sql query not working with arabic names

hi
i have search form in a theme

it search cars

i have this part of code

$manufacturer = get_option('wp_manufacturer_level1');
$arr_manufacturer = explode("\n", $manufacturer);
foreach ($arr_manufacturer as $item) {
$item = trim($item);
	$countmanufacturers = $wpdb->get_var("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM $wpdb->posts p, $wpdb->postmeta p1
            WHERE p.post_status = 'publish' AND p.ID = p1.post_id AND p1.meta_key = 'manufacturer_level1_value' AND p1.meta_value = '$item'");
		if ($countmanufacturers > 0) {
			$manufactureroptions = $manufactureroptions . "<option value='" . $item . "'>" . $item . " (" . $countmanufacturers . ")</option>";
		}
}

the problem here is with arabic names it stop counting cause there is a problem with sql query which i am not familiar with can some one help me?