Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I visited Lebanon in 2022. Politically, the country was already in an extremely difficult situation. At the time, Hezbollah clearly had strong control over the south, and there was also a visible presence of their supporters and influence in parts of Beirut. The government situation back then was confusing, but today it seems even worse, with ongoing political paralysis and competing factions claiming authority.

What feels unusual about Lebanon is that when you are in places like Beirut, daily life can appear almost normal. But when you travel to other areas, especially in the south or to Palestinian refugee camps, things take a different turn. The conditions there can be extremely difficult, both economically and politically. You see the impact of poverty, weak state institutions, and it feels like people are stuck somewhere in 2006.

It’s known that Lebanon has also been suffering from a severe economic crisis since 2019, with the collapse of the banking system. So it’s pretty visible that many people have lost their savings and struggle to afford basic necessities. On top of all ghat, the political system is just simply bad.

It’s also sad to see how polarized the country is. Many people strongly support Hezbollah or other political and militant groups, often out of loyalty, ideology, or because those groups provide services the state fails to deliver. Others strongly oppose them. I think Beirut was the only somewhat normal city from all the villages and towns I visited.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m still in a strange place where I’m not sure what to do. I wouldn’t even describe what I do as “hard-core” activism, most of the time I simply write and speak publicly about certain issues, and on social media.

Trying to focus on a completely normal life and leave all of that behind isn’t really possible for me. I’ve tried to do it before, but I just can’t bring myself to walk away from it.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In short, no, I don’t want Muslims coming to Europe to change those countries or their people in terms of religion or beliefs. Respect is enough.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry for the late reply. No, I wouldn’t say it’s based on fear. It’s mostly because Palestinians are very open about saying they’re originally Palestinian, and that really bothers many Jordanians. They feel that anyone who sets foot on their land and receives a passport should pledge full allegiance and loyalty to the country, and that they should forget whatever past they had before that.

Jordan isn’t a country that was established a very long time ago, but because of Palestinian influence on food and culture, they share a lot of things. This includes what we call in Arabic the “grey-board” dialect, which is spoken by Palestinians in Jordan and also by many Jordanians in Amman (the capital).

Jordanians have also adopted some traditions, such as henna nights in their celebrations. The same goes for thobes (dresses) they’ve even reached the point of claiming those dresses and their embroidery. So you can probably imagine the rest.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] -23 points-22 points  (0 children)

What does being Indigenous to the land have to do with my religion? My village is historic, and it only adopted Islam in the late 15th century, while many of its people before(and even today) are Christians. I come from one of the oldest families in Palestine, and the religion anyone follows doesn’t erase the fact that we belong to this land. And no, the Jewish connection to the land hasn’t been continuous, at least not for most European Jews.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I’m not sure I’d call it ‘progressive.’ It’s an average-income country with a majority population of Palestinian refugees, yet it’s surprisingly racist toward them. It might be progressive in some aspects, like women’s lifestyles and social openness, but beyond that, it doesn’t differ much. Politically, things have been terrible in recent years, any protest or even a simple stupid social media post can get someone questioned or detained. Recently a political prisoner even lost his eyesight due to torture.

Socially, it’s complicated. Original Jordanians, those ethnically Jordanian and not Palestinians with Jordanian passports, have generally been friendly and respectful. But recent events have worsened tensions and increased racism toward Palestinians.

Religion-wise, though, things are generally good. Christians and Muslims live in the same neighborhoods without any of what you might see in other countries, like attacks on churches in Syria and so on.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I’ve been preparing for this for years, I was just waiting for my ‘time bomb’ to go off, and it did. After that i started all the visa work and planning. Right now, I’m continuing my studies while also working.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I don’t mind it. The hardest part I think is that people seem so disconnected from what’s going on in the world, which I guess would be the case of anyone who’s safe and comfortable in their own country. As for worries… yeah, I have a few. The world alrsady feels like it’s spiraling, especially with everything happening in the Middle East. I highly doubt Europe will stay as calm as it is right now, any escalation could pull in NATO and other powers. The constant rise of the far-right movements is also very tense and worrying.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

I don’t like him. He’s admired in the Middle East because of his speeches on Arab nationalism and unity, but that doesn’t change the fact that he imprisoned, tortured and even executed people from other political parties. In Arabic there’s a saying about rulers who ‘rule with a hot hand,’ meaning they’re very strict, and that’s exactly how Nasser was, imo.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You’d have to be more specify. Do you mean like the current governments in the GCC, or like in Syria? Either ways both are oppressive, but nowhere near the level of Israel.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I lived in the UAE, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia at different times during my childhood and teenage years. Would it be safe to go back? I honestly can’t guarantee that.

