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June 8, 2022
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo’s journey plans to Qatar received axed by the Metropolis Council after they cited human rights issues.
Liccardo was invited by the international ministry of Qatar to attend the nation’s Setting and Power Analysis Institute from June 11-13 and find out about their water conservation efforts. All journey lodging and meals can be paid by Qatar, which makes it legally thought of a present to San Jose. On Tuesday, the Metropolis Council voted 8-3 to reject that reward.
“There have been prices with human rights violations from Amnesty Worldwide in addition to the U.S. state division towards Qatar, so I am involved about you going there,” Councilmember Dev Davis mentioned. “We voted to limit metropolis journey to American cities for lower than the abuses and allegations which were leveled towards Qatar.”
Liccardo, together with Vice Mayor Chappie Jones and Councilmember David Cohen, voted in favor of the journey plans.
Councilmembers Raul Peralez and Sylvia Arenas additionally spoke out towards Liccardo’s journey plans. They argued the journey was not crucial nor a great illustration of San Jose’s values.
Liccardo agreed that Qatar doesn’t espouse the identical democratic values or freedoms as San Jose, however mentioned the state has made efforts to democratize its nation. He mentioned the county granted ladies the best to vote similtaneously males, and girls can run for public workplace. He additionally famous Qatar was described as a robust non-NATO ally of the U.S. for greater than 50 years by President Joe Biden.
“There are a lot of areas the place I believe we’d all agree that we do not agree with what Qatar is doing in its personal nation,” Liccardo mentioned. “Then again, Qatar has been one thing of a beacon in some ways.”
He mentioned Qatar has made notable developments in its water conservation methods, desalination methods and applied sciences associated to diesel that would profit town—which is the explanation why he needs to go.
“I am centered on water and I do know that they’ve made nice positive factors round offering a potable provide for his or her 3 million residents,” Liccardo mentioned. “Nonetheless, if we do not talk, we do not journey, then we can’t study.”
He mentioned in Qatar, not a single metropolis greenback can be used. If he needed to pay for an Uber, for instance, that will be on his personal dime. Liccardo was additionally planning on paying for his spouse to affix him.
Some members of the general public supported Davis’ name towards the mayor’s journey plans, whereas others mentioned it might be a great studying alternative.
Maha Elgenaidi, founder and innovation director of the Islamic Networks Group, mentioned the dialog round Qatar on the council had underlying sentiments of Islamophobia—not as a result of they have been criticizing Qatar, however as a result of sure feedback appeared in charge Islam, or Islamic legislation, for the human rights abuses, moderately than an unjust authorities.
Islamic legislation, also called Sharia legislation, is a set of Islamic guidelines that largely take care of spiritual practices, like attending funerals or private contracts regarding marriage, divorce and inheritance. Elgenaidi mentioned the way in which the council used Sharia to explain a number of the injustices in Qatar are usually not associated to what Islam outlines—so it is not truthful in charge Sharia or Islam.
“I’m not for or towards Qatar. There are human rights violations dedicated by all nations, together with Qatar, and that’s truthful to criticize,” Elgenaidi instructed San José Highlight. “My grievance is with the disparagement of Islam, which is instantly consequential in impacting the extent of hate and discrimination towards members of the Muslim American group.”
She mentioned essentially the most obtrusive instance of Islamophobia was when Arenas mentioned she can be scared to go to Qatar as a girl, or when Liccardo mentioned there have been components of Islamic legislation in Qatar’s authorized system indicating that’s what makes the state unjust. She mentioned the dialog made it clear the Metropolis Council ought to undergo anti-racist coaching.
“The council is conflating the worst points of Muslim habits with Islamic legislation,” Elgenaidi mentioned.
She concluded that the council “also needs to be educated on Islam and Muslims and girls in Islam specifically.”
The journey would have included mayors from Detroit, Michigan and Arlington, Texas, in addition to Bryan Barnett, president of the U.S. Mayor’s Convention, to find out about Qatar.
Contact Jana Kadah at jana@sanjosespotlight.com or @Jana_Kadah on Twitter.
San José Highlight is town’s first nonprofit information group devoted to impartial political and enterprise reporting. Please assist our public service journalism by clicking right here.
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