is little thought is given to those that died or those whom are oppressed in South Sudan. It is not about the poor and the marginalized but about the loss of power of an Arab dictator. This kind of attitude is nothing but hypocrisy and no matter how much they deny it. Oppress people and they will resist! Enslave them and they will break free! They should not limit their feelings of “sympathy” for only light skinned or Arabic speaking people they should expand this to all humanity regardless of color or religion!
Their response is nothing but revolting. I hope the author was only choosing the very worst and this is not representative.
Here’s another take from the Twitter conversation:
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/01/09/arab-world-stop-crying-over-sudan/
Good luck to the inevitable new state of South Sudan. I have taught refugees from that region (and many others) for several years in Australia where former refugees from south Sudan have travelled long distances to vote in this referendum. Oppression never wins in the end. If the Khartoum government had realised this, its borders might have remained the same. Let’s hope all repressive governments around the world are overthrown, preferably by people power rather than bloodshed.
DON’T BE SAD BE GLAD
It is so sad when any country is divided especially the ancient cultures of Africa which had bonded indigenous people from the beginning of time. These people were living side by side before Islam or Christianity enter their borders and messed up everything. In this particular situation the religious fanaticism is to be blamed. On one hand, the history of Christianity is known for its brutal evangelism against the African people and their unique cultures. On the other hand, I believe in Sudan Islamic fundamentalism is very much to be blamed. Its so funny when I read so many people are crying crocodile tears and sobbing why Sudan was allowed to have a partition. The answer to that question is obvious. Let me tell you it was the Islamic fanaticism that caused all the break up. Islamic powers to be never allowed other religions to be practiced yet destroying millions of innocent lives in the name of religion. And that didn’t work in Sudan. So lamenting people don’t be mad be glad because its a dawn of a new day; its a taste of freedom for the oppressed. For now, just be happy for Southern Sudan and let those people bask in the glory of new found peace and a chance to govern their own destiny. Who knows they might prove to be the guiding light for democracy for the generation to come. Amin.