Life_ in general_ is a challenge. For women, it is even more challenging; for Saudi women, it is mission impossible!

Yet, we as Saudi women, are living the impossible and in fact, we are making it possible! 

To be more specific & to avoid generalizations, I am going to take my readers today on a journey to a typical day of my life: the life of a 40 year old Saudi wife, mother, & working woman…Don’t expect deep secrets though

Like all responsible women, who don’t belong to the royal/velvet class in Saudi Arabia, my life is one huge roller coaster!

Once that iPhone alarm starts doing its thing at 5:30 in the morning, I wake up and start waking up my three kids for school. After they have their breakfast and go to school, I start getting ready for work. My work place is about 30 minutes away from home…that’s the supposed time…but in reality and due to the dreadful, hideous, and poor traffic in Jeddah, it takes me over 50 minutes to reach work!

So…that’s over 100 minutes (1 hour and 40 minutes) lost on the road…or actually stuck in traffic…and that happens daily!

Once I reach work, I do nothing but work of course…Working in a private sector with high standards is very demanding, time and energy-consuming…all for the good of the society indeed. As an English language instructor and co-editor and translator, I have to keep up with everything new in the field…I have to always be creative and think of new ways to make life easier for my students, who come with minimum study and language skills and aim at learning English, so they can be up to Dar Al-Hekma’s requirements. At Dar Al-Hekma things don’t work as in most educational institutions in Saudi Arabia; there is no such thing as lecturing and then asking students to memorize and do well in tests. It’s the responsibility of the instructor to implant skills and values in students and to make sure they are strong enough to survive in the real world, to find their roles in life, and to succeed in their careers. Of course, I am not the only one responsible for this, but it’s my mission as a member of a great team.

During the non-stop, long work day, I always squeeze 30 to 45 minutes to go to the gym that the college provides for its staff and students. Why on Earth do I go to the gym if I have loads of work?

Well…that’s the other side of the story…I’m woman in a world full of beauties everywhere (TV, magazine, streets..well yes even thought they wear Abayas they’re still gorgeous)…I am woman and I want to be pretty and fit…In fact, I am expected to be fit…there are no excuses for being overweight in a world that has increasing awareness about health and exercise. No matter how many times Oprah says “we must love our bodies and accept ourselves the way we are”, there is this urge in every woman, I assume, to be beautiful and sexy regardless of her age. Don’t get a wrong idea now…I’m not a model! I just try my best to lead a healthy life in good shape, and that, I believe, contributes to my success as a working woman, wife and mother. No one really wants a mom, wife, or employee who has health issues! It’s harsh and sad..but true!

Back to my day…Around 4 pm, I go back home…and on my way home, I go to the supermarket to buy some groceries and necessary stuff for dinner. My kids reach home an hour before me…Of course, if I were allowed to drive, I would have reached home earlier, but I have to wait for the driver to take them home and then return to me (their schools are next to my house). Once I’m at home, I start preparing for a rather late dinner (around 6:30).

Now…most Saudi women have their maids cook for them…my husband doesn’t really mind, but I cannot think of a woman, who is a total stranger to cook for me and my family! Besides, I’m an excellent cook and I’m a really picky eater. I want my husband and kids to eat clean, tasty, and healthy food. I don’t want to be under the control of a maid, who might decide to leave all of a sudden and who is basically not a trained cook nor a professional house manager; she is just a helper at home. It’s my house and my family, and I’m responsible for them. And after all, cooking is not that big a deal!

Once we finish dinner, I stay with my kids to help them with their studies, especially the youngest one, and then the youngest goes to sleep, and I stay for a while with my husband if he hadn’t fallen asleep. By now, there are about three to four hours before I go to sleep. During those few hours, I read, prepare for work, correct papers, write/translate articles, and spend some time with my two eldest kids and with my husband. I forgot to say that I do all those things while I’m extremely exhausted, but I struggle to stay alert and awake (thanks to vitamins!)

I sleep at around 11 to 12 pm to get ready for a new day.

