By the time Europeans woke up on 15th April, Israeli forces had raided Al-Aqsa Mosque and over 150 Palestinians were injured. Not only was a place of worship attacked, but this occurred during the holy month of Ramadan, where Muslims all over the world fast from sunrise to sunset. Such an atrocity was masked under the shadows of the Russian attack on Ukraine. Israel got away with this, again.
This is not just about the Palestinian conflict. It is a pattern. Why is it that western support for third world nations has always been lacking especially when they seem to be the flag bearers of humanity?
The European Union is facing its largest refugee crisis with more than ten million people having fled their homes. Almost immediately, European governments opened their doors to these refugees in an unprecedented show of solidarity. But the matter of fact is that, if one is going to open doors, why not open doors for all? Even now, the Greek coastguard pushes back asylum seekers from Turkey. The refugees who put their all to jump the fence in Melilla are repelled by the Spanish police. European show of humanity is still embedded in discrimination and racism.
What is painful to see is that double standards of EU’s stance on refugee is explicit in the speech of its politicians. Take the Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Perkov for example, who very conveniently addressed this issue by saying, “These are not the refugees we are used to…these people are Europeans… ey are educated people.... This is not the refugee wave we have been used to, people we were not sure about their identity, people with unclear pasts, who could have been even terrorists”. His statement is nothing more than a reminder of how racism and Islamophobia will always pervade asylum policies.
The speed at which these double standards have emerged is quite noteworthy as well. In December 2021, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban addressed the migrant crisis from the Middle East and Africa, by saying that “We aren't going to let anyone in”. Merely four months later, his tone changes dramatically whilst addressing the Ukrainians, now proclaiming that – “We’re letting everyone in”. This may be amusing and infuriating, however on a deeper level, this may be a time where the hypocrisy of European leaders can be brought to the surface with ample evidence and proof.
Not only is hypocrisy limited to the refugee crisis, but also treatment of the refugees. While blue eyed, blond, white people are treated by host nations as their own, people of colour are often delegated to the side and marginalized by the host country. Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi drew criticism last month after calling Ukrainians "real refugees". The tending hashtag, #AfricansinUkraine allegedly showed African students being kept from boarding trains out of Ukraine, to make space for Ukrainians. It seems that the uproar the world through following the aftermath of George Floyd's death has died down. While many protested for Black Lives Matter, in reality, few practised.
The amount of criticism Israel receives from the international community and leaders in comparison to Russia is questionable and something to think about. It is also worrisome how condemnation of human rights violations is avoided over fears of worsening economic and diplomatic relations. It seems as if the industrialized countries of the west have nothing to say when it does not do them any good. While Europe leaders showcase solidarity in the face of the Ukrainian crisis, whether they deserve an applause for their humanitarian stance is questionable.