t1a b34 fbi arabic cultural documents fdr- fbi memos re behavioral analysis program for nytwinbom...

8/14/2019 T1A B34 FBI Arabic Cultural Documents Fdr- FBI Memos Re Behavioral Analysis Program for NYTWINBOM and PENT

1/20

(Rev. 03-28-2000)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Precedence: PRIORITY

To: All Field Offices

Counterterrorism

From: National SecurityOTU (NS - 4R^ Pr-v m

C o n t a c t :

Da te : 09/19/2001

A t t n : ADIC

SACNFIP SupervisorsDale L. Watson

9/11 Law Enforcement Privacy

A p p r o v e d By: Pickard Thomas JWatson Dale LCaruso James TRolince Michael EBuckley Margaret RBinnie Jonathan P

Drafted By: Barrett Constance

Case ID #: 265D-NY-280350 (Pending)64A-HQ-1062331-ADMIN (Pending)

Title: BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS PROGRAM (BAP)GUIDE ON ARABIC CULTURE FOR USE INNYTWINBOM AND -PENTBOM INTERVIEWS

Synopsis: Enclosed is a summary of important a spects of Arabicculture prepared by the BAP to serve as an aid in interviewing

individuals from Arab backgrounds in connection with the above-referenced mat ter.

Enclosure(s): Arabic culture guide, as referenced above.

Details': In view of the great number of interviews beingconducted among A rab-A merica ns in connection with the NYTWINBOMand PENTBOM cases, BAP Field Representative SA Joe Navarro, TampaDivision, has prepared the enclosed guide on Arabic cul ture andmanners as a potential interview aid. Th e guidelines werederived, with permission of the.author, from th e bookUnderstanding Arabs. A Guide for Westerners (Revised Edition), byDr. Margaret K. Nydell, an Arabic expert at Georgetown Universityin Washington, D.C. The guide summarizes basic manners, values,and beliefs which are characteristic of the Arabic culture, andwhich interviewers'may want to keep in mind when interviewingindividuals this background.


2/20

To: All Field Offices From: National SecurityRe: 64A-HQ-1062331-ADMIN, 09/19/2001

Please distribute the guide to whoever may find ituseful.

1 - J. T. Caruso

1 - M. E. Rolince1 - L. G. Wiser1 - C. Ahmad1 - C. Barrett1 - Tickler Copy

LEAD(s):

Set Lead 1 :

ALL RECEIVING OFFICES

Please ensure that each addressee receives a copy ofthis communication.


3/20


NATIONAL S E C U R I T Y DIVISION (NSD)BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS PROGRAM (BAP) R E P O RT

P R E PA R E D B YSA JOE NAVARRO, TAMPA DIVISION

The following material was extracted from the book,Understanding Arabs, A Guide for Westerners, by Margaret K.Nydell.*

UNDERSTANDING A R A B S

BELIEFS;

To understand the Arab mind, one must understand Islam inasmuchas the two are deeply intertwined. This can be observed in thebeliefs and values of the Arabic people. As an example: Arabscharacteristically believe "that many if not most things in life arecontrolled, ultimately by fate rather than by humans, that everyoneloves children, that wisdom increases with age, and that theinherent personalities of men and women are vastly different." Aswith all cultures, such basic beliefs play a powerful role indetermining the nature of the Arab culture.

Understanding Arabs , A Guide for Westerners (Revised E dition), by MargaretK . Nydell, 1996; Intercultural Press, Inc., Yarmouth, Maine. SA Navarroquoted f rom the book or paraphrased portions of the book. Used with the kindpermission of Dr. Margaret K. Nydell. While Dr. Nydell tends to generalize attimes, this material is useful for those investigators who may be dealing withArabs for the first time. To obtain information on getting copies of Dr.

Nydell's book or to request behavioral analysis assistance, contact the FBI'sBehavioral Analysis Program, National Security Division's Operational TrainingUnit, F B I H Q , a t ( 2 0 2 ) 3 2 4 - 3 9 4 9 o r ( 2 0 2 ) 3 2 4 - 6 9 2 7


4/20


GEOGRAPHY;

There are twenty countries that encompass the "Arab world."

