Essay Sample on Refugee Discrimination

“A person who has escaped from their own country for political, religious, or economic reasons or because of a war.”

That is the case for many Ukrainians and Arabs recently in the past decade. So why have Ukrainians gotten more support and welcome in the past 3 months, than Arabs in the past decade?

It is due to double standards; “The habit of treating one group differently than another when both groups should be treated the same.” 

Racism and discrimination against Arab refugees are fueled and amplified by the double standards presented by the turmoil in Ukraine and the influx of Ukrainian refugees. These double standards are more relevant than ever right now, they need to be acknowledged and resolved.

The emergence of the double standards 

In recent months Ukraine and Russia have been in a political war that started with the invasion of Russia into Ukraine, this led to many Ukrainians fleeing and seeking refuge from neighboring countries such as Poland. Along with the cross from one country to another came racism, favoritism, and discrimination. 

Neighboring European countries opened up their borders and their arms with the biggest welcome to Ukrainian refugees, while those same countries pushed out middle eastern refugees and left them in chaos and turmoil. Albagir, a 22-year-old med student was denied entry to Poland and left to freeze in the cold by the border; while Katya Maslova, a 21-year-old who fled Ukraine with her family entered Poland with ease and welcome. So, what was the difference between these two? Why would Poland favor one human life over the other? 

I failed to mention one very important detail that can lead to a conclusion regarding this difference; Albagir, is a black Sudanese med student, while Katya Maslova is a white Ukrainian.

This occurrence was part of a domino effect; this piece, which told Albagir's story, was the catalyst for the other stories; once it was pushed and revealed to the world, the other stories of racism and discrimination fell as well. 

Racism and favoritism have always existed however at a time in need when everyone is fleeing for their lives and seeking refuge, that is when they are at an all-time high. Greece recently initiated a migration system that was never offered to the thousands of Syrians fleeing there. It is a system that divides people even further, it leads to racism and pushes people to discriminate. This system divides into two, one being established for Ukrainian refugees coming from the north, where they are welcomed with cell phone cards, snacks, and hot meals; while the other system is for middle eastern and Africans, where refugees have often turned away for trying to illegally enter or if they have entered the can face serious criminal charges. 

One can argue and mention how they are entering illegally, which in hindsight is true. However, one should keep in mind that these refugees fleeing from Syria, for example, have nothing. More than likely their homes have been destroyed and their families have been killed, so the only getaway they have is fleeing to neighboring countries. Something that should also be kept in mind, most of Syria’s neighboring countries are also refugee fleeing countries, so fleeing there would not change anything, it would just be a change of location dealing with the same circumstances. So, the next best option is the European neighboring countries, even if it means entering illegally.

My point is what Greece is doing is inhumane and racially motivated. Whether you are a Ukrainian refugee, Syrian refugee, or Sudanese refugee it should not matter. These people are all refugees who already lost their homes and families, and are about to lose their countries. Dividing people and being racist to people in a time of need is very wrong and ruthless. Ukrainians should not be the only ones treated with welcome and love, while other middle eastern are thrown in jail or left to freeze in the cold.

Picking and choosing who you consider worthy or deserving refugees is wrong, treating people based on what they look like or from where they come from is wrong. Cause in the end they are all refugees; “A person who has escaped from their own country for political, religious or economic reasons or because of war."