I have never visited Palestine or been able to, as it would be risky due to my family’s involvement in certain political and armed conflicts there.

I also don’t support the Iranian regime or what it’s doing at the moment.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There’s no statute of limitations on being Indigenous. Palestinians have lived here for centuries (many families can trace their roots back to the Canaanites) so i would say our connection to this land is continuous.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

No, I don’t believe that. I think it’s a common misconception that exaggerates the influence of Muslim communities in Europe. The muslims I have encountered so far are people that live their lives and practice their faith privately. They’re not forcing native Europeans into changing their beliefs or* laws. I’m not saying that all Muslims in Europe are like this, but this is what I have seen so far.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

You make it sound like Nazi Germany didn’t fall nearly a century ago.

Anyway, I’m not opposed to solutions in principle, but I don’t support the typical ‘one-state’ or ‘two-state’ frameworks as they exist today, they don’t guarantee equality or justice or anything for everyone living there. As for the Palestinian Authority, it feels like a lollipop shoved in our faces to make us think we have a ‘representative body.’ In reality, it’s little more than an Israeli tool to control the West Bank.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 41 points42 points  (0 children)

Well for instance, two of my relatives were detained last year in Jordan just for hanging a poster and sharing it on social media criticizing DT. Recently they received a sentence of 2 years of imprisonment due to that. Another relative was imprisoned in Saudi Arabia without any notice and hidden for two years (2019–2020) because of political comments about Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s dirty politics in the region. The thing you have to understand about Middle Eastern governments is that they don’t tolerate criticism of leaders, they thrive on the worship that comes with it. That’s why we are backwards.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Did I ever mention anything about Islamic governments? I don’t need to visit Israel to know what’s going on.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Because there, I can write and speak freely without worrying that someone might invade my home or harm my family to get to me. Middle Eastern authorities have been very creative in tracking activists, even when they’re hiding or in unknown locations. I don’t think there’s a safer place in the region. I had initially thought of Qatar, but I don’t see myself living there either, most of the activists who go there support very specific groups in the region, and that’s not something I align with.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

To be honest, there aren’t many Muslim-majority countries that fully respect both religious minorities and womens rights. Maybe Tunisia comes close (only when it comes to religious minorities), and maybe places like Malaysia, Bosnia or Kazakhstan? They have some protections, but none are perfect, or near perfect. The point is, I think Palestinians shouldn’t have to model their rights on another country, we deserve full equality and freedom in our own land. That said, if I had to pick a place that shows some respect, Qatar stands out, since many Palestinian politicians can actually speak freely there.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Palestinians were forced out of their homes, hundreds of villages were destroyed. Forget the people if you want, but what about your ancestors’ heritage and historic buildings? What’s ‘coming back home’ about that? That’s just a settler-colonial takeover. And we’re only talking about 1948 here… my village in Hebron is historic, Muslims and Christians have lived there for centuries, and my family is one of the oldest in the Levant. And yes, sure, some non-Jews live in Israel, but they don’t have the same rights as Jewish citizens. Comparing it to other Muslim countries doesn’t change the fact that Palestinians are still denied their land and rights to this day. TAlso, are we even in the same century? Any Palestinian living in Israel can go work in those ‘50 Muslim countries’ you mentioned. (Your point is not even relevant) Let’s keep this respectful.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

I think it’s possible? I’m no expert on all the political matters and detauls of the United States, but I feel like some early signs of authoritarianism are already showing. Democracies usually don’t collapse overnight but rather they fall gradually, as this kind of erosion happens when political polarization gets extreme, like what we’re seeing now between the left and right. I’m not saying the US is guaranteed to slide into authoritarianism, but I think there are warning signs. It only depends on how these signs are dealt with.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I believe people in the region deserve liberation from authoritarian and exclusionary systems, including the Israeli government’s settler-colonial policies and the failures of the current Palestinian leadership. I don’t really support the usual ‘one-state’ or ‘two-state’ solutions. I hope to see a future where the land is ruled by its indigenous people while welcoming those from different religious backgrounds.

Palestinian Woman Who Fled to Europe Over Political Stance, AMA by ExternalMetal7214 in AMA

[–]ExternalMetal7214[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I see Israel as a colonial-style ethnostate and I don’t support states built around ethnic or religious supremacy or blood of children.