While political diversity among th e Arab countries is notable(governmental systems include monarchies, military governments, andsocialist republics), they all strongly embrace Islam.

Despite their social diff eren ces, Arabs are more homogeneousthan Westerners in their outlook on life. All Arabs share basicbeliefs and values which cross national or social class boundaries.

In spite of what may appear to be vast differences, there areactually many similarities between Arab countries. Personal beliefsare influenced by Islam even among non-Moslems, child rearingpractices are nearly identical, and the family structure isessentially the same. Arabs are not as mobile as people in the Westand they have a high regard for tradition.

It is important for the Westerners to be able to identifycultural patterns and to distinguish them from individual traits.

B A S I C A R A B VALUES:

- A person's dignity, honor and reputation are of paramountimportance and no effort should be spared to protect them,especially one's honor.

- It is important to behave at all times in a way which will

create a good impression on others.- Loyalty to one's family takes precedence over personal needs.

- Social class and family background are the major determiningfactors of personal status, followed by individual character andachievement.

B A S I C A R A B R E L I G I O U S ATTITUDES;

- Everyone believes in God, acknowledges his power, and has areligious affiliation .

- Humans cannot control all events; some things depend on God(i.e. fate).

- Piety is one of the most admirable characteristics in aperson.


5/20


- There should be no separation between church and state;religion should be taught in schools and promoted by governments.

- Religious tenets should not be subjected to liberalinterpretations or modifications which can threaten establishedbeliefs an d practices.

B A S I C A R A B SUB-PERCEPTIONS:

- Arabs are generous, humanitarian, polite and loyal.

- Arabs have a rich cultural heritage. This is illustrated bytheir contributions to religion, philosophy, literature, medi cin e,architecture, art, math emat ics, and the natural sciences. Althoughthere are many differences among Arab countries, they clearly seethemselves as a distinct cultural group and members of the "ArabNation."

- The Arab people have been victimized and exploited by theWest. For them, the experience of the Palestinians represents themost painful and obvious example.

- Indiscriminate imit ation of Western culture, which weakenstraditional family ties and social and religious values, will have acorrupting influence on Arab society. This is one of the Arabs'strongest beliefs.

- Arabs are misunderstood and wrongly characterized by mostWesterners.

FRI EN DS AND STRANGERS;

In the Arab world, the concept of friendship entails a morerigid set of rules than in the Western world.

Friendship is based on a relationship in which it is the dutyof the friend to give help and to do favors to the best of hisability. Often differenc es in understanding as to what theseexpectations are leads to feelings of being let down.

"For an Ara b, good manners require that one never openlyrefuse a request from a friend . This does not mean that the favormust actually be done, bu t rather that the response must not be

stated as a direct 'no'." An effort must be made to disassociateoneself from any appearance of "refusal" by explaining that anattempt was made to meet the request, but it was not possible tocarry out.

In Western culture, actions are far more important and morevalued than words. In the Arab culture, an oral promise has its own


6/20

To: All Field Offic es From: National SecurityRe: 64A-HQ-1062331-ADMIN, 09/19/2001

value as a response. If an action does not follow, the other personcannot be held entirely responsible for a failure. If you were tofail to carry out a request, you would notice that Arabs show greatforbearance and will be understanding without exacting details as towhy it failed. This is in part because it would embarrass you and

possibly force you to admit to a failure in public. While this maybe a difficult concept to work with for Westerners, one mustremember that it serves to protect the integrity of the individual.Also, one must remember that when an Arab gives a "yes" for ananswer, he is not necessarily certain that the action will or can becarried out. He is merely being polite and is giving you a positiveresponse as is required by the culture. In other words, a" yes"reply should never be taken literally. You will hear responses suchas "if God wills it" and other simil ar expressions indicating thatthe answer is positive; however, the results may not be forthcoming.A request for assistance made with the phrase "do this for my sake"means that if a favor is actually performed, then that individualwill be indebted to whoever provides hi m with th e favor.

- "The practice of cultivating a person only in order to 'use'him is no more acceptable among Arabs than it is among Westerners."