And now it’s time for Mr. Weekend!! And boy that poor weekend is stuffed with millions of things! My weekends, are divided among my kids, parents, in-laws, beauty salons to take care of my skin and hair, spring cleaning a specified room in the house, doctors’ appointments, and three quality hours on Friday for me and my husband alone.

And as you might have noticed, there’s no place in my life for phone calls, chit chats, hanging out with friends, or socializing and visiting family members and attending wedding parties. The only parties that I attend are the parties that my kids are invited to; I always go with them, especially the young one.

I’m trying to be a good mom, an attractive and loving wife, and a productive employee …and I try my best to do all that with a smile on my face…My mission in life, I have come to believe, is to help others and inspire them to get out the best of themselves.

Life is becoming difficult every day. As women, we have to prove ourselves in the workplace and at home, and as for me, I can never be but a giver and a person who inspires those who need to dig deep into their souls.

I could have taken the easier path as many Saudi women do; eat, drink, spend all my time chatting or hanging out with friends, spend a lot of money on trivia, and be a completely dependent woman on the maid(s), but that’s not me! It’s much easier to be this spoiled woman, who sleeps all day and has others do things for her and at the end of the day complains about not getting a Fendi bag from her husband!

But such a life is just a pity in my opinion. Life with all its challenges, difficulties, and obstacles is much more beautiful and meaningful than just a life of “taking or waiting to see what others offer me!”

 Of course, nothing comes easily…I gave up on a lot of things in order to fulfill my main roles in life. I’ve set my priorities and made my choices …and took the road “less traveled by” as the amazing Robert Frost puts it.

If we don’t face life’s challenges, it will hit us on the face!

If you’re like me, be happy that you have the gift of working and giving others instead of just taking. Don’t forget to take care of yourself and your beauty, take breaks, have fun, and be prepared for life’s surprises; the pleasant and the unpleasant ones….And of course, always be proud because you are a giving woman!

But I’m not the only one…..I am sure and I know there are many amazing women out there, who have even more demanding and challenging lives…and the least I say to them is that “You make us all proud!”

Responsible and reliable Saudi women rock!!

This post was first published by the Saudi blogger Hala Al-Dosari. I am re-publishing it in the blog hoping to spread the word about the case of some detainees in Saudi Arabia

This is a translated letter from the mother of the prisoner “Fahad Al-Saeed” to his royal highness, The Prince…

I wondered once about the meaning of a homeland, about its mercy, its compassion for its children, Is it possible for a country to torture its children, to squash them, to steal the flower of their youth?  Can a true country throw its children in the prison with indifference?! After the arrest of Fahad, many things have changed in me, they told me so, my voice became sad and hoarse, my eyes are crying in uninterrupted silence, my face… deep are its scars, so deep they can’t be reached by helping hands, but I asked you by God and my motherhood, If you ever dwell between your cushions, your throne, between your family, your loved ones, I ask you by God… If you ever put the Kohl on (Arabic expression of festivity) please, please … remember us…!

I think you don’t know my son Fahad -your highness-, maybe he is a no body, from the commoners, no one cares for him, even if he dies in one of the deserted alleys, if he dies inside his cell, at your prison, no one will sympathize with him or hear about his story!

They arrested him your highness ages ago, maybe before seven, eight, or nine years, I can’t recall memories anymore, the years of frustration and deprivation in my eyes are all the same… They raided our home by force, they scared me, they scared my daughters, those details are inscribed in our hearts.

After all those years…Is he a lost case your highness? Did you forget about him? Did you sentence him for eternal death?

You did not try him, you did not find him guilty, and you did not set him free, until when is this going to last? Until he ages in your cell and die?

