Arabic-speaking Immigrants Before the Courts in Tucumán, Argentina, 1910–1940

This article studies the personal experiences and daily interactions of Arabic-speaking immigrants living in Tucumán, Argentina, during an era of intense economic dislocation and sociopolitical turbulence (1910–1940). Court proceedings make up the evidence of the following discussion to assess the varied experiences of non-elite Arabic speakers residing in Tucumán. Immigrants, like Argentine citizens, used the justice system to seek redress or answer allegations of aberrant behavior. Recent scholarship on émigré colonies generally focuses on their institutions, including cultural organizations and the immigrant press, which offer the experiences and perspectives of a narrow group of people. While these works have added great depth to this field, much less attention has been paid to immigrants who did not associate with these institutions. A series of court proceedings related to violent crime and divorce demonstrate the difficulty of interpersonal relationships and life in Argentina and the consequences for certain actions.