193Geoethics. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-799935-7.00016-2Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 16

What Foreign Rescue Teams Should Do and Must Not Do in Muslim Countries

Mohamad amin SkandariDisaster Management Expert, Social Security Organization, Tehran, Iran

AbstractFirst responders with the best intentions may inadvertently offend the people they are try-ing to help, if they do not know local taboos and rules of conduct. In the stressful aftermath of a disaster, the affected population may be especially sensitive to what might appear to them as disrespectful behavior. Islam contains a number of very strongly held believes and rules concerning respect for objects and persons related to the Muslim faith. This chapter summarizes some of the rules that a first responder should follow in a Muslim society. Helpers who rush to disaster stricken regions are full of good intentions, and with a little consideration of the main rules of Muslim culture can avoid to unintentionally provoke confrontations.

Keywords: Ethical advices; First responders; Muslim communities.

Chapter OutlineIntroduction 194What First Responders Should Do and Respect Generally 194

Humanity 194Impartiality 194Neutrality 195Fair Allocation of Resources 195Making Decisions under Fire 195

Meeting the Special Needs of Vulnerable Populations 195

What Humanitarian Workers and First Responders Should Do and Respect, When They Are Working in an Affected Muslim Community 196

Islam 196Note 197

Conclusion 200References 201

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INTRODUCTION

When we talk about ethics, it could be considered in different aspects, for exam-ple as an academic discipline, in which case its definition is: “The branch of philosophy that deals with the general nature of good and bad and the specific moral obligations of and choices to be made by the individual in his relation-ship with others” (American Heritage Dictionary)1. Or as an applied discipline ethics refers to “standards of conduct, standards that indicate how one should behave based on moral duties and virtues, which themselves are derived from principles of right and wrong” (Josephson Institute on Ethics). As professional discipline, ethics means: “The rules or standards governing conduct especially of the members of a profession” (American Heritage Dictionary)1. The most relevant definition of ethics, we are considering in this chapter is the profes-sional one, meaning the rules and standards that first responders should respect.

According to this definition, two different sets of rules and standards will be discussed in this chapter.

l What humanitarian workers and first responders should do and respect generally?

l What humanitarian workers and first responders should do and respect when they are working in an affected Muslim community?

WHAT FIRST RESPONDERS SHOULD DO AND RESPECT GENERALLY

When we arrive as first responders in an affected area, we should do our best to help the suffering people. Our work should be coordinated with other respond-ers and responsible organizations. In addition, if we want to reach the best results; we also have to strongly respect the following items.

Humanity

As a first responder we should bring assistance without discrimination, to pre-vent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. The purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human beings (American Red Cross, 2006)2.

Impartiality

We should not discriminate because of nationality, race, religious beliefs, class, or political opinions. We must endeavor to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress (American Red Cross, 2006).

1. training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/edu/docs/crr/CAT%20-%20Session%204%20-%20Ethics.doc.2. http://www.redcross.org/about-us/mission.

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Neutrality

As a humanitarian worker in an affected area we must not take sides in hos-tilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious, or ideological nature (American Red Cross, 2006).

Fair Allocation of Resources

When a disaster occurs, victims will be encountered who are in an imbal-ance situation; there resources are reduced and limited, while their needs and demands are increased. One of the first responders’ duties in this situation could be fair allocation of limited resources to people who need them. Many experts believe the most pressing, difficult ethical issues prompted by disaster preparedness and mitigation activity concern the problem of distributive justice (Jennings and Arras, 2008). This task will become exceedingly challenging when we encountered the old disturbing question: Who shall live when not all can live? How shall we choose who lives and who dies? (Jennings and Arras, 2008). Answering this question is very difficult, and if you are in a disaster situation under aftermath conditions, finding a rational response for the vital question who shall receive help when not all can is incredibly hard. It is making decisions under fire.

Making Decisions under Fire

Scientists believe human beings have developed by evolution, including the capability of making logical decisions. However, most of our decision-making is not designed for today. Our brain is programmed to err on the side of safety for ourselves, not for other people, and also to do it quickly—whether it is right or wrong. In emergency situations the body first initiates an adrenaline response and in high adrenaline situations the logical part of the brain switches off (Ian Moore, 2013). For being able to make a correct decision in a disaster situation, one needs to be prepared and have an exercised action plan at the ready for any probable condition. Therefore, to be successful as a first responder, we must be prepared, make plans, and go through exercises before disaster strikes.

