The Power of the Law: Ensuring Security and Safety in Society

 

the picture is from Pixabay website

Anis Albasha

When I walk around the streets of any German city, I am always amazed by certain sights that may go unnoticed by the people of the country but have a different impact on me as someone from a completely different culture. For example, it catches my attention that all shops, banks, and shopping centers, when working hours end, are closed only with glass doors, and anyone passing by can see everything inside. Yet, burglaries rarely occur, and there are few reports of attempted break-ins or damage to these glass barriers. In all the years I have lived here, I have not heard or read about a single burglary in the city where I reside.

Security Measures

There is also a scene that is worth mentioning, which is when a person wants to refuel their vehicle. They simply stop at any gas station, fill the car's tank themselves, then go to the attached shop and inform the employee of the pump number they used, and then they pay the required amount. There is no guard or employee monitoring or supervising the process. For those who may think of filling the tank and leaving without paying, the gas station management can easily refer to the surveillance cameras, identify the car's license plate, and inform the police, who will take appropriate action and ensure that the individual pays the fine as well.

Safety for Women

Another scene that caught my attention is when I see women and girls walking late in the neighborhoods and the streets, some of them riding bicycles or walking, but all of them are feeling safe. Women here can wear whatever clothes they want. No one has the right to judge them or try to harass them. However, incidents of harassment are almost non-existent, and women can freely and safely go out, walk, dress, and live as they want.

When it comes to traffic rules, I have noticed that the majority of people adhere to these rules and rarely break them.

Contrasting Societies

Are we talking about a utopian society? Absolutely not. Certainly, there are criminals, scoundrels, and violators of the law and rules in all societies. No city on this earth is inhabited by angels. I may just refer to the famous incident that took place in the American city of New York in the 1970s, when the power was cut off for only twenty-five hours, during which hundreds of acts of looting and vandalism took place.

Religion vs. Law

So, the question that arises here is: What makes some societies safer while others are not? Some may argue, especially those with an Eastern Arab background, that the answer lies in "religion." Those people believe that religiosity serves as a measure of peace and morality and works as a ‘safety valve’ of virtue. I don’t think that this is a correct perception. A simple comparison between religious societies - or those claiming to be religious - and the societies I am referring to, where there is peace and safety, in addition to people's dignity and rights being safeguarded, which advocates of the theory of religiosity describe as non-religious secular societies, is enough to show the difference.

What really ensures security and safety for every member of a society is the sovereignty of the law. However, the law, in its abstract and written form, is not enough to guarantee and protect people's rights and enforce justice. There must be respect for the rule of law as well as a practical enforcement of it that applies to all.

Equality and Fairness

What makes the law strong and respected in countries such as Germany, France, the United States, Canada, or Australia, is the fact that it does not differentiate between people and is not subject to mood swings, whims, or favoritism. The law in these countries is strict and applies to everyone without any exceptions, from the highest authority in the country to the smallest member of society. This is something that is sorely lacking in our Arab societies, where the law exists only on paper. But on the ground, there is no real enforcement of the law.

In Arab countries, people need "mediation" to get access to the law, and they need another "mediation" to enforce it. Regrettably, what prevails in Arab societies is the law of the jungle, where the strongest and those with influence and power prevail. The weak or vulnerable groups in these societies do not find justice or fairness in the law. On the contrary, the law there is actually used to intimidate and suppress those people.

In these societies where there is no law, when distressing incidents occur, it is the ruler or the king who might "graciously" issue orders to the concerned authorities to take the necessary measures and hold the perpetrator accountable.

However, if there were law enforcement in these countries, these authorities would carry out their duty regardless of the crime or the background of the perpetrators or victims. No presidential or royal directives would be required to achieve justice.

Respect and enforcement of the law are what make the shops here use glass facades when they close. It is what makes women walk freely in the street or lie on the seashore without fear. It is what makes drivers abide by traffic rules. It is because the law is always there and does not favor anyone or differentiate between people.

Conflicts, injustice, and infringement of rights exist in all societies. The only difference is that some societies enforce the law equally, while others impose the law only on vulnerable groups of society. What we need in our societies in order to feel safe and secure is first to have a law. And second, this law must be respected and imposed on everyone without exception, discrimination, or favoritism.