His name is Fahad, he is the only son I have in this world, I cannot see anyone but him, I did not have any aspirations, or ambitions, or wishes, my only wish was … to celebrate his wedding one day, to see my grand children jumping around me, weeks before his arrest we were preparing for his engagement, his fiancé’ -your highness- is still fasting and feeding on deprivation, do you know that he is still waiting for her and she for him? She visited him once in the prison, they insulted her, and degraded her until she earned few moments with him…

Do you know me your highness?  I am his mother, his heaven and paradise; did you have a mother your highness?  Do you realize what motherhood is?  Do you know what is oppression and deprivation? How should I explain the meanings? You have never been subjected to injustice in your life, you never tasted its bitterness, you never been consumed by its fire… I know that my letter is exceedingly emotional, maybe you do not recognize emotions in your world, the world of strict and lethal rigor, but my heart despite all that is a heart of a mother, it’s bustling with passion…

Passion, do you know its true meaning your highness?

I will try to explain to you” the feelings of deprivation” your highness… It is heartburn, it’s a tear that tarnish the hands, like eyes averting from everything, it’s … weeping, weeping, and more weeping…

Do you want me to be honest with you your highness?  Your doors -as you claim- are open after all?

I will be honest, I -by God- Do not like you, and I do not imagine that I would ever like you one day, I will not be a hypocrite, I will not lie to you, and I will not say anything but this, I know -your highness- that you couldn’t care less for the affection of a sixty something woman like me, her soul is close to grave, no one cares about my emotions, I know that, but maybe you will care to know about what I am going to say, my children, no… not just my children, but all my relatives, all of them without an exception, they are sympathetic with us, all of them… They hate your security system, they hate the same system that is supposed to protect the country, they hate particularly certain names, and they loathe them and wish for their demise

I know that is an illegal request, but I vowed for honesty, before… we really used to like you, we never let anyone come in your way, we had an innate sense of protection and loyalty, a naive feeling coming from our heart.. And now I’m starting to lean toward everything that is said in secret against you, I lean toward believing and adopting it and spreading it…

Your highness, please show me your hand…!

They say it’s soft and lush and feels like silk, some of those who shook hands with you have told me, I am not envying you, and I do not wish that you have  a change of fate, but I wanted to tell you about my own fate, my own hand!

My hand -your highness- is convoluted, I swear it’s dead; it lost its vitality along the days…  I go to my son Fahad’s room, my lovely Fahad, I feel his bed, the traces of his foot, his shadow, his smell, maybe he ‘s back, every night I promise myself his return, I watch for his shade, my hand has weathered an blackened from heartbreak…

I do not cry alone your highness; every night…my prayer rug and my black cloak are crying along, they pray with me to find justice from those who wronged us…

My eyes your highness, I started to feel they are weathering and dimming too, am I going to be blind? Cannot see anything but darkness, O’God… I pray to you to let me see Fahad before my eyes go to sleep…

No, I will not be exaggerating and say that my son’s Fahad’s memory is accompanying me every minute, every second, No… I may at few times forget him or force myself to forget him, and I may even have moments where I actually smile, or laugh, but I swear your highness, that every time I laugh at I feel a lump in my throat, a rattle,  a deep pain, and then what?…  The laugh dies on my lips and I see my beloved Fahad’s face… What your highness?… Are we going to forgive you if you release him? I will, I am an old woman venturing in my sixties, I am aged now and tomorrow I will leave, I have lived enough, I do not fantasy more living, maybe we will forgive our humiliation, the terrorizing of my daughters, all the bitter sorrow moments, but….!

But your highness… Do you think Fahad’s heart will forgive you? The flower of his youth? His twenties? The best years of his life, his future… you squashed them, would he forgive you?

Can you bring back his youth that weathered behind the bars of oppression? Men’s oppression?

I wondered once about the meaning of a homeland, about its mercy, its compassion for his children, Is it possible for a country to torture its children, to squash them, to steal the flower of their youth?  Can a true country throw its children in the prison with indifference?

Do you ask me about Joy?

After the arrest of Fahad, many things have changed in me, they told me so, my voice became sad and hoarse, my eyes are crying in uninterrupted silence, my face… deep are its scars, so deep they can’t be reached by helping hands…

Fahad…

My beloved, you know how weak I am, you know for certainty how insignificant I am, I can o nothing to help you, I am a lonely woman, I cannot reclaim your rights, I cannot support you, or take your revenge, but I will do everything I can for you… I will cry for you!