Meeting the Special Needs of Vulnerable Populations

In a disaster affected community, especially when we encounter a devastated society, there are some groups of people which are in a dangerous situation and need immediate attention to survive. They usually are called the vulnerable pop-ulation. One of our duties as first responders is protection and service to those who, in an emergency event and its aftermath, will be especially vulnerable to harm and injustice, especially loss of life, health, or dignity (Jennings and Arras, 2008). Vulnerable populations are pregnant women, children, disabled persons, elderly persons, the sick, the wounded, indigenous populations, environmentally displaced persons, ethnic and religious minorities, and the most disadvantaged

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members of society, including persons or groups of persons who are victims of racism. These people should receive the benefit from disaster prevention mea-sures tailored to their already existing vulnerability (Eur-Opa, 2011).

WHAT HUMANITARIAN WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS SHOULD DO AND RESPECT, WHEN THEY ARE WORKING IN AN AFFECTED MUSLIM COMMUNITY

When you are working in a foreign community you should respect their rules and standards. Especially when you are working there in a stressful situation after a disaster observing this rule may become vital. In this situation you and your audience (victims who survived) are in a stressful situation. First respond-ers usually are prepared to work under this condition, but your audience consists of ordinary people who may be injured and are suffering. They are stressed, their heart rate will be up and their adrenaline and cortisol levels will be high. Under these conditions, they are likely to be more sensitive than normal and they are prone to make poor decisions. In particular they may react in a danger-ous way to seemingly innocent actions of a first responder, if they believe them to be offensive or rude.

Therefore, if you are planning to work as a humanitarian helper or a first responder, while you are not a Muslim, and you are not familiar with their cul-ture and their rules, we strongly encourage you to learn and consider at least the most important points mentioned in the following.

Islam

Islam is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion articulated by the Qur’an, a book considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of God (Arabic: Allāh) and by the teachings and normative example (called the Sunnah and composed of Hadith) of Muhammad, considered by them to be the last prophet of God. An adherent of Islam is called a muslim (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam).

Most Muslims are of two denominations, Sunni (75–90%), or Shia (10–20%). The religion (Islam) is very important for Muslims, and usually no Muslim has permission to change or reject his/her religion. There are very hard penalties for rejecting Islam in many Muslim countries (even death). If a Muslim consciously and without coercion declares their rejection of Islam and does not change their mind after the time allocated by a judge for researcher-consider-ation, then the penalty for male apostates is death, and for women life imprison-ment. However, this view has been rejected by some modern Muslim scholars.

Muslims are living in many countries around the world. About 13% of Mus-lims live in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country, 25% in South Asia, 20% in the Middle East, 2% in Central Asia, 4% in the remaining South East Asian countries, and 15% in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sizable communities are also found in China and Russia, and parts of the Caribbean. Converts and immigrant com-munities are found in almost every part of the world (Wikipedia).

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The culture of Muslims is not identical in all countries and in different denominations. Many of them are not too rigid in their religious believes, but some of them are strongly rigid.

Almost all Muslims (Sunni and Shia) strongly respect the following: Islam, Quran, Mosques, and The World of Allah. Therefore it is important to observe several rules and restrictions in interactions with these parts of Muslim religion. Some Muslims respect the rules of Islam even more than their life; they may ask non-Muslim people to behave according their Muslim rules, while in their countries and if foreigners do not respect their rules, they might punish people whom they see as transgressors very hard.

Note

When you are working in a Muslim country, do not try to invite local people to join your religion. It might be very dangerous for them and you. For example, in August 2010, ten aid workers were killed by gunmen in Afghanistan. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for these murders, claiming the aid workers were trying to convert Muslims and alleging that the group had been carrying Bibles translated into the Afghan language Dari. How deep the hostility toward missionaries runs is demonstrated by the following reaction by an educated expert on disaster response: “I’m not sorry about this, they must not abuse the chaos to advertise their believes.”

It is clear, your help and your attitude could be the best recommendation for the moral standards in your nation and followed by your religion. The people whom you help will see you and your behavior and they will respect you and your attitudes (religious, national, personal believes), if you are a completely fair first responder.

A Mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam.You can recognize a mosque based on its architecture; a common feature in mosques is the minaret, the tall, slender tower that usually is situated at one or two of the corners of the mosque. The other common feature in the mosques is their dome. Domes normally are constructed in the shape of a hemisphere, o�en placed directly above the main prayer hall.

Under most interpreta�ons of Islam, non-Muslims may be allowed into mosques, as long as they do not sleep or eat there, but some Muslims believe that non-Muslims may not be allowed into mosques under any circumstances. However, several rules, such as not allowing shoes in the prayer hall, are universal.

Note:We strongly recommend that if you must enter into a mosque (for help or relief), do it accompanied by at least one local responder or resident and respect the advice they may give you.

A Mosque is a place of worship for followers of I

Mosque:

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This book is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be the verba�m word of God (Allah). Muslims regard the Quran as the main miracle of Muhammad, the proof of his prophethood.The book exists in different sizes, but many of them have a typical shape and words on their cover to recognize them. This book is very important for Muslims and they respect it very much, Muslims are required to be clean (make Wudu, religious Ablu�on) when handling and reading the Qur'an.

