By
Sabria S. Jawhar
26 March 2015
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom’s remarks
about Islam and Saudi Arabia’s domestic policies should be an object lesson for
every government up-and-comer who hopes to carve out a career in the diplomatic
corps.
In Wallstrom’s zeal to further the cause of women’s
rights — at least women’s rights as perceived by western nations — she managed
to disrespect Shariah, the Sunnah and 1.5 billion Muslims. Wallstrom can be
held as an example of a western diplomat who didn’t do her homework. No
reasonable person can object to criticism when based on fact and research, but
when criticism comes from ignorance, well, consequences abound.
Whenever a diplomat inserts the word “medieval” when discussing
the domestic policies of a country with which it has a long and productive
partnership, it becomes necessary for them to take basic lessons in diplomacy.
As if her remarks are not enough for the Swedish
government to work up a sweat, Wallstrom has a temper tantrum for being turned
away from speaking at the Arab League where she was scheduled to discuss
women’s rights. Sweden’s churlish response to the League’s action was to
scuttle a major 10-year-old military sales partnership with Saudi Arabia.
In a nutshell, Wallstrom criticized Saudi Arabia for
preventing her from speaking to the League. The Kingdom responded by recalling
its ambassador to Sweden for its “interference in its internal affairs.” About
a week later, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recalled its ambassador for pretty
much the same reasons. Things escalated when Saudi Arabia decided to stop
issuing business visas to Swedish citizens.
Western political pundits and more than a few western
politicians and diplomats have made sport of Saudi Arabia in the past year, as
the self-ascribed Islamic State (IS) continues to wield its murderous influence
throughout the region. Inexplicably, and without evidence, Saudi Arabia has
been targeted for allegedly spawning violent extremism under the so-called
banner of “Wahhabism.” Without a hint of self-awareness of their own practices,
some democratic countries embrace a double standard that boggles the mind. For
example, France prosecuted and convicted a French comedian for expressing
sympathy with the killer of the Charlie Hebdo editorial staff while celebrating
Charlie Hebdo’s reckless insistence of exercising hateful free speech that
marginalizes minorities living in poverty. Yet France bristles at the
suggestion that an Arab country interfere with its internal anti-terrorism
policies.
The same goes for Sweden. In an interview in January
with The New York Times, Adrian Groglopo, professor of social science with the
University of Gothenburg, said, “Sweden has long been a racially segregated
country” with racism becoming “more socially acceptable” with the rising
popularity of the Sweden Democrats. And a disproportionate number of the
country’s 9.6 million immigrants and children of immigrants are unemployed at
twice the country’s 8 percent unemployment rate, according to The Times.
Really, clean up your own house before you criticize
mine. France and Sweden’s hypocrisy point to democratically elected governments
that have their own human rights issues, so pressuring Saudi Arabia and its
neighbours to conform to their ideal of what they believe constitutes full
embrace of human rights rings false.
Wallstrom’s rant about her exclusion at the Arab
League was a set-up. I’m not much for conspiracy theories, but surely
Wallstrom, a seasoned diplomat, was well aware of the limitations of a female
making any kind of controversial remarks in a roomful of Arab League delegates.
She seized the moment by creating a political kerfuffle by maligning Saudi
Arabia.
But clearly Wallstrom and the Swedish government did
not think through. While Wallstrom made headlines, the Swedes sadly didn’t
anticipate the long-term fallout when it canceled its arms deal with the
Kingdom. Sweden sold an estimated $39 million in military arms and equipment in
2014. Saudi Arabia ranks in the top 20 countries doing business with Sweden.
For a small country that is no insignificant chunk of change. The Swedish
business community was alarmed enough to issue a statement claiming that the
country’s business reputation is in danger and that jobs and financial security
of its workers are threatened.
Saudi Arabia is in a position to go elsewhere for its
military equipment. There are plenty of countries that spout rhetoric of
alleged human rights abuses in Arab nations while continuing fruitful business
relationships that ensure jobs and a thriving economy for both partners. That’s
because they use proper channels to air their concerns. The only thing
Wallstrom accomplished was threatening the livelihood of manufacturers and
their workers. I’m not sure a Swedish factory worker gives 2 cents to
Wallstrom’s rant after being kicked out of the Arab League.
Wallstrom certainly has the right to address human
rights abuses, but it behoves diplomats and their governments to consider the
venue for airing such grievances, their own conduct in curbing abuses in their
own countries and the ramifications of such outbursts. Sweden hasn’t quite
figured that out yet.
Source: http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/723291
URL: http://newageislam.com/islam-and-the-west/sabria-s-jawhar/the-undiplomatic-diplomat/d/102128