My beloved, I know that tears will not serve you any good, but I will cry for you, that’s in my capacity, that’s what I can, I will write about you, I will plant your story everywhere, I will fight so that people can hear my voice!

But… I will continue to cry for you

I will not hold it from you my beloved, I used to carry a rose in my right hand, a bright white rose, it represents hope and good omen, but.. I no longer hold it, it fell from my hand, no Fahad, my heart did not yet reach despair from God’s mercy, but… my hand is getting weaker, it is shaken, engulfed by tiresome, I have carried that rose long, so long…

Do you know the ultimate hope for me your highness?

No… It is not to release Fahad and the men like him, No your highness, my ultimate hope is to take my revenge from those who treated me with injustice, by Qisas (eye-for an-eye), to reclaim rights, not here, nothing will cure me except standing you and me and all who treated me with injustice together in front of God, to find refuge in his presence, to shout out loud, to pray, to cry, to say… God they burnt my heart, they burnt my blood, they burnt my beloved’s Fahad’s heart, Serve us with justice, heal my heart, God, the just among all just… my God…

I grow tired of complaining your highness…!

I only complain to God alone…

But I plead with you by God and my motherhood, if you ever dwell between your cushions, your throne, between your family, your loved ones, I ask you by God… If you ever put the Kohl on (Arabic expression of festivity) please, please … remember us…!

Written by: the mother of the prisoner Fahad Al-Saeed

For the original letter as published in Arabic:

http://www.alasr.ws/index.cfm?method=home.con&contentid=11937

Saudi Arabia is known to be the biggest oil producer and it possesses largest oil reserves in the world. Parts of the financial returns of selling the oil helped in establishing the country’s infrastructure, raised the level of education among the citizens and enlarged the middle class significantly. On the other hand, the country suffers on many other aspects. Saudis live under strong security grip and corruption is unprecedented. The performance of many government entities and agencies is generally below the expectations of citizens. About half of the population is below 25 years old and many of them are unemployed.

The Saudi society values are partially inspired by Islam which is demonstrated in some occasions through positive behaviors such as assisting the needy, dignity, magnanimity and others. Yet, the society has been suffering from issues such as racism, sectarianism, favoritism, the situation of women and others. As a result of all of these issues, there are portions of Saudis (that cannot be really quantified due to lack of data) who agree on the need for change. However, the details and direction of such desired change are not agreed upon and can be very controversial.

The above is a personal attempt to reflect the reality of Saudi Arabia today. Such reality is also shaped and impacted by the structure of the state and society and the relationship between them. When the power is limited to the hands of a few while the vast majority of people do not have much of influence on the country present and future, in addition to the weak – or lack of – feeling of citizenship and feelings of belonging, we find that we are facing a complex reality which might at any moment lead to unexpected developments that no one can expect their extent or outcomes.  Also, the society’s view of itself and the quality of relationships within it and its relationship to the state and its system helps in the formation of the current image of Saudi Arabia and increases the difficulties for the change or major developments.

With such gloomy view, some may find it impossible to think about democracy in a country with all of these challenges and complications. But the world around us today clearly shows that democracy is the most effective system of governance through an agreed upon Constitution that enforces the separation of powers, equality of all citizens and the participation of the people in choosing their representatives freely. Thus we, in Saudi Arabia, either belong to the faction of people, who use democratic means to rule, or we are totally different than that faction and we actually belong to another faction that has nothing to do with a majority of human beings on this planet. Can we be so different?.

I personally think that the pursuit of democracy in Saudi Arabia would be one way to address the serious structural defects in the state and society. The struggle to democratization in Saudi Arabia will help facing what must be changed and reformed through the interaction of citizens with their problems and working together to confront them and find solutions. For example, nowadays discussing the issue of the detainees for long periods without trial is widespread in the channels of the new media in Saudi Arabia which demonstrates that concepts such as the state of institutions and rights began to spread among younger generation who are the group that will make the future on their own and will be making the changes that they want despite the enormous challenges that might be faced.