INTRODUCTIONS;

- Arabs tend to provide many more detail s about their personallives and personal connections than Westerners do. At first, thismay appear to be bragging, but, in fact, it is customary to makeknown to others just how important they or their family is and whatinteresting connections they may have, either through work,education, or political an d religious affiliations.

A discourse on the part of an Arab regarding his network ofinfluence is not bragging. Nor is it irrelevant. In fact, it maybe a good indicator of his networking abilities and instructive asto his social and family connections.

During the initial interview, investigators should makespecial note of those individuals who are mentioned first, as thesepersons may form the network and/or foundation of the subject'ssocial life.

VISITING PATTERNS;

The reader should note that in Arabic the word closest to ourword "privacy" literally means "loneliness." Because Arabs are asocially oriented pe ople , they expect to receive requests and toreturn the favors in kind.

- Often the most successful individuals are the ones who arerelaxed, personable, and patient enough to establish genuinely


7/20


friendly personal relations, not necessarily the individuals who arethe most dapper, eff ic ien t , or eager.

- Arabs like to be praised often and in public. Praise shouldbe sincere and should be commensurate with actions performed.

- Pride is one of the mainstays of the Arabic character. Toestablish a good rapport with an Arab, one must be aware of the factthat his self-esteem is of foremost importance in his view ofhimself. It is important to pay tribute to this and avoid offendinghi s self-esteem.

PRIVATE A ND PUBLIC M A N N E R S ;

In the Arab way of thinking, people are clearly divided intofriends and strangers. The manners required when dealing with eachof these groups are very different.

With friends, it is essential to be polite, honest, generousand helpful .at all times. When dealing with strangers, "publicmanners" are applied and do not call for the same kind ofconsiderations.

It is accepted practice to do such things as crowd into lines,push, drive aggressively, and overcharge strangers.

EMOTION AND LOGIC;

While objectivity is given considerable emphasis in Westernculture, the opposite is true in Arab culture. Subjectivityprevails, and emotional outbursts are common.

Arabs consciously reserve the right to look at the world in asubj ect ive way.

Fatalism based on religious beliefs is very common.

Arabs are more likely to allow subjective perceptions to directtheir actions.

An Arab will rarely admit to an error openly if it will causehim to lose face.

To Arabs, honor is more important than facts.

HU MA N DIMENSIONS:


8/20


Arabs believe in persons, not in institutions. They have along tradition of personal appeal to authorities for exceptions torules.

Arabs are usually not as angry as they appear. They are

merely emphasizing their point. Their emotion connotes a deep andsincere concern for the outcome of the decision.

P E R S O N A L MATTERS:

Questions which Arabs consider too personal include thosepertaining to women in the family, especially if asked by a man. Itis best to ask about "the family" in general terms, rather than aperson's wife, sister, or grown daughter.

Never expect a "yes" or "no" answer concerning sensitivematters. The answer will be somewhere in between.

In general, Arabs tend to stand and sit closer to one anotherand touch people more than Westerners. It is not uncommon to seetwo men or two women holding hands as they walk down the street.

Good manners constitute the most important factor in evaluatinga person's character.

Generosity to guests is essential for a good reputation. It isan insult to characterize someone as stingy or inhospitable. Arabsassume the role of host or hostess whenever the situation calls forit. No matter how much coffee or tea you have had to drink, alwaysaccept what is being offered.

An Arab's personal image and status will be affected bypeople's perceptions of his hospitality.

Patience and repeated visits are called for. Arabs have plentyof time and they see little need to accommodate individuals in ahurry.

Westerners often arrive too early for meetings and expecteveryone else to be on time. Don't expect the same from Arabs.

RULESOF ETIQUETTE;

It is important to sit properly. Slouching, draping the legsover the chair, or otherwise sitting carelessly is considered aninsult.


9/20

To: All Field Offices From: National SecurityRe : 64A-HQ-1062331-ADMIN, 09/19/2001

When standing during a conversation with someone, leaningagainst the wall or keeping your hands in your pockets is considereda sign of lack of respect.

Sitting in a manner that allows the soles of one's shoes to

face another person is also an insult.

