Jordan's Queen Noor speaks of humanity for refugees at Elgin forum
With refugees making up a third of her country's population, Queen Noor of Jordan knows what it means to manage throngs of people crossing borders in search of security.
Noor, who is of Syrian descent, spoke of the urgency of humanitarian response to the growing Syrian refugee crisis Monday at Judson University's sixth annual World Leaders Forum.
"We all aspire to lives of dignity and opportunity, a meaningful horizon of possibility," she said, "if not in the short-term for ourselves, at least for our children and future generations."
The Zaatari refugee camp, opened in 2012 to host Syrians fleeing violence in an ongoing civil war, is now Jordan's fourth largest city with an estimated 83,000 refugees.
Noor, who is on the board of Refugees International, which speaks on behalf of refugees from conflict zones worldwide, said the path to security, prosperity and peace requires people of all faiths working together to help the millions who are displaced.
"Christ himself was a refugee from political violence when the holy family fled to Egypt," said the Christian-born Noor. "We rise or fall by the fate of the least of us. For societies, economies and nations to thrive, all people must (thrive)."
Refugees also can greatly benefit the communities that embrace them, she added.
Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain, who welcomed the 450 or so attendees, noted the city always has welcomed immigrants. "We welcome people of all faiths to this city, and let them pray as they wish, let them live their lives as they wish," he said. "The city of Elgin has dedicated itself to being a diverse community."
Noor's visit was the Christian liberal arts university's and Elgin's first brush with royalty.
Judson President Gene Crume said the global refugee crisis has been a topic of concern in many social justice classes on campus.
"It was great to hear someone who is so knowledgeable about the Middle East and larger global events," he said.
The widowed queen is the first leader from the Middle East to speak at Judson's forum. Last spring, former Mexican President Felipe Calderón was the first Latin American former head of state to appear at Judson.
The American-born Noor, 64, is the widow of Jordan's King Hussein, who died in 1999. Since then, she has been an advocate for cross-cultural understanding and conflict prevention, and other global issues, such as the refugee crises, missing persons, poverty, climate change and disarmament.
Born to an Arab-American Christian family as Lisa Najeeb Halaby, Noor studied architecture and urban planning at Princeton University. She married King Hussein bin Talal in June 1978, becoming the first American-born queen of an Arab country. She adopted the name Noor al-Hussein or "Light of Hussein" and converted to Islam.
Noor addressed the growing anti-Islamic rhetoric that has become part of the current political discourse in the U.S., as well as the politics of extremism and religious activism sweeping the Middle East.
"Seventh century Islam granted women political, legal and social rights then unheard of in the West," she said. "The oppression of women in parts of the Arab world is not because of Islam, but contrary to it."
Noor said leaders worldwide are watching the U.S. political process and presidential race with "mounting concern."
"Polarization is growing everywhere we look," she said, "pitting people against one another across political, economic, social, sectarian lines."
She urged American politicians, instead of putting up walls, to hold up this nation's values of liberty and remain the "beacon of hope" it so long has been for the world.
Noor also spoke of the role women can play.
"Women are really at the heart of what the next generation is going to learn," she said. "They can give their children something greater to aspire to, as well. Women tend to oppose violence and foster reconciliation."
For her efforts toward advancing development, democracy and peace, Noor has received numerous awards and honorary doctorates in international relations, law, and humane letters. She has written two books - "Hussein of Jordan" (2000) and "Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life" (2003), a New York Times best-seller published in 17 languages.
In its first four years, the World Leaders Forum has brought to Elgin former President George W. Bush, former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Funds raised through the event go toward scholarships for Judson students and an endowment for an entrepreneurial studies program at Judson.