A debate is raging in Africa’s Sierra Leone on whether people of Lebanese ancestry, born and bred in the country, should be given passports:
Nasser Ayoub, a successful businessman, said he could have bribed somebody to get a Sierra Leonean passport, but he preferred to to do it the legal way, through the appropriate government channels. Successive Sierra Leonean governments had battled against acquiring the country’s passports dubious means and President Koroma announced a couple of months ago that he will fire any anybody caught in any passport scandal. But Ayoub says he is a bonafide citizen of Sierra Leone whose grandfather and father were born in Sierra Leone. He is only having problems because he is not black. “That’s racial discrimination, he said.”
Many Lebanese born and bred in Africa are not considered real citizens even though they had lived and worked in the continent of hundreds of years. Extremely good at business, they usually control (unofficially) most of the economies of African states.
The fear among native Sierra Leoneans is that with their acquired citizenship, Lebanese might be temped to enter the political arena; and as the Lebanese community has strong grips on the economy, they might be able to take control of the government. Sierra Leoneans don’t have to look far to see how well we mess-up when it comes to running countries. They just need to take a look across the pond at Ecuador where a Lebanese held the highest post in the country, the presidency, three distinct times with the last two ending in disaster.
In the end, it will have to be a delicate balance – how much political rights should you give a community that holds major economic powers and yet…
Many Africans think [Lebanese] are arrogant and racist as well, refusing inter-marriage between their daughters and black men. Marriage between a Lebanese man and a black woman are however common. Many Africans also complain about the the way black people are treated in Lebanon where Africans are usually found in menial jobs, usually working as domestic servants. Africans born in Lebanon cannot be citizens as citizenship by birth is not recognized in that country. In Sierra Leone, citizenship by birth is recognized but only if one or both parents of the individual are black.
The complexities of where one belongs.
Nasser Ayoub and family vying for Sierra Leonean citizenship
PLEASE VISIT THE BBC FOCUS ON AFRICA, AND http://WWW.SIERRAEXPRESSMEDIA.COM, AND FOLLOW UP..
Nasser Ayoub , A physiological point of view you are a manipulator rather a trick, infringing into domains that have their principle of sustenance set.You are exploiting Sierra Leone ‘s staunched relationship with it allies . Using our principles of government to Black mail the people of sierra Leone . The right thing that you would have done are as follows
A Ask for a pardon that you ancestor’s had been notorious thieves . Who had smuggled our Strategic natural resources . As a result we have poverty in the country which had leads us into a savage civil war. Yet you have the audacity’ to claim citizenship. My question here is why don’t you verbalize you true thoughts about the people of sierra Leone like you would have done in your back yard or kitchen.
Ask for pardon that they infected the common man of sierra Leone with corruption
During childhood your parents induced the knowledge that you are not a Sierra Leonean .You had many relationship with the local girls but never married any one of those ladies , oh what a shame it would had brought to your family.
The world is watching your very closely . We know for sure you are now trying to get back to Sierra Leone ,because you have realized that elsewhere your illegal practices of business is outlawed. Elsewhere you certainly can’t manage , You are used to easy money , elsewhere you have to obey by the laws of the state or you will end up in prison . Most importantly you can’t trade their strategic products whether it ‘s natural resources or intellectual without criminal consequences. Unfortunately its rather too late now . Taking about citizenship even the united states would soon amend it immigration policies to pave way for its citizen in securing its welfare . One more thing Have you ever read about the treatment of the Palestinians immigrants in Lebanon? My question is if you so dearly or rather insolently want a change in Sierra Leone ‘s constitution , you must first of all go and change that of the Lebanese state . To meet with those rights you are already enjoying in Sierra Leone.
Racism is racism – whether it is the ‘normal’ white racism against blacks; on black racism on whites, it has the same overload of repugnance, and should be denounced by all decent humanity, as Adolf Hitler’s racism on Jews during the Second World War shows humanity the direction of racism taken to its extremes even in today’s world. I am launching a campaign against black racism against whites in Sierra Leone, and I need your support.