First, this seems to be a purely British usage. Never heard it elsewhere in Europe.
Second, look at a world map of the continents. Asia stretches all the way west to Africa. Yes, even the Middle East is "Asia".
I can’t recall why in the UK, and Europe for that matter Middle Eastern people are referred to as “Asians”.
It’s quite confusing to some Americans who automatically think of Oriental people as “Asians” opposed to Middle Eastern people.
Perhaps a FReeper with the knowledge of why the term “Asians” applies in Europe, and the UK to describe Middle Eastern People could explain downthread why.
The folks in this article are mostly Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi, and the like. That part of the world is called South Asia, not The Middle East.
First, this seems to be a purely British usage. Never heard it elsewhere in Europe.
Second, look at a world map of the continents. Asia stretches all the way west to Africa. Yes, even the Middle East is "Asia".
Most of the the muzzies in the UK are Pakistanis I believe, not Arabs.