“So-called native informants”

Oh here we go – is Rahaf al-Qunun just another tool of the Global Conspiracy of Islamophobia?

Now, as al-Qunun begins a new life in a new country, questions are being raised about the reasons for Canada’s speedy decision to grant her asylum, the message it sends and its implications for the future of the country’s already-frosty relationship with Saudi Arabia, where an estimated 17,000 Canadians currently live.

“Canada and Saudi Arabia are in a political battle currently, so because this woman is Saudi, my sense is that there was some political motive in promoting the ‘rescuing’ of a Saudi girl,” said Ryerson University professor Mehrunnisa Ali.

“Of course, the rescuing of oppressed people is a Western narrative in many different ways but the securing of a Saudi woman being oppressed by her family and her country sharpens this narrative in ways that may not have been possible otherwise.”

So…we all should have just turned our backs and let al-Qunun be deported back to Saudi Arabia and the tender mercies of her father? Rather than risk being part of The Western Narrative? And is the issue colonialist narratives or lucrative dealings with Saudi Arabia? They’re not quite the same thing, after all.

For some, including senior research fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue Amarnath Amarasingam, it’s concerning how al-Qunun’s case is being celebrated by figures that often push an anti-Islam or anti-immigration message.

“Many on the far-right love ex-Muslims, and many ex-Muslims on the far-right often present themselves as so-called native informants presenting to the mainstream the real ‘truth’ about Muslims,” he said.

Excuse me? “So-called” by whom? Ex-Muslims sure as hell don’t call themselves “native informants,” so why introduce the term? It’s a calculated insult, and it’s a cheat to use it while trying to disown it with “so-called.”

“It’s perhaps not surprising that many of these individuals on the far-right encouraged Canada to accept Rahaf after it was rumoured that she had abandoned Islam. To be clear, I’m very happy that Canada let her in but … I’m going to go out on a limb and say there are some ulterior motives there.”

“Ulterior” how, exactly? Is it “ulterior” to dislike Islam as it is mostly practiced because of its illiberal view of women?

A nasty piece. Not cool, CBC.

10 Responses to ““So-called native informants””