Does this mean that problems and crimes will then vanish and that peace, justice, and prosperity would prevail? Of course, no. But law enforcement is the real guarantee of people's safety and security. When there is a law that applies to everyone, people feel safe. And those who violate the rights and dignity of others will be held accountable and punished.

In addition to the importance of law enforcement, our societies are also in dire need of an independent and fair judiciary. This topic is of great importance and must be talked about, but it will be the subject of the next article.

Is the world on the brink of a nuclear war? And who will press the button first?

 

Image from pixabay.com 

Anis Albasha

In his famous poem "Fire and Ice" American poet Robert Frost spoke about the end of the world and whether it would be with fire or ice. In his poem, the poet inclined towards those who believed that the destruction of humanity would be with fire.

The recent events the world is witnessing seem to be moving towards realizing what the poet predicted in his poem, published almost a hundred years ago!

Since the beginning of the war that erupted between Russia on the one hand and Ukraine on the apparent side, and NATO behind the facade, in February last year, events have been moving at an accelerating pace, leading many to pessimistic scenarios, including the nuclear one.

The past few weeks have witnessed rapid events, such as the US providing Ukraine with "quality" weapons, Britain announcing its intention to deliver uranium-depleted shells to Ukraine, and shipments of modern tanks to Ukraine led by German Leopard tanks.

In response, Russia announced the deployment of "tactical" nuclear weapons in Belarus. A few days ago, there were also tense confrontations between America and China, represented in the establishment of new American military bases in the Philippines, Taiwan, and South Korea. The tension peaked when an American destroyer tried to penetrate Chinese territorial waters a few days ago, prompting the Chinese Ministry of Defense to move it away and issue an official statement condemning these American ‘provocations’

In light of these developments, talking about the use of nuclear weapons is no longer an exaggeration or speculation. Rather, the basic question regarding this point has changed from "can it happen?" to "when will it happen?". The whole world has begun to hold its breath with trepidation of the moment when one of the leaders decides to press the ‘button’.

The recent statement made by the former US President Donald Trump was an explicit expression of this concern when he said ‘that Americans need to pray after Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus!’

Days before Trump's statements, the Serbian president also expressed his fears frankly when he warned that the world was approaching a third world war. The Serbian president added that there was no end to the madness that was happening, which resembles the situations during the first and second world wars!

Unfortunately, with the passage of time, events are tending towards further escalation. Since the beginning of the confrontation with Russia, the United States has always been keen to emphasize that it would not provide Ukraine with long-range missiles, in order to avoid direct confrontation with Russia. However, the US position has changed now. Some Russian reports confirm that Ukraine has obtained quality missiles from the US, as well as other advanced weapons such as F-16 aircraft. Such measures have broken all the rules of engagement that have been agreed upon since the end of the World War II.

We should also not forget the other war that China and Russia are waging to reduce the dominance of the US dollar. This is a very serious and escalable issue. The United States certainly will not allow this to happen and to lose its most powerful weapon of sovereignty!

On the domestic front in Western countries that have long known peace and stability, things are not less tense. There is a wave of protests and demonstrations taking place in some European cities and capitals for various reasons such as inflation, high prices, decreased purchasing power, and problems in employment, health, and retirement sectors. Most of these issues are repercussions of the current war and conflict between Russia and the West.

All of these indicators point towards escalation and predict further deterioration and reckless rush towards the edge. Surely, no one wishes for the end of the world, but a close reading of events cannot rule out pessimistic scenarios. We must not forget that the leaders who are in charge are human beings, after all. Those leaders in charge are driven by purely human impulses, ambitions and fears. Therefore, impulsive decisions that may result from a moment of human weakness or despair cannot be ruled out, especially when it comes to “existential” fears.

We live in an era in which nuclear buttons have multiplied after they were monopolized by the two superpowers for a long time. Now there is a nuclear button in China, another one in North Korea, one in Israel, and perhaps by the end of this year, an "Iranian" nuclear button will be added to the list!

