Though social media in the MENA region is rampant with posts and comments showing support for the Ukrainians who were forced to flee their homes, many users did not hold away from voicing what they called European double standards when it comes to the harsher reception Arab refugees were met with in Europe, when they too were forced to leave their homes.
As of Sunday, European nations have opened their doors to at least 368,000 Ukrainian refugees, the UN’s refugee agency announced on Twitter on Sunday.
Many of these countries, such as Poland, Romania and Moldova have taken a different attitude towards the Ukrainian refugees, as opposed to Syrian and Afghani refugees, who were met with stricter measures and became the center of politically -fueled disagreements.
In Poland for example, the media is reporting that border control is letting in Ukrainian refugees with much more ease compared to Arab or African residents in Ukraine who are fleeing the conflict.
“The “but they look like us” attitude playing out in the west shouts that it’s ok for the Middle East to live the horror of war. The only lives that matter are white, blonde, blue-eyed humans; they make you a “relatively civilized” victim and grant you an expedited refugee status,” wrote a Lebanese commentator on Twitter.
Yes, things are clear #Ukraine #UkraineRussiaWar #RussiaUkraineWar #الحرب_الروسية_الاوكرانية #الحرب_العالمية_الثالثة pic.twitter.com/oFamvGwZwL
— Abdullah Naseer (@zurcani) February 27, 2022
i think being angry at people from the Middle East pinpointing hypocrisy is honestly annoying tbh, if you can’t even comprehend that this is our daily lives then YOU think it’s normal for us to suffer but when it happens in europe it’s all of a sudden breach of law, unjust etc
— ??? (@paliefer) February 24, 2022
White People Concern Map… Sums it up. pic.twitter.com/UNnY9syM3I
— Lawliet (@7awliet) February 25, 2022
#Ukraine
It’s clear now, do whatever you want to meet #الحرب_الروسية_الاوكرانية #UkraineRussiaWar #RussiaUkraineWar pic.twitter.com/8CCJbs0FF4— زَيْنبـْ (@ZaynoobaZineb) February 26, 2022
f**** europ & its unwanted civilization in the rest of the world. moroccans are muslims & do not want to be europeans. morocco is the opposit of europ,