diff --git a/src/arabic/LexiconAra.gf b/src/arabic/LexiconAra.gf
index b6b12a45d..3ff631384 100644
--- a/src/arabic/LexiconAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/LexiconAra.gf
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ flags
   drink_V2     = dirV2 (regV "شَرِب") ;
 --  drink_V2     = dirV2 (v1 "شرب" i a) ;
   easy_A2V     = mkA2 (sndA "سهل" "فَعل") "لِ" ;
-  eat_V2       = dirV2 (mkV "ء‎كل" FormI) ;
+  eat_V2       = dirV2 (mkV "ءكل" FormI) ;
   empty_A      = sndA "فرغ" "فاعِل" ;
   enemy_N      = brkN "عدو" "فَعُلّ" "أَفعاء" Masc Hum ;
   factory_N    = brkN "صنع" "مَفعَل" "مَفاعِل" Masc NoHum ;
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ flags
   iron_N       = brkN "حدّ" "فَعِيل" "فَعائِل" Masc NoHum ;
   king_N       = brkN "ملك" "فَعِل" "فُعُول" Masc Hum ;
   know_V2      = dirV2 (regV "عَرِف") ;
-  know_VS      = mkVS (regV "عَرِف") ; -- or with ع ل م‎?
+  know_VS      = mkVS (regV "عَرِف") ; -- or with ع ل م?
   lake_N       = sdfN "بحر" "فُعَيلة" Fem NoHum ;
   lamp_N       = brkN "صبح" "مِفعال" "مَفاعِيل" Masc NoHum ; --qanDIl, fAnUs
   learn_V2     = dirV2 (v5 "علم") ;
diff --git a/src/arabic/OrthoAra.gf b/src/arabic/OrthoAra.gf
index 5c5602d9d..a15dc7cfd 100644
--- a/src/arabic/OrthoAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/OrthoAra.gf
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ flags coding=utf8 ;
     sun : pattern Str = #("ت"|"ث"|"د"|"ذ"|"ر"|"ز"|"س"|"ش"|"ص"|"ض"|"ط"|"ظ"|"ل"|"ن") ;
 
   -- Hamza
-    hamza : pattern Str = #("ء‎"|"؟") ;
+    hamza : pattern Str = #("ء"|"؟") ;
 
     rectifyHmz: Str -> Str = \word ->
       case word of {
diff --git a/src/arabic/ResAra.gf b/src/arabic/ResAra.gf
index 15e4d6668..7d07fe75d 100644
--- a/src/arabic/ResAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/ResAra.gf
@@ -952,7 +952,7 @@ patHollowImp : (_,_ :Str) -> Gender => Number => Str =\xaf,xAf ->
         Const =>
           table {
             Nom => "َا";
-            _   => "َيْ‎"
+            _   => "َيْ"
           };
         _ =>
           table {
diff --git a/src/arabic/VerbAra.gf b/src/arabic/VerbAra.gf
index 9602b19b1..ea33158c3 100644
--- a/src/arabic/VerbAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/VerbAra.gf
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ concrete VerbAra of Verb = CatAra ** open Prelude, ResAra in {
     ComplVV vv vp =  let vvVP = predV vv in --- IL
       vp ** {
         s = \\pgn,vpf => vvVP.s ! pgn ! vpf
-                      ++ vv.c2  -- أَنْ‎
+                      ++ vv.c2  -- أَنْ
                       ++ vp.s ! pgn ! VPImpf Cnj
       } ;