Shock horror! The Guardian discovers Arab racism

Well I never. The Guardian's Middle East editor, Brian Whitaker, has discovered racism in Arab countries:

"Racism is a worldwide phenomenon. In some countries it's met with disapproval, in others with denial. The Arab countries, mostly, fall into the latter category. The A to Z of ethnic and religious groups in the Middle East embraces Alawites, Armenians, Assyrians, Baha'is, Berbers, Chaldeans, Copts, Druzes, Ibadis, Ismailis, Jews, Kurds, Maronites, Sahrawis, Tuareq, Turkmen, Yazidis and Zaidis (by no means an exhaustive list), and yet serious discussion of ethnic/religious diversity and its place in society is a long-standing taboo.

"If the existence of non-Arab or non-Muslim groups is acknowledged at all, it is usually only to declare how wonderfully everyone gets along. The roots of this attitude are partly a result of colonial history and, up to a point, the reasons are understandable. The trouble is that anyone who questions this make-believe harmony and tries to address the issue openly and honestly is liable to be accused of spreading "fitna", or social discord.

"And yet, you don't have to spend long in the Arab world to come across everyday examples of prejudice and discrimination - much of it linked to politics."

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