NoteIf you see books that might be the Quran, don’t push them away or walk on them, even if you are trying to save life; many Muslims prefer to die rather than to see their Quran treated with disrespect. (It’s be�er not to touch the Quran in public if you are not a Muslim).

Quran, Also Qur’an or Koran

A foreign expert told me that he took along a copy of the Quran when he was asked to work in a Muslim country. The purpose was to learn something about Islam and he thought showing interest for the Muslim culture would strengthen his relationship with his hosts. However, the brow of an engineer who saw him reading the Quran clouded over and he told the expert that he was reading it all wrong, without devotion. The expert had no idea that there are some require-ments to touch the Quran. He discovered that his well intentioned effort prob-ably had the opposite effect of what he had expected: Instead of pleasing his host, he had offended him.

The factors discussed above are crucial and they are common between almost all Muslims. However, there are some additional important elements, which some Muslims care about. The following elements are less important than the aforementioned ones, but should also be considered.

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Some Muslims in some countries have painted pictures of their Imams (historical holy leaders) in their homes and mosques. Many of these portraits have shiny or green faces. Although they are not common in all Muslim communi�es, but where the pictures exist; it means they are highly respected by the residents.

NoteYou can handle or carry them respec�ully, but don’t touch the wri en words on them; they may be words from the Quran.

Pictures of Holy Persons (Imams)

Prayer BeadsPrayer beads are used by members of various religious tradi ons such as Hinduism,Buddhism, Roman Catholicism, Orthodox

Chris anity, Anglicanism, Sikhism and Bahá'í Faith and Islam to count the repe ons of prayers, chants or devo ons, such as the rosary of Virgin Mary in Chris anity and dhikr (remembrance of God) in Islam.

NoteThere are no special requirements for handling them, but be careful don’t push them away or walk on them when you are working in a praying place. (Usually there are many prayer beads in mosques)

TurbahA Turbah is a small piece of soil or clay, o�en a clay tablet, oponally used by some Shia schools during the daily prayers (Salat).

NoteAlthough they are not common in all Muslim communies, but where the pictures exist they are highly respected by the residents; parcularly when the name of God ( ) or Imams are wri�en on them.

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Some other important cultural aspects you may encounter in Muslim com-munities are:

l Dress and Hijab: For women: In general, standards of modesty call for a woman to cover her body, particularly her chest. The Quran calls for women to “draw their head coverings over their chests” and the Prophet Muhammad instructed devout women to cover their bodies except for their face and hands. Most Muslims interpret this to require head cover-ings for women. Some Muslim women cover the entire body, including the face and/or hands (girls older than 9 years are included in this rule). For men: The minimum amount to be covered is between the navel and the knee.

If you are a woman, please note that many people suggest women traveling to Muslim countries (not all of them) should cover their arms and legs with loose clothing. Many female travelers find it a good idea to cover their hair in Islamic countries to avoid unpleasant attention from local people.

l Food: Muslims only eat Halal food, the word “Halal” means permitted or law-ful. So, when we are talking about Halal food it means any food that is allowed to be eaten according to Islam. The opposite of Halal is Haram (forbidden). Muslim followers must not consume the following:

l pork or pork by-products; l animals that died without being slaughtered; l animals not slaughtered properly or not slaughtered in the name of Allah; l blood and blood by-products; l carnivorous animals; l birds of prey; and l alcoholic beverages.

Muslims usually prefer their food to be prepared by a Muslim. Experience shows that some Muslims in devastated areas prefer to go hungry rather than to consume food prepare by non-Muslims. First responders can use the coopera-tion of local people to provide acceptable food.

CONCLUSION

Although the practice of Islam varies somewhat in different regions and as a function of personal persuasion, there are some fundamental aspects that should be respected by foreigners visiting a Muslim area. The need to be tactful is espe-cially strong in emergency situations where everyone, helpers and victims alike, are subject to heavy stress. First responders without experience and ignorant of strongly held believes of Muslims may create counterproductive situations. Therefore it is strongly advisable that helpers in any capacity, who are planning to work in Muslim regions, familiarize themselves with the rules of respect outlined in this chapter, before their deployment.

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REFERENCES

American Red Cross, 2006. New Employee and Volunteer Orientation (Module 1).Eur-Opa, 2011. Ethical Principles Relating to Disaster Risk Reduction and Contributing to People’s

Resilience to Disasters. European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA).Jennings, B., Arras, J., 2008. Ethical Guidance for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and

Response: Highlighting Ethics and Values in a Vital Public Health Service. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Moore, I., 2013. Decision-Making in a Crisis Understanding the Brain. Accessed at: http://www.securitynewsdesk.com/?s=Decision-making+in+a+crisis++Understanding+the+brain.

Wikipedia, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam.