Religion in the WW

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 88572

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "sawsan_issa" 
<sawsan_issa at e...> wrote:
(snip)

 I do wish that JKR would include a nice Arab 
> Muslim person in the series. Every where I turn we are so horribly 
> portrayed :((. I know that there is a character named Ali Bashir in 
> the HP series, but he had some sort of criminal activity with 
flying 
> carpets if I am not mistaken :((.

Ginger:  As much as I don't like the idea of inserting a token 
character, I totally agree with you regarding the lack of "good" 
Arabs in literature in general.

Ali Bashir's misdeed was trying to smuggle them into the UK, where 
they are illegal.  

But on a more positive note, GoF gives us Hassan Mostafa, the 
International Association of Quidditch Chairperson.  In QTTA, p. 30, 
31, we find that a referee has to be an expert flier, able to watch 
14 players at once.  In Britain, they have to "take rigorous flying 
tests and an exacting written examination of the rules of Quidditch, 
and prove, through a series of intensive trials, that they will not 
curse or jinx offensive players even under severe pressure."  Also 
note that the aforementioned test covers over 700 rules!

I'm sure the international standard is at least as high.  The only 
negative thing mentioned is his reaction to the Veela, but given that 
nearly every man in the place shared that reaction, I don't think we 
can judge him too harshly ;)

So there he is, if not the "good" Arab, certainly a highly respected 
one!  I didn't forget that you asked for an "Arab Muslim", but since 
religion in the WW is so vague, I only answered what I could.

Ginger, who (jumping continents) wishes a Happy Day of Knut to any 
who may be celebrating.