Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Submit Press Release
  • Toggle search form
  • J.B. Pritzker from his election campaign Facebook Page at UFCW union endorsement.
    Pritzker interview with Arab American newspapers American Arabs
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC “Spirit of Humanity” Awards & Dinner Gala, New Date:  Friday, October 21, 2022  Activism
  • rab American Democratic Club hosts a gathering of elected officials and journalists looking at the recent elections, celebrating Ramadan and Arab American Heritage month (April.)
    Arab American Heritage Month, Ramadan feted by Journalists and elected officials American Arabs
  • Chicago Mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson promised to ensure that Arabs and Muslims will be included in his administration during a visit he made to celebrate the Eid Al Adha with Chicagoland's Muslim community.
    Chicago Mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson promises to support Arabs and Muslims Activism
  • Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Pritzker makes more appointments, none are Arab American American Arabs
  • The American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (American FRRME) helping Christians in Iraq
    New report on Christians in Iraq shows desperate situation and needs Arab World
  • Winter in Bekaa Lebanon January 2015 Photo courtesy of NRC Lebanon. January 7, 2015 in Bekaa valley Lebanon. Heavy snowfall in Lebanon January 7, 2015. Yesterday staff from NRC Lebanon’s Bekaa office were working with refugees to put in place flood mitigation measures in advance of the forecast harsh storm which hit overnight. Field teams distributed 1,205 plywood sheets and 885 bricks as floor-raising kits for tents in two settlements in the town of Sarain, and 250 wooden pallets to ensure a clear pathway in five settlements in the town at risk of flooding. Niamh Murnaghan, NRC’s Country Director in Lebanon said, “This morning residents of these informal settlements awoke to a knee-deep blanket of snow. With roads impassable in Bekaa, our staff have not been able to reach refugee settlements, but refugees have sent photos of themselves clearing the snow from their tents.” Photo credit: NRC Lebanon/Syrian refugees in Lebanon. January 7, 2015 in Bekaa valley Lebanon. Heavy snowfall in Lebanon January 7, 2015. Yesterday staff from NRC Lebanon’s Bekaa office were working with refugees to put in place flood mitigation measures in advance of the forecast harsh storm which hit overnight. Field teams distributed 1,205 plywood sheets and 885 bricks as floor-raising kits for tents in two settlements in the town of Sarain, and 250 wooden pallets to ensure a clear pathway in five settlements in the town at risk of flooding. Niamh Murnaghan, NRC’s Country Director in Lebanon said, “This morning residents of these informal settlements awoke to a knee-deep blanket of snow. With roads impassable in Bekaa, our staff have not been able to reach refugee settlements, but refugees have sent photos of themselves clearing the snow from their tents.” Photo credit: NRC Lebanon/Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
    AHRC Observes World Refugee Day American Arabs
  • Endorsements: Democrats in the Illinois June 28, 2022 Primary election Activism
  • The Arab Daily News candidate endorsements: Cook County, Illinois American Arabs
  • Endorsements: Republicans in the Illinois Republican Primary Election June 28, 2022 Election
  • Joseph Gutman was appointed by Gov. Pritzker to serve as a Member of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Gutman was a Partner at BDT & Company from 2017 until retiring in January 2020 where he remains a consultant today.
    Gov Pritzker makes more appointments to state commissions, boards but no Arabs American Arabs
  • World Jewish Congress Chairman Ronald S. Lauder
    WJC President Ronald S. Lauder Receives France’s Top Distinction  Activism
  • Project DYNAMO rescues more than 600 people from Mariupol, Ukraine over the last week Major Mariupol rescue operation conducted by Project DYNAMO, more than 480 people from Mariupol as city under violent siege falling to Russian forces. 
    Project DYNAMO rescues more than 600 people from Mariupol, Ukraine over the last week Human Rights
  • US Congressman Sean Casten, 6th District, Illinois
    Congressman Sean Casten joins Ray Hanania Radio Show American Arabs
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8 American Arabs

Today I Am Aylan

Posted on September 6, 2015 By Abdennour Toumi No Comments on Today I Am Aylan
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

By Abdennour Toumi 

If there is blame, it is laid at the feet of the hypocritical international community, the heinous el-Assads clan and the infamous ISO, who forced them to flee their homes and throw themselves into the Aegean Sea.