FA M I LY L O YA LT Y A N D O B L I G AT I O N S ;

Family loyalty and obligations take precedent over loyalty tofriends or the demands of a job. The reputation of any member of agroup reflects on all the members. One person's indiscreet or ill-judged behavior can damage his relatives' pride, social influence,or even marriage opportunities.

R E L I G I O N I N SOCIETY;

Religious affiliation is essential for every person in Arabsociety: there is no place for atheists or agnostics. In Arabculture, all religions and their practices are treated with respect.

C O M M U N I C AT I O N S ;

Arabs are very proud of the classical Arabic language.

Eloquence in speech is given much weight by Arabs.

Arabs are uncomfortable discussing illness, disaster or death.Euphemisms are a must. A careless reference to a bad event may beperceived as inviting misfortune or making a bad situation worse.


10/20

(Rev. 08-28-2000)

F E D E R A L B U R E A U O F I N V E S T I G AT I O N

Precedence: P R I O R I T Y Date: 10/29/2001

To: All Field Off ices ' Attn: A D I CS A C

NFIP SupervisorsCounterterrorism Dale L. Watson

From: National SecurityOTU (NS-4B') RnnmContact:

9/11 Law Enforcement Pr ivacy

Approved By: Pickard Thomas JWatson Dale LCaruso James TRol ince Michael EBuckley Margaret RBinnie Jonathan P

Drafted By: Ahmad' Catherine

Case ID #: 265D-NY-280350 (Pending)64A-HQ-1062331-ADMIN (Pending).

Title: NATIONAL SECURITY DIVISION'S (NSD)BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS PROGRAM (BAP);BEHAVIORAL GUIDANCE FOR USE INPENTTBOM INVESTIGATION

Synopsis: Enclosed is a l ist of suggestions designed to assistinvestigators who conduct interviews of persons withArab-American and/or Muslim backgrounds.

Reference: EC to All Field Offices dated 09/19/2001, captioned,"BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS PROGRAM (BAP); GUIDE ON ARABIC CULTURE FORUSE IN NYTWINBOM AND PENTTBOM INTERVIEWS" (265D-NY-280350-8345)

Enclosure(s): Behavioral guide for interviews of persons withArab-American and/or Muslim backgrounds.

Details: Enclosed is a behavioral guide for interviews of personswith Arab-American and/or Muslim backgrounds, the second in aseries of BAP behavioral guidelines for use in the PENTTBOMinvestigation.

The current events have aroused strong emotions amongal l American people, including those in the FBI. The subjectsbeing interviewed in connection with this case can also beexpected to react in an emotional way, especially if they believethey are being unjustly singled out for investigation. The burden


11/20


is on the investigator to behave professionally, regardless ofthe behavior of the subject. This is especially true in thisinvestigation, because the very nature of this case requires thatthe FBI deal with a number of people with diverse cultural

backgrounds. It is important that an FBI Agent understands how dodeal with other cultures for at least two reasons beyond thebasic concept that we owe the public our most professionalapproach. First, the FBI's investigation will have better chanceof yielding good information if interviewers do not inadvertentlyalienate or offend the people they are interviewing. Secondly,interviewers can establish a foundation for the FBI to receiveadditional information in the future if they leave a positiveimpression.

Please read the enclosed material, and distribute it towhoever may find it useful.

1 - J . T. CarusoI - M. E . Rolince1 - L. G. Wiser1 - C. Ahmad1 - C. Barrett1 - Tickler Copy

LEAD(s) :

Set Lead 1:

ALL RECEIVING OFFICES

Please ensure that each addressee receives a copy ofthis communication.


12/20


NATIONAL SECURITY DIVISION (NSD)BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS P R O G R A M (BAP) REPORT

B E H AV I O R A L GUIDANCE FOR USE INPENTTBOM INVESTIGATION

Suggest ions for Interviews of Persons w i t hA r a b - A m e r i c a n s and/or Mus l im Backgrounds 1

In view of the large number of interviews being conductedamong Arab-Americans and/or Muslims in connection with thePENTTBOM case, the BAP has set forth a list of suggestionsdesigned to assist investigators who conduct interviews ofpersons with these backgrounds.

