Dear Editor,
I write in reference to Guyana Chronicle article by Chevon Singh, captioned ‘Housing Minister accuses Stabroek News, APNU of insulting Muslim community.’ After reading the article twice, the only thought that came to mind was, ‘Where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise.’
The Chronicle states that a statement made by APNU member Rupert Roopnaraine that Housing Minister Irfaan Ali was “… carrying on in the tradition of his well known ancestor Ali Baba and the forty thieves….” had caused damage to the Muslim community, and was aimed at creating division and mischief and casting Guyanese Muslims in a negative light.
Editor, to accuse Dr Roopnaraine of any of the above for the remarks made would not only be a stretch of the truth, but involve a stretch of one’s imagination. First, let us establish that Ali Baba is a fictional character. In the story, he is actually an “honest man” who takes advantage of the thieves’ robberies. I listened to Dr Roopnaraine’s speech at the Square of the Revolution last Friday night, and his remarks were in no way directed towards our Muslim brothers and sisters.
I don’t want to school the Minister, but I have never heard of a thief being referred to as an Ali Baba in Arabic, and that would not even make sense, if so. Ali Baba is just a fable about a man who lived in Baghdad a long time ago, and the word for thief in Arabic is ‘sarik.’
If this accusation was not carried as news in the Chronicle, I would have dismissed it, but it was filed as a news item. That the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves has been made into movies in Arab nations only makes this perceived slight even harder to comprehend. As early as 1942, the Egyptians made a movie of this story with Ali Alkassar playing the lead. In 1970, Ali Baba’s story was adapted in a Bengali film called Margiana Abdulla, and a Malaysian comedy film, Ali Baba Bujang Lapok was made in 1960.
I think the Minister is trying to create controversy where none exists, and he should explain where Dr Roopnaraine used language that damaged or insulted the Guyanese Muslim community. What did Dr Roopnaraine say that was aimed at creating division, and mischief, and casting Muslims in a negative light in Guyana or anywhere else?
For all law-abiding Guyanese, regardless of religious creed, age, gender, or walk of life, APNU is as its name states, ‘A Partnership for National Unity.’
Yours faithfully,
Mark Archer
