Wives of Arab diplomats 'Mosaic' society in Washington for defending the Arab image
Regional-USA, Culture, 12/27/2001

Mrs. Lein al-Mash'ar wife of the Jordanian Ambassador to the US Marwan Jamil al-Mash'ar is a modern woman carrying a BA in social sciences.

Another Arab example is Reem Abboud who has a master degree in electrical engineering. She has a son and is the wife of the Lebanese ambassador in Washington.

There is also princess Haifa al-Faisal, the youngest of the daughters of the late Saudi King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz and wife of the Saudi ambassador in Washington, and also dean of the Arab diplomatic crop in Washington. Princess Haifa has lived in Washington for 18 years. She has 8 children.

Besides many other Arab women in Washington, the three said women are members in the " Mosaic " society established by wives of Arab ambassadors to the US four years ago.

The name " mosaic" is derived from a Middle Eastern Arab art in which huge number of fine stone are used to create one homogenous and elegant design.

The official objective of this non- political society is to raise money and funds for serving women issues. However, it non- official objective is fighting passive monotonous concepts concerning Arab culture, the Islamic religious values and matters relating to the Arab women.

The secretary of the society is Malia Abdul Rahman, wife of the PLO representative in Washington. She is a lawyer specialized in human rights and a mother of four children.

The incidents of September 11 of the attacks against the US and Washington were a hard blow for members of the society. This Arab- American society has been working for four years to challenged anticipated views and stereotyping of Arabs and Muslims especially in the accusations that Islam is against the western culture and has at any rate tolerance towards that. And despite the calls made by the US President George Bush to avoid discrimination, the human rights societies registered hundreds of crimes of hatreds against the Arabs.

To this effect Malia Abdul Rahman said:"It is clear that this situation is painful for all of us." She added " what makes me mad is that people do not understand that the Arab world is composed of Christians, Muslims and Jews.." The society's 17-member women came from various Arab states ( the secretaries of Mosaic society are wives of the Arab league's member states ' ambassadors whose countries have diplomatic relations with the USA). Like wives of most diplomats in the world, these women had charity activities at the individual level, but this society has united their voice to be in one tone.

The society's activities were inaugurated in may 1998, when the Lebanese dancing group Caracalla was invited to Washington. The society's members came in their Arab costumes and the party was attended by 500 invitees including former US Under secretary of state Thomas Pikaring and former chief of the White House staff John Sonouno. At that night a sum of USD 500,000 was raised for " Saint Joud" hospital for children diseases researches in Memphis. A hospital which treats several children from the Arab world.

In the second occasion, the next year, attended by figures like the President of the World Bank, a sum of USD 320,000 was raised for the national fund for breast cancer treatment and diseases. And the Year after " Mosaic" could attract the attention of the donor establishments in Washington.

In the year 2000 " Mosaic " raised funds were given for the Children rescue society " Save the Children."

Mosaic had also gave donations to the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, the Kosovo relief society and also contributed into the efforts of the International red Cross in aiding victims of the Turkish earthquake..

Among its many activities the society held a luncheon banquet in together with the UN for former South Africa's President Nelson Mandella, who is also the winner of the Noble prize for peace. The event was supposed to be held at Kennedy center, Mrs Laura Bush ( wife of the US President) to be the honorary President for the event. But the event was postponed for six months because of Mandella's very heavy schedule. The event, after the escalation of incidents in the Middle East, was held at the Saudi embassy in Washington.

And despite the incidents of September 11, a sum of USD 2.1 million was raised for AIDS- affected families in Africa.

" Mosaic might become the most important charity societies in Washington. But the opposite can happen and the society collapses under the pressures if the international developments. However the society, despite all these drastic developments, continued to work smoothly and calmly. Lein al-Ma'shar said " no body said he will not donates because we are Arabs." Malia Abdul Rahman said:" My ultimate aim as a woman and as an Arab and as an American is that I want the world to be more peaceful. No one of us gave birth to children to die in any of the wars."

Previous Stories:
  Anti-discrimination committee reviews with US administration patriot act   (12/22/2001)
  US justice department issues discrimination brochure in arabic   (12/22/2001)
  Bush freezes two other organizations assets   (12/22/2001)
  Most Americans support the expansion of the current war in Afghanistan   (12/22/2001)
  Detention of two Israelis extended in Los Angeles   (12/15/2001)
  FBI arrests two Jews suspected of terrorism   (12/13/2001)
  Mrs. Mubarak inaugurated Arab women's summit   (11/12/2001)
  American pop culture impact on Arabs measured   (7/16/2001)
  Forced marriage and international human rights norms   (3/12/2001)
  Arab women hold less than 4 percent of parliaments seats   (3/8/2001)
  Palestinian - American Released from US Jail   (12/16/2000)
  Hillary Clinton due to visit region   (2/20/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search