Thankfully it seems that at the time of writing, Gillian Gibbons will shortly be on a plane home from Sudan having received a presidential pardon for allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear Mohammad. The British Foreign Office and two muslim peers, Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi (members of the House of Lords) did sterling work in securing her release.

As i sit here in Yemen, an islamic country, and 10,000s of other businessmen and adventurers are similarly in places where culture and religion intertwine, one has to reflect on the sensitivities we must have when guests in foreign lands.

And i believe that is how we must consider ourselves. Just as it would be wrong to burp, fart or do other socially unacceptable behaviour when a guest at someone’s dinner party, we must also learn what the faux pas are when we are guests in a foreign land. It easy to make the mistake of thinking that if something is alright ’when at home’, its alright when we are on our travels. This all seems obvious, but when underpressure, disorientated or confused in a foreign land, it is easy to forget.

Using The Name ’Mohammad’

Muslims have very strict rules for how to use the name of their prophet (and the other Prophets including Jesus). To call an animal e.g. a Pig after any of the Prophets would cause great offense and be considered an intentional insult. Likewise naming a dog with a Prophet’s name would also be offensive. However it is common that Muslim children give names to their teddy bears, toys, dolls etc and that many of these names are the same as religious names. Things can get a bit confusing when Islamic countries lay down there own rules, and this is what seems to have tripped up Gillian Gibbons, as countries themselves can rule that no object is given a religious name. I think it is fair to say Gibbons’ faux pas was spotted long after the event and then used for political reasons both within Sudan and internationally. 

However, one has to wonder whether we are all provided with a sense of what feels right or wrong. In the responses to the Gibbons case, many have commented how wrong it would ’feel’, if a teacher was to call a teddy bear ’Jesus’. Interestingly, according to the BBC, the second most common name for new born boys in the UK is now Mohammad. I don’t remember meeting too many Jesus’ at school.

The use of the name Mohammad and the sacrilegious connotations are too complex for the west to understand. The simple answer is to not attribute the name to anything that just ’doesnt feel right’.

What Else To Look Out For

The experience of new cultures and traditions is what makes adventure to far off lands exciting. The chances of a businessman or foreign worker ending up in a Gibbons type situation are pretty slim, however it is important to consider the wider issue of etiquette, manners and behaviour when in foreign lands. Here are some tips for travellers and businessmen heading into the Middle East and South East Asia, if you get them wrong you shouldn’t end up in prison, and have your most embrassing photos slapped all over Sky News, but it counts for a lot if you get them right:

1. The Left Hand. Dont give anything with it or take anything with it. If eating with no cutlery, dont eat with it.

2. Dealing with foreign women. Always be chivalrous. Let women take your seat. Dont get too close. Be on the look out for segregated seating in airports and other communal places. Dont accidentally wind up in the wrong place. When with a male colleague or host, dont ask about his wife or daughters.

3. Tea and Drinks. In meetings both formal and informal, if offered a tea, take it and drink it. Sometimes a meeting wont end until you have finished your tea. If offered a refill, accept at least one top-up.

4. Feet. If invited to relax in a majlis or a diwan, you will need to remove your shoes. Make sure you have socks with no holes in! Think about your feet positioning and dont point the soles of your feet at anyone. As well as in Arab states, this is a big no-no in Buddhist countries too.

5. Temper. Across the middle east and into asia, it is usually a deal killer to get angry. If you have meetings you will find the meeting is interrupted due to an ’open office’ style. Papers will get signed, phonecalls taken and even friends will visit the host of your meeting during your powerpoint presentation. Stay calm, stay cool and adjust, because this is how it is.

6. Patience. Doing deals outside of Europe and North America requires patience. Things may seem to be delayed, but this is because your potential partner or customer is wanting to build trust and familiarity with you. Do not set yourself, or your business, restrictive deadlines. If your people back at HQ dont get this, educate them a little on the culture.

7. Bargaining. In most Arab cultures, bargaining is part of the process and is considered natural. It may seem tough at first but after awhile you will enjoy it.

8. Political and Religious discussion. In the current climate, this is a tough one. You will find that your business host or colleagues wont embarrass you by asking you for an opinion, but the ’man on the street’, he may ask for your opinion on Bush, Blair etc etc. If the debate is in English, agree with him. If it is in a foreign language, say ’I dont understand’ in the appropriate way.

9. Dress. I usually find this is the toughest one for the girls. It is surprising actually how revealing the standard western business uniform of women is. They arrive in the Middle East with low cut tops, split to the thigh skirts and various other risky outfits that are pretty standard in the western office. Dress conservatively and keep cleavage well hidden. Men should always where a suit.

10. Alcohol. Some islamic countries allow some alcohol consumption by westerners in hotel bars or other designated areas. You may meet an arab who also drinks in his own home. In some arab airports you can also buy alcohol and take it into another Arab country. Tread very carefully with this and make sure you know what is allowed, by who and where. Get this wrong and you could get into trouble, like this guy.

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