- Make an attempt to pronounce names correctly; if in doubt,ask the subject himself for the correct pronunciation. In Arabsociety, first names are frequently used as individualidentification, even if it is preceded by Miss, Mrs. or Mr.

- Try to use interviewers who are at least the same age orolder than the interviewee(s), since status increases as apersons grows older.

- Be aware of need to show respect to elderly persons. Forexample, in a group of people, greeting the elderly first is apreferred way to show respect.

- Dress professionally and conservatively, trying to avoid"military" apparel and raid jackets. Casual dress may be inferredas a lack of respect.

- Conduct the interview in a private area, or possibly evenoff-site, if it is necessary to interview the subject at work.For Arabs, a person's image is more important than reality.

- Be aware that asking too many questions about femalerelatives of the subject may make the interviewee veryuncomfortable.

- Be more deferential and formal if interviewing anindividual who possesses high status in the community. Forexample, an Imam has high status in the Muslim community andshould be shown more respect.

1 For additional guidance on this subject, please refer tothe book Understanding Arabs, A Guide for Westerners (RevisedEdition), by Margaret K. Nydell, 1996; Intercultural Press, Inc.Yarmouth, Maine.


13/20


- Don't express your opinions about politics or religion.(If you are asked, be prepared to encourage their opinions,

without giving your own response). If you are confronted, it isbetter to express ignorance rather than indifference byindicating, "I don't know" rather than "I don't care about that."

- Remember that this community is family centered, but thattheir spouses may not be their best friends. For example,husbands often tend to confide in their brothers, and wives tendto confide in their sisters.

- Be gracious and give them an opportunity to express theiropinions.

- If investigators find themselves facing a difficult ortense interview, and are looking for an opening question,consider asking them "Why do you think all this [the terroristincident] happened?"

To obtain further information or to request behavioral analysisassistance, contact the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Program, NationalSecurity Division's Operational Training Unit, FBIHQ, at (202) 324-3949 or (202) 324-6927.


14/20

U.S. Depar tment of Justice

Federal Bureauof Investigation

Washington ,D. C. 20535-0001

October 24 , 2001

N AT I O N A L S E C U R I T Y DIVISIONBEHAVIORAL A N A LY S I S PROGRAM ( B A P ) R E P O RT

P R E PA R E D BYS A JOE N AVA R R O , FBI TA M PA DIVISION

The following material was extracted from the book,Understanding Arabs, A Guide for Westerners, by Margaret K.N ydell.*

UNDERSTANDING ARABS

BELIEFS;

To understand the Arab mind, one must understand Islaminasmuch as the two are deeply intertwined. This can be observed inthe beliefs and values of the Arabic people. As an example: Arabscharacteristically believe "that many if not most things in l i fe arecontrolled, ultimately by fate rather than by humans, that everyoneloves children, that wisdom increases with age, and that theinherent personalities of men and women are vastly different." Aswith all cultures, such basic beliefs play a powerful role indetermining the nature of the Arab culture.

Understanding Arabs , A Guide for Westerners (Revised Edition), by Margaret K.Nydell, 1996; Intercultural Press, Inc., Yarmouth, Maine. SA Navarro quoted f r o mthe book or paraphrased portions of the book. Used with the kind permission of Dr.Margaret K. Nydell. While Dr. Nydell tends to generalize at times, this materialis useful for those investigators who may be dealing with Arabs for the first time.


15/20

To obtain information on getting copies of Dr. Nydell's book, contact the FBI 'sBehavioral Analysis Program, National Security Division's Operational TrainingUnit, FBIHQ, at (202) 324-3949 or (202) 324-6927.

GEOGRAPHY;

There are twenty countries that encompass the "Arabworld."

While political diversity among the Arab countries isnotable (governmental systems include monarchies, militarygovernments, and socialist republics), they all strongly embraceIslam.

Despite their social differences, Arabs are morehomogeneous than Westerners in their outlook on life. All Arabsshare basic beliefs and values which cross national or social classboundaries.

In spite of what may appear to be vast differences, thereare actually many similarities between Arab countries. Personalbeliefs are influenced by Islam even among non-Moslems, childrearing practices are nearly identical, and the family structure isessentially the same. Arabs are not as mobile as people in the Westand they have a high regard for tradition.