But democracy today, to me personally, is not an end in itself but a means for the result I want to see in Saudi Arabia. I do not care much how long it will take as long as we will be able to move in the direction I hope for my country. The future dream I see for Saudi Arabia is a modern state that ensures public participation and equality of all citizens and at the same time economically able to face the enormous challenges ahead of the country. The road to democracy in Saudi Arabia will also be a means to dismantle parts of the obstacles and barriers that have been injected into the body of the state and society and resulted our present. What we live in today is the result of long years of mistakes that will not disappear automatically, but will need the hard work and real participation of everyone, or at least the believers in the necessity of change and who those willing to pay the price to get it.

When talking about democracy, usually the discussion involves talking about the West and the liberties practiced there which might be in contradiction with some basic values of Islam and the Saudi society. I do not think that we are obligated to the introduction of a Western model of democracy as it is. Every society should strive to reach their own model that suite their needs and values. Therefore, I know that our society is very different from other communities around the world, so we may evolve to a model of democracy that is not like any other model which may resemble or differ from other models in the world. We do not have to reinvent the wheel as they say, but we need to benefit from our own experiences and mistakes as well as from others experiences and mistakes until we reach the result that we want for this country.

I am definitely dreaming and I will keep doing so, not because I am a romantic person, but because we are in front of a sad reality that does not present much of encouraging options and without dreams the present will be difficult to bear. Also, I really believe that part of any change is the dream that brings disciples of change as seen through the great Egyptian revolution. During the eighteen days of the revolution I lived something like a dream, and even now I feel the dream is not over yet. Though I realize that only the head of the snake is been chopped and still there is a long way to remove the snake’s spirit from the body of Egypt and the Egyptians.

So I dream of democracy in Saudi Arabia, and not after 100 years, but in the near foreseen future. Because those who deny our readiness for democracy today do not offer much of alternatives except the present which is not desirable. They do not have much of influence into shaping the future except waiting for the gifts of the state which might not ever come. We might not be ever ready for the democracy, but silence and stillness will not make us ready tomorrow. But promoting awareness and stimulating debate among people helps imagining and forming a better future for our children.

Having followed Friedman for a while, and having been in awe of his “knowledge” when I first knew about him +10 years ago, I know personally how he seems convincing, but he does have an agenda which includes making everyone in the region look bad, and almost never finding fault with Israel.

Yes, the alliance between The Saudi family and Mohammad Ibn Abdulawahab goes back for decades, we learned that in school, that is no secret, what Friedman missed is a very big sign.

Maybe he never listened to Bin Laden speak, maybe he never heard his reasoning, if he did hear and analyse Bin Laden’s speeches, then he is denying and misleading his readers, if he didn’t hear or read the speeches, then he is BS-ing them, and on both accounts he should be ashamed.

I remember a Bin Laden speech after 911, it was the weekend in Saudi and my friends and I were planning on watching The Patriot, but like everyone we wanted to hear Bin Laden’s message, AlJazeera made everyone know what time it would air, he talked about Sykes-Picot, he talked about the Israeli occupation, he talked about the things the West does, and how when they are treated with the same they cry, the metaphor was something like when a sheep rams a wolf which is taking it’s young he cries foul play. That speech ruined the Patriot movie for my friends and I.

The carrot that extremist dangle in front of gullible believers is the Israeli occupation and the treatment of Palestinians. The promise to pray in the holy Al-Aqsa mosque, which they cannot go to, even Al-Oraifi tried to highlight that issue in his own special way.

Israel is an apartheid state, many are finally beginning to realize that fact and cutting funding, some Americans do not want their tax money to go to Israel, but it still flows, which is funny to me because I thought as a democracy, tax payers can say where they want their money to go. 6.8 million US dollars per day go to Israel, with nothing in return, at least the US is getting oil in return from Saudi, which of course they get their money back by Saudi buying American cars, and US franchises opening up all over Saudi, and of course arms deals, along with other things here and there.

