Exploiting minorities

By Sharique Naeem

 

In the last few weeks, the immigrants in America have held demonstrations, with millions turning out in streets demanding a legal status and citizenship for immigrants.

The migrant workers perform menial jobs that are poorly paid; have no benefits; go without health insurance and often are exploited as they work long hours. They still pay taxes in the hope of gaining legal status while they live in fear of deportation.

The fact that such a large number of them demonstrated goes to show the darker side of the capitalist nations, which mercilessly exploit their minorities.

This can be seen from other examples, such as Germany, where the large Turkish community has no citizenship rights and is regarded as ‘guest workers’. France has also witnessed riots from its migrant citizens from Maghreb. Australia too has seen recent race violence, with politicians declaring, that there is no place for those that do not adapt to the Australian ‘way’ of life’.

Contrary to this hollow approach of capitalist system, the treatment of migrant minorities by the Caliphate was exemplary in its ability to accommodate different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

The current momentum for the return of the Caliphate in the Muslim world will see non-Muslims or Zimmis (people of contract) being accorded full citizenship and protection.

They will be encouraged to contribute to all forms of public life from trade, commerce, and other professions including the civil service of the Caliphate. People shall be welcomed from all over the world to the Caliphate as in the past when scholars came and studied in the universities of Cairo, Baghdad and Cordoba. This is why when Spain was carrying it’s inquisition in the 15th Century and killing both Muslims and Jews alike, the Jews sought and found sanctuary in the Ottoman Caliphate.

Here they excelled in their professions which prompted Caliph Bayazeed II to say “How can you call this Ferdinand ‘wise’ when he has impoverished his own dominions in order to enrich mine?”