“Al-Arabs in UK” an online platform that gathers Arabs

8 January 2022

“Al-Arabs in UK” an online platform that gathers Arabs

The interactive online platform called “Al-Arabs in UK” was officially launched on the 1st of January, after two months of experimental broadcasting. This platform aims to gather everything related to the Arab community in Britain under one virtual roof, and provides news content that serves the Arabs in Britain and their various activities.

The “Al-Arabs in UK” platform is distinguished as “a project that includes all of Britain, and is available in both Arabic and English, and it also provides free advisory services to Arabs, and at the same time it has a presence on many communication platforms, not just on Facebook. This means that it is “an institutional project and it is not a limited individual work,” according to what the platform’s founder and editor-in-chief Adnan Hmidan says, in an interview with “Al-Araby Al-Jadeed”.

Hmidan added: “Since many local studies have found that 45 percent of Britons believe that Arabs are not integrated into British society and prefer to live in isolated communities, the message of this project is to provide an Arab platform in Britain that speaks with the conscience of the Arab citizen residing there or wishing to move to live in it, in a way that meets his needs and desires, and enhances his connection with the Arab community through activities, events, services and news. The platform “Al-Arabs in UK” is also concerned with all the educational, social and cultural challenges he and his children face.

Hmidan points out that the”Al-Arabs in UK” platform is from Arabs in Britain and to them. In addition, every Arab citizen residing in Britain can edit its news and publish his articles on this platform , away from controversial issues or political disputes.

In this context, Dr. Khalil Al-Agha, a lecturer in digital media strategies, at “London Metropolitan University”, and a researcher in the field of media and cultural identity, told “Al-Araby Al-Jadeed” that the platform plays a positive role in the integration of Arab societies into British society. He explained that “the issue of the integration of minorities in Western societies is one of the most important issues for many stakeholders, including individuals, community leaders, legislators, governments, local administrations, schools, educational bodies, and others.”

He points out that “the complexity lies in the concept of integration itself, as the Western societies expect full integration, in the sense of changing the identity of minorities. As for the concept of integration from the point of view of many minorities and their members, it may mean preserving the identity, belief and customs that they bring from their countries of origin, and this practically means separation from the custodial societies because there is a vast difference between them.”

Dr Al-Agha believes that “the political agendas in many Western countries play a negative role in increasing this complexity and adding a controversial dimension, which contributes to the separation of distances more than it brings them closer.” Al-Agha notes that “the media sometimes contributes to stereotyping the mental image of certain minorities. In order to gain a better understanding of the meaning of integration, it is necessary to refer to the great development that has occurred in this concept over the years, which has come to mean in its latest forms the ability of minorities and host societies to live together and respect each other’s cultures.

Al-Agha believes that “there is a lot that needs to be done to achieve the concept of correct and sustainable integration, and it is necessary to agree on common grounds to start from and build on,” considering that the “Al-Arabs in UK” platform has great opportunities for progress in this field.

“Al-Arabs in UK” an online platform that gathers Arabs

Meanwhile, Salah Abdullah (24 years), managing editor of the ‘Al-Arab in UK’ platform, pointed to the predominance of the youth element over the working group and its gathering between the Arab youth who grew up in Britain since their childhood and the youth brought by the conditions of immigration and asylum, and accordingly, they reflect the reality of Arab youth in Britain in every detail.

As for Marwa Knifeed, a correspondent for ‘Al-Arab in UK’ in Sheffield, northern England, said, “This project helped me realise my dream of applying what I studied in the media within the Arab community in general and the Syrian refugee community in Britain in particular, to highlight the qualitative addition that the presence of these immigrants formed in Britain.”, and that many of them have become productive elements and no longer need the cheap subsidies provided by the state.

As for the correspondent of ‘Al-Arab in UK’ in Brighton, Ola Elbayouk expressed her delight with the platform providing both in English and Arabic for Arabs in Britain and those interested in their stories and issues. continuing “I started thinking about how much I owe this city, as it has given me and still has many rights.”

In turn, Dalal Jibril, a media person and founder of the “Jordanian Association in Britain” and “Jordanian Expatriates in Britain” on Facebook, told “Al-Araby Al-Jadeed”: “As a Jordanian community in Britain, we welcome this step and the presence of a site that includes a youth staff with experience in media, and it is also important that it is a platform that includes Arabs who were born in Britain and are in this country, as well as the category of immigrants, or as it is said, the first generation of immigrants.”

Jibril adds that the platform will certainly face many challenges, most notably the gathering of Arabs, but she believes that the platform is a beautiful initiative, especially since the Arabs have many problems, including integration. Jibril says: “I am personally married to an English man, and after mixing with English families, I saw that many of them are interconnected and enjoy a family atmosphere different from our traditional Arab atmosphere. Although I have adapted to the country, I am always looking for people who belong to my culture and traditions, Because I like to share with them my memories, my childhood and my culture, and to live with them the atmosphere of our country within British society.

In this regard, Syrian activist Dima Al-Akta’ commends the launch of “Al-Arabs in UK” platform, which reported two stories about her activity and active presence in highlighting the suffering and challenges of Syrian refugees during the past two months. She says, “I felt very proud that the platform adopted my story and highlighted my experience, and through it, I was able to convey my message to a larger group and encourage those like me to adventure, challenge and integrate more into British society.”

It should be noted that the platform “Al-Arabs in UK” is available on social media platforms, in addition to providing content in both languages on its official website: www.alarabinuk.com.

Source: “Al-Araby Al-Jadeed”.

مع دخول العام الجديد 2022 تنطلق منصة #العرب_في_بريطانيا AUK رسميًا بموقعها الخدمي الإخباري في كل ما يهم المجتمع العربي في #بريطانيا https://t.co/EsC5uqnuAa

— العرب في بريطانيا (@AlARABINUK) December 31, 2021