When Israel started its nuclear project, it called it "Machar HaKol" in Hebrew, meaning "Before Everything Is Lost," indicating that Israel would not use this destructive weapon against Arabs except when its existence is threatened. Just yesterday, Russia officially announced that the United States and the West pose an "existential" threat to the country. So, is the moment of pressing the nuclear button close?

In the poem I referred to at the beginning of the article, the poet considers the two possible ways the world might end: through fire, symbolizing the destructive power of passion, or through ice, representing the cold, calculating nature of hatred. However, humans have evolved and have also developed weapons of destruction. So, the poet's prophecy may come true. The fate of the world may be determined by a human decision that could result from "fiery" or "icy" emotions, but in any case, it will be destructive enough to cause the end of the world. Unless a miracle happens that can melt the layers of the burning Ice!

Humanitarian Initiative or Bureaucratic Nightmare? How Germany's Visa Relief Falls Short for Earthquake Survivors!

 

Anis Albasha

The German government's recent announcement to temporarily ease visa restrictions for Turkish and Syrian earthquake survivors with German family ties is a well-intentioned humanitarian effort. However, upon closer examination, the bureaucratic procedures and stringent conditions of this program raise serious concerns about its effectiveness.

My work as an advisor to people with immigrant backgrounds has led me to closely examine this initiative. Since the announcement of this initiative, I have received many inquiries from people seeking guidance on how to assist their affected relatives.

As an advisor to people with immigrant backgrounds, I have received many inquiries from those seeking guidance on how to assist their affected relatives. Despite its well-intentioned nature, the reality on the ground is far from hopeful, as many survivors face significant hurdles and bureaucratic obstacles in accessing this relief.

As per the German government's announcement, the temporary easing of visa restrictions is exclusively available to earthquake survivors from Turkey and Syria who have immediate family members currently residing in Germany. However, to be eligible for this relief, these survivors must provide comprehensive documentation and evidence of their familial connections, which includes valid passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and verification of their relationship with their German family member. These requirements impose an additional challenge for those who have lost their possessions, papers, and documents as a result of the disaster and are currently struggling to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of this catastrophe.

In addition, the visa program has a limited capacity and a stringent deadline, making it difficult for many earthquake survivors with family ties in Germany to qualify for relief. Moreover, the German authorities' processing time for visa applications is lengthy, which further hinders many from benefiting from the program.

Another significant hurdle facing this "humanitarian" initiative is the requirement that the inviting party bears the costs and provides accommodation for their visiting relatives. This prerequisite creates an unnecessary complication, making it difficult for many families, particularly for thousands of immigrants already living in Germany, who are still seeking employment opportunities. Even for those who work and support themselves, it would be challenging to afford the expenses of accommodation, healthcare, and daily living for their relatives, given the high cost of living in Germany, especially with the recent inflation and the surge in energy and food prices.

If the German government genuinely wants to provide urgent humanitarian assistance, it should modify the commitment period and reduce it to a symbolic range. The current five-year commitment period is excessive and unrealistic for many families. Moreover, the obligation to cover expenses extends beyond just medical treatment and food. It also includes providing adequate housing space, subject to strict German laws that mandate sufficient space for the number of people sharing a living space under one roof. This requirement poses yet another challenge for those seeking to benefit from this temporary visa relief.

In summary, while the German government's decision to temporarily relax visa restrictions for earthquake survivors with German family ties is commendable, the existing bureaucratic procedures and stringent conditions create significant obstacles for many families seeking assistance. To ensure the relief measures are effective in providing the necessary support to those who need it the most, the program must be reevaluated and more inclusive and accessible policies implemented that prioritize the needs of the survivors over bureaucratic hurdles.

It is essential to understand that this natural disaster has caused significant suffering and loss for those affected by it. Many survivors have lost their homes, families, and loved ones, and they desperately need assistance and support. The German government's initiative can be a valuable humanitarian effort if it is designed and implemented with the survivors' needs and realities in mind. The program's current limitations and conditions prevent it from reaching its full potential and providing the necessary assistance to those who need it the most.

I really hope that the German authorities will reconsider their approach to this initiative and prioritize the needs of the survivors over bureaucratic hurdles by implementing more effective and accessible policies. It is important to remember that the survivors of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria are real people with real stories, not just statistics or numbers, and they deserve our support and assistance during their time of need.