Background:
Tūjān al-Faīṣal, the first female member of the Jordanian parliament, talks in English about fundamentalism in Jordan, the people’s demand for reforms, a leader and their attitude toward Israel. In Arabic, she speaks about progress in the influence of women in politics.
Two unnamed Jordanian Circassians speak about the Circassians’ origin, history, their political and socioeconomic situation in Jordan and about Circassians worldwide. While they speak English for the most part, sporadically Arabic is used to to highlight their arguments and give examples.
For more information on Tūjān al-Faīṣal, please refer to the tape Jordanian MP Tūjān al-Faīṣal on Jordanian politics and society: http://www.arabwestreport.info/en/jordanian-mp-tujan-al-faisal-jordanian...
Side A:
Tūjān al-Faīṣal, a member of the Jordanian parliament, explains that while the fundamentalists tried to kill her in 1989, they now support her in parliament. This turn would show that the electorate does not actually want a fundamentalist political Islam but rather reforms. Hence the only way to combat fundamentalism are political and economic reforms and the return of human and civil rights to the people according to al-Faīṣal. The Jordanian people feel a need for a return of democracy but have their doubts giving the current situation. They are taking the streets in Amman, like a ready army waiting for the saviour and for things to be turned over. She further discusses the belief in individual leadership. According to al-Faīṣal, the Jordanian people perceive Israel as the ultimate evil and distrust everything from the country. She believes it would be accepted if Israel gradually becomes part of the Middle East, but not leading it.
Al-Faīṣal talks about her participation in a conference for women, and she expresses her appreciation of the work of NGOs. In order to improve the position of women, she states overall political change would be needed and refers to Chinese culture. She actively fought against legislation that would have discriminated women. Her biggest achievement personally was to be perceived as a politician and not just a female participant. After her election, many more women reached powerful positions. She highlights the importance of the female right both to vote and to be elected.
Cornelis Hulsman asks about the 15,000-20,000 Circassians in Jordan and an Egyptian Māhir Abasa. An unnamed interviewee responds that he is the current Egyptian Minister of Electricity. Many Egyptians are called Abasa (the Egyptian name for Circassians), while Circassians are spread in twenty-five countries worldwide. Original Circassians live in four places: Kabardino-Balkaria, Adygea, Abkhazia and Karachay-Cherkessia. He estimates there are 1,000-2,000 Circassians in Egypt now, while there had been around 2 million of them during the time of Muhammad’s Ali. For more information, he refers to a book called “al-Sharakas fi Miṣr“ by Rasim Rushdi covers the history if Circassians in Egypt.
Side B:
The interviewee continues to reveal how the Circassians came to Jordan in 1886 (much later than the emigration to Egypt, which started when Russia sent Mamluks and Circassians to fight the Ottoman empire in Egypt). Nowadays there are eleven societies, two clubs and one special school for Circassians in Amman where their language, writing, and dancing are taught. He explains the Jordan Circassians’s loyalty to the monarchy: they are Muslims and the king helped them coming to Jordan and gave them land. Early troubles with the local Jordanian and Bedouin population have ceased today. Circassians are in high positions in the Jordanian Armed Forces and in the government, including a minister and the Jordan ambassador to Sudan. The interviewee briefly discusses the critical attitude of Circassian MP Tūjān al-Faīṣal. Circassian’s labour situation does not differ from average. He also shortly addresses Circassians in Israel, Syria and Turkey as well as the relationship between Circassians and Chechens. Today, formerly unaccepted Circassian/non-Circassian marriages have become usual.