I am an advocate for non violence, I disagree with many of the “wahabi” ways, but I also understand that when you keep telling them to be peaceful yet non peaceful methods are being used against them… Well, most People are not from Nazareth and their conception was not immaculate, so don’t expect them to be able to turn the other cheek.

So will you, Thomas freedman, as an “expert” on the region, ever tell your country to see that they are helping the carrot grow.

Just in case you missed my point, you said America gives money to Saudi, Saudi gives money to extremist, let’s not give money to Saudi so they cannot give money to extremist.

America also gives a lot of money in return for nothing to Israel, Israel with its history of violence and continuing violence fuels the extremist, who then go look for funding, you see how you missed that big part of the picture?

America gets less than 10% of its oil from Saudi, which means that America’s dependence on Saudi oil is minimal.

You know, the vibe after the soviet retreat from Afghanistan was for the mujahideen to go to Palestine and liberate it, that was the carrot… And it still is, and you know what, even peaceful protesters (you know, the ones who took out Mubarak) are now willing to march peacefully into the Gaza strip, oh, and the Muslim brotherhood is not behind this, actually it is not in favor of it.

So either Israel becomes a real democracy (because it is going nowhere, not in any near future), and make every Arab envy the Arab-Israelis, or please stop the half-baked hypotheses… wait, no or… Just stop the half-baked hypotheses, you already bragged about how you do not really read the details of the policies you advocate… but then again, you have a mortgage to pay… come to think about it, no you don’t, you married into one of the 100 richest families in America.

By Qusay

The 11^th of March 2011 is a historical day in Saudi Arabia regardless of if protests will be take place or not and how things will develop in case these protests happen. It will be a historical day because of the following reasons:

·         Some Saudis finally got introduced to new terms, maybe they did not hear about before, such as demonstrations, constitutional monarchy and reforms.

·        Breathed life into some concepts that I thought are less popular by now such as sectarianism, native and non-native citizens and the idea that the government is always right and any call for change and reforms is coming from agents of other countries such as Iran

·          The major government media show against the call for protests today gave a chance to many Saudis to know what are some of the legitimate reasons behind the call for these protests and the fact that protests are normal practice in many countries while they are prohibited in their own country.

·        Some Saudis got a chance to listen to different views that are different than the local media views through some of the impartial TV channels such as BBC Arabic and France 24-Arabic in addition to social media networks such as twitter

·        Increasing the gap of confidence between some of the Saudis and the government religious establishment such as the Council of Senior Scholars and other religious scholars who completely supported the government position against the protests and sounded as speakers on behalf of the government

·        So far the government clear policy is not to listen and confront the appeals for reforms and change that came lately from different groups of Saudis

·        Among the advocates of reform and change, the continuity of the demands for reform through the development of institutions, the constitution and elections

The Arab World is going through a very historic time. The head of states in Tunisia and Egypt have had changed after 23 and 30 years in power, respectively. Libyans are strongly pushing for changing their current regime which is lead by Mumar Al-Ghadafi for more than 40 years. The regimes in Yemen, Bahrain, Algeria and Morocco are also faced by different levels of popular uprising.

Many of the people in the other Arab countries are following what is happening in these countries with mix feelings of fear, hope, excitement and unbelief. People are so fearful of how things might end up and of the number of victims that might be caused by these uprising. Yet they are so hopeful and excited about tomorrow and how it’ll be shaped once the normal people have finally a say over how their countries shall be run and developed. Till this moment I, sometimes, feel that what had happened in a month is just a dream because it was so hard to even think of before.

What about Saudi Arabia? Would the world see similar uprising in the land of oil? What do you think about as a Saudi of what is going on?. These are for sure questions in the minds of many people around the world, especially diplomats and journalists. I personally think that what happened in Tunisia and Egypt was not something that can be predicted to happen, then I think that the predictable