It is important for the Westerners to be able to identifycultural patterns and to distinguish them from individual traits.

BASIC ARAB VALUES:

- A person's dignity, honor and reputation are ofparamount importance and no effort should be spared to protect them,especially one's honor.

- It is important to behave at all times in a way whichwill create a good impression on others.

- Loyalty to one's family takes precedence over personalneeds.

- Social class and family background are the major

determining factors of personal status, followed by individualcharacter and achievement.

BASIC ARAB RELIGIOUS ATTITUDES:

- Everyone believes in God, acknowledges his power, andhas a religious affiliation.


16/20

- Humans cannot control all events; some things depend onGod (i.e. fate).

- Piety is one of the most admirable characteristics in aperson.

-

There should be no separation between church and state;religion should be taught in schools and promoted by governments.

. - Religious tenets should not be subjected to liberalinterpretations or modifications which can threaten establishedbeliefs and practices.

B A S I C A R A B SUB-PERCEPTIONS;

- Arabs are generous, humanitarian, polite and loyal.

- Arabs have a rich cultural heritage. This isillustrated by their contributions to religion, philosophy,

literature, medicine, architecture, art, mathematics, and thenatural sciences. Although there are many differen ces among Arabcountries, they clearly see themselves as a distinct cultural groupand members of the "Arab Nation."

- The Arab people have been victimized and exploited bythe West. For them, the experience of the Palestinians representsthe most painful and obvious example.

- Indiscriminate imitation of Western culture, whichweakens traditional family ties and social and religious values,will have a corrupting influence on Arab society. This is one of the Arabs' strongest beliefs.

- Arabs are misunderstood and wrongly characterized bymost Westerners.

F R I E N D S AND STRANGERS;

In the Arab world, the concept of friendship entails amore rigid set of rules than in the Western world.

Friendship is based on a relationship in which it is the dutyof the friend to give help and to do favors to the best of hisability. Often differences in understanding as to what theseexpectations are leads to feelings of being le t down.

"For an Arab, good manners require that one never openlyrefuse a request from a friend. This does not mean that the favormust actually be done, but rather that the response must not bestated as a direct 'no'." An effort must be made to disassociateoneself from any appearance of "refusa l" by explaining that an


17/20

attempt wa s made to meet the request, but it was not possible tocarry out.

In Western culture, actions are far more important andmore valued than words. In the Arab culture, an oral promise hasits ow n value as a response. If an action does no t follow, the

other person cannot be held entirely responsible for a failure. Ifyou were to fail to carry out a request, you would notice that Arabsshow great forbearance and will be understanding with out exactingdetails as to why it failed. This is in part because it wouldembarrass you and possibly force you to a dmit to a failure inpublic. While this may be a difficult concept to work with forWesterners, one must remember that it serves to protect theintegrity of the individual. Also, one must remember that when anArab gives a "yes" for an answer, he is not necessarily certain thatthe action will or can be carried out. He is merely being politeand is giving you a positi ve response as is required by the culture.In other words, a" yes" reply should never be taken literally. Youwill hear responses such as "if God wills it" and other similarexpressions indicating that the answer is positive; however, theresults may not be forthcoming. A request for assistance m ade withthe phrase "do this for my sake" means that if a favor is actuallyperformed, then that individual will be indebted to whoever provideshim with the favor.

- "The practice of cultivating a person only in order to'use' him is no more acceptable among Arabs than it is among

Westerners."

INTRODUCTIONS:

- Arabs tend to provide many more details about -theirpersonal lives and personal connections than Westerners do. Atfirst, this ma y appear to be bragging, but, in fact, it is customaryto make known to others just how important they or their family isand what interesting connections they may have, either through work,education, or polit ical and religious affiliations.

A discourse on the part of an Arab regarding hisnetwork of influence is not bragging. Nor is it irrelevant. Infact, i t may be a good indicator of his networking abilities andinstructive as to his social and family connections.

During the initial interview, investigators should makespecial note of those individuals who are mentioned first, as thesepersons may form the network and/or foundation of the subject'ssocial life.