Abdennour Toumi
Abdennour Toumi

Paris, France — The shocking sight of a drowned Syrian boy found on a beach near the Turkish resort of Bodrum underscores the tragic plight of Syrian refugees fleeing the horrors of war and their desperate need to find some distant refuge in wealthy European countries in which to restore their shattered lives.

The image of a Turkish police officer starring down at the drowned body of this innocent child, drowned in a failed attempt to reach the Greek island of Kos by boat, is an iconic reminder of another child, Kim Phuc, horribly burned by napalm, running naked down a road from Trang Bang after a South Vietnamese Air Force napalm bombing in 1972.

These two images share a common bond joined as they are in the full horror of human tragedy visited on the helpless child-victims of war.

Syrian refugees grew tired of false hopes and empty promises of the INGOs and NGOs, of erroneous assumptions about their women and children, promoted to some extent by the Turks along the border. In their deepening despair over these and other rumors, and their confused legal status in Turkey, they were forced to look elsewhere to resolve their situation.

In Turkey they are considered “guests,” not refugees, and by far, not migrants. The European media have insisted on the terminology of “migrant,” but from a legal point of view, they are refugees or asylum seekers. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 14, “everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.”

The relentless persistence of conflict and the ever-growing number of refugees it has generated has created some tough challenges for Turkey.  Problems range from whether the government should consider offering refugees the opportunity to remain and integrate in Turkey to ways and means to provide urgent education, employment, health care and shelter plus needs for their protection.

Ayan Syrian baby
Ayan Syrian baby

Last year Save the Children, in collaboration with a local NGO, implemented a program to increase protective support to 400 Syrian refugee children aged 6-12, and opened four centers located in Suruc, Şanliufa province. These centers offered winterized safe spaces, protective care and referrals for individual support plus outreach to vulnerable children in tougher areas for psychosocial support and provision of child-friendy winterization kits.

But hundreds of Syrian children like Aylan did not receive the protective support they needed from the INGOs and NGOs in Suruç and neighboring villages.

Currently the majority of Syrian refugees have temporary protection status because Turkey practices a “non-refoulement” policy, admitting as “guests” any refugees fleeing from conflicts in Syria and Iraq. But it has become increasingly difficult to maintain this “open-door” policy in the face of a continuing influx of refugees and rapidly diminishing support funds.

Vietnamese children burned by Napalm from American fighter jets
Vietnamese children burned by Napalm from American fighter jets

“Protecting and caring for refugees is an international responsibility.” These were the words spoken by UNHCR High Commissioner Mr António Guterres at a joint meeting of NGOs and INGOs in Istanbul in June of this year. But after his visit to the Gulf countries, he went on to say he felt heart-broken when he learned the Gulf leaders were categorically opposed to receiving refugees into their countries.

In addition to the norms of humanitarian assistance, there are other sold reasons why the international community should assist Turkey’s efforts to response to the refugees’ crisis. If Turkey were indeed successful in its management of the situation, it would stand as a positive model and surely benefit the international community as well. Turkey is deeply engaged in many of the U.N. institutions, and aspires to become a permanent member of the UNSC. It is important to recognize and accept that those international actors that would extend financial help would rightfully seek transparency and accountability either by Western private donors or states.

Pic 3[2]So the tragic image of Aylan, who lost his life fleeing Syria is not only shocking but an all-too-grim reminder of the constant danger children and families face and the ultimate risk they take in search of a better life.  