VISITING PATTERNS;


18/20

The reader should note that in Arabic the word closest toou r word "privacy" literally means "loneliness." Because Arabs area socially oriented people, they expect to receive requests and toreturn the favors in kind.

- Often the most successful individuals are the ones who

are relaxed, personable, and patient enough to establish genuinelyfriendly personal relations, not necessarily the indi viduals who arethe most dapper, efficien t, or eager.

- Arabs like to be praised often and in public. Praiseshould be sincere and should be commensurate with actions performed.

- Pride is one of the mainstays of the Arabic character.To establish a good rapport with an Arab, one must be aware of thefact that his self-esteem is of foremost importance in his view ofhimself. It is important to pay tribute to this and avoid offendinghi s se l f- es teem.

PRIVATE A ND PUBLIC MANNERS;

In the Arab way of thinking, people are clearly dividedinto friends and strangers. The manners required when dealing witheach of these groups are very diff erent .

With friends, it is essential to be polite, honest,generous and helpful at all times. When dealing with strangers,"public manners" are applied and do not call for the same kind ofconsiderations.

It is accepted practice to do such things as crowd intolines, push, drive aggressively, and overcharge strangers.

EMOTION AND LOGIC;

While objectivity is given considerable emphasis inWestern culture, the opposite is true in Arab culture. Subjectivityprevails, and emotional outbursts are common.

Arabs consciously reserve the right to look at the worldin a subje ctive way.

Fatalism based on religious bel iefs is very common.

Arabs are more likely to allow subjective perceptions todirect their actions.

An Arab will rarely admit to an error openly if it willcause him to lose face.


19/20

To Arabs, honor is more important than facts.

HUMAN DIMENSIONS;

Arabs believe in persons, not in institutions. They havea long tradition of personal appeal to authorities fo r exceptions to

rules.

Arabs are usually not as angry as they appear. They aremerely emphasizing their point. Their emotion connotes a deep andsincere concern for the outcome of the decision.

P E R S O N A L MATTERS;

Questions which Arabs consider too personal include thosepertaining to women in the family, especially if asked by a man. Itis best to ask about "the family" in general terms, rather than aperson's wife, sister, or grown daughter.

Never expect a "yes" or "no" answer concerning sensitivematters. The answer will be somewhere in between.

In general, Arabs tend to stand and sit closer to oneanother and touch people more than Westerners. It is not uncommonto see two men or two women holding hands as they walk down thestreet.

Good manners constitute the most important factor inevaluating a person's character.

Generosity to guests is essential for a good reputation.It is an insult to characterize someone as stingy or inhospitable.Arabs assume the role of host or hostess whenever th e situationcalls for it . No matter how much coffee or tea you have had todrink, always accept what is being offered.

An Arab's personal image and status will be affected bypeople's perceptions of his hospitality.

Patience and repeated visits are called for. Arabs haveplenty of time and they see little need to accommodate individualsin a hurry.

Westerners often arrive too early for meetings and expecteveryone else to be on time. Don't expect th e same from Arabs.

RULES OF ETIQUETTE;


20/20

It is important to sit properly. Slouching, draping thelegs over the chair, or otherwise sitting carelessly is consideredan insult.

When standing during a conversation with someone, leaningagainst the wall or keeping your hands in your pockets is considereda sign of lack of respect.

Sitting in a manner that allows the soles of one's shoesto face another person is also an insult.

FA M I LY L O YA LT Y A N D OBLIGATIONS;

Family loyalty and obligations take precedent overloyalty to friends or the demands of a job. The reputation of anymember of a group reflects on all the members. One person'sindiscreet or i ll-judged behavior can damage his relative s' pride,social influence, or even marriage opportunities.

RELIGION IN SOCIETY;

Religious affiliation is essential for every person inArab society: there is no place for atheists or agnostics. In Arabculture, al l religions and their practices are t rea ted wi th respect.

COMMUNICATIONS;

Arabs are very proud of the classical Arabic language.

Eloquence in speech is given much weight by Arabs.

Arabs are uncomfortable discussing illness, disaster or

death. Euphemisms are a must. A careless reference to a bad eventmay be perceived as inviting misfortune or making a bad situat ionworse.