Shame then on the Arab tyrants and donors, who fear the Syrian will only bring terror and psychological trauma to their lands and citizens — as if those countries are preaching tolerance and civility! If there is blame, it is laid at the feet of the hypocritical international community, the heinous el-Assads and the infamous ISO, who forced them to flee their homes and throw themselves into the Aegean Sea.

Why, one asks, should it take a tragedy of this kind to finally force the E.U. countries to agree to tackle the refugee crisis? Where are the quarrelsome Arab League and the irrelevant Islamic Conference Organization?

Subsequently passions burst on Hungary’s border, Austria and even in France, as right wing nationalist politicians and militants rose up against the coming of “migrants” to their countries. In France, for instance, in a today poll on the so-called “migrants” issue, 55% of the population were against the acceptance of any new comers.

This heated outcry is not only leveled at Aylan’s social class, but was also played out even against an Arab king. Last July, King Salman of Saudi Arabia was forced to shorten his summer vacation on the French Riviera and fled instead to Moroccan resorts because of a petition by locals and regional vacationers protesting against his presence on the Côte d’Azur.

The King’s white palace, the Château de l’Horizon, has been the summer retreat of Saudi royals ever since it was bought by King Fahd in 1979 when he was heir to the throne. However, Aylan’s family wasn’t looking for a paradise of blue skies and golden sandy beaches. Instead, they had escaped the atrocities of el-Assads clan and ISO and only sought to restore their lives with family in Canada, beyond the Aegean Sea horizon.

Recently Syrians are raising their voices in praise of Germany and rightly so, because there they have found refuge, acceptance and support from “infidel politicians,” who welcome them, allowing them to catch a second wind in their struggle for dignity. On the other hand, Aylan’s village, Ain el-Arab (Eye of the Arabs) did not fare as well, when Arab leaders and donors turned their “eye” away from him and his people.

Kim Phuc survived her ordeal, found asylum in Canada, and went on to establish a foundation serving the child-victims of displacement and war.  Sadly, Aylan’s short life ended with no hope of fulfillment on a lonely Turkish beach. 

Surely this tragedy must resonate today as that of Kim Phuc so long ago and make us mindful that we are truly “our brothers’ keepers.”

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Abdennour Toumi
Abdennour Toumi:
- France correspondent for The Arab Daily News.
- www.bareed-areej.com Editor-in-Chief
رئيس تحرير مجلة بريد الأريج
- Political consultant at IMPR a Think-Tank based in Ankara, Turkey.
- Member at the European Observatory for Arabic Language Teaching based in Paris, France.
- Affiliated with Sociology of Islam Journal and contributor at Middle East Studies / International Studies, Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies Center, Portland State University in Portland, OR.

EDUCATION: Diplôme des Études Approfondies (DEA) in Political Science from Toulouse University I, France. Master’s degree in Law from Algiers University, Algeria.

Email im at: nourhty@gmail.com
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Latest posts by Abdennour Toumi (see all)
  • The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Is the Neither-Peace-nor-Security As-sumption Dominating Again? - June 7, 2021
  • Algeria: “I Can See Clearly Now” - August 5, 2019
  • Majesty Mohammed VI and General Gaïd Salah Tear Down This Wall! - July 29, 2019

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Abdennour Toumi, Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Syria Tags:Aylan, Syrian baby, Syrian refugees

Post navigation

Previous Post: Israel’s fault lines spill onto the soccer pitch
Next Post: Gaza children memorialize Syrian baby on Turkish beach

Related Posts

  • Daily Kos Censorship and Apartheid Israeli Style Arab World
  • Will Bernie Sanders and Americans Engage in this Civil Discourse? American Arabs
  • Dr. Tariq Ramadan
    Trial in the Newsroom! Bias in French media Abdennour Toumi
  • PTSD Nation and Gaza’s Children of Resilience Arab World
  • When will the Arab World get off its lazy rich ass? Arab World
  • Palestinian Journalist’s hunger strike enters 87th day Arab World

More Related Articles

War rages between U.S and Arab World Airlines American Arabs
United Nations bUilding, New York. Photo courtesy Ray Hanania International Criminal Court authorizes investigation of Israeli war crimes Arab World
M’zab Valley: Neither Sectarian nor Ethnic Abdennour Toumi
Vanunu gets 7 day’s House Arrest and Journalism’s Role Arab World
Reading the grinds in Arabian coffee Arab World
Travel: The obligatory visit to the Arabs of Dearborn American Arabs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Israeli soldiers and settlers attack Palestinians in Khirbet al-Mufaqarah, on Sept. 28, 2021 captured by B'Tselem video. The attacks were intentionally distorted by Israeli TV to blame the Palestinians
    Weaponizing Anti-Semitism as a tool to protect Israel’s war crimes
    July 27, 2022
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    Time to ditch the spoils system, our elected officials need to be more inclusive
    July 26, 2022
  • Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Nearly four years in office, Pritzker fails to deliver on promises to Arab Americans
    June 12, 2022
  • Palestinian refugees forced to flee their homes at gunpoint by Jewish terrorist groups operating in Palestine in the 1930s, 1940s and after Israel was created on May 14, 1948. Photo courtesy of the United Nations
    Unresolved status of Palestinian rights makes UNRWA essential
    May 7, 2022
  • NEWS
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC “Spirit of Humanity” Awards & Dinner Gala, New Date:  Friday, October 21, 2022 
    July 21, 2022
  • Chicago Mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson promised to ensure that Arabs and Muslims will be included in his administration during a visit he made to celebrate the Eid Al Adha with Chicagoland's Muslim community.
    Chicago Mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson promises to support Arabs and Muslims
    July 16, 2022
  • Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Pritzker makes more appointments, none are Arab American
    July 11, 2022
  • The American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (American FRRME) helping Christians in Iraq
    New report on Christians in Iraq shows desperate situation and needs
    June 20, 2022
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel:
    May 24, 2022
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8
    May 23, 2022
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community
    May 19, 2022
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host forum on Arab businesses closed by Mayor Lightfoot
    April 15, 2022

The Tabboun Column

The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
  • Tabboun
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    The Political Grapevine/The Tabboun, Friday Dec. 16, 2021
    December 16, 2021
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    Tabboun: Chicago remains strongest Palestine voice
    September 7, 2016
  • The Tabboun: Israeli human rights violations hit
    June 30, 2016
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    Tabboun: Himes questions troop deployment to Syria
    November 3, 2015
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    The Tabboun: Dearborn removes statue of racist former mayor
    September 29, 2015

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • HANANIA Arab News Op-Eds
  • Ukraine conflict gives Palestinians chance to redefine their conflict
    March 9, 2022
  • Mishmeshan PHC medical center destroyed in Syrian Government assaults. Photo courtesy of UOSSM Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations
    President Biden’s dyslexic policy in Syria is a mess
    October 20, 2021
  • Annissa Essaibi George and family
    Annissa Essaibi George faces “race hypocrisy” in campaign to be Boston Mayor
    October 20, 2021
  • Jerusalem image of Jews and Arabs walking together. Shutterstock. Courtesy of Arab News Newspaper
    Jewish Michigan lawmaker leads push for Two State Solution
    October 7, 2021
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • Girl Fighters, new book on Yemen Book Cune Press
    New Book: Girl Fighters: Break Tradition in Yemen 
    October 25, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • Hollywood Sign
    Will Smith violence takes Oscar protests to dangerous level
    March 31, 2022
  • 03-30-22 Arab Chamber Heritage Month Flyer
    Arab Chamber to host Arab Heritage Month dinner March 30
    March 14, 2022
  • “Rupture”, the psychological thriller produced by MBC STUDIOS, has won Best Saudi Film at the 2021 Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF).
    MBC GROUP’s Rupture wins Best Saudi Film at the inaugural Red Sea International Film Festival
    December 15, 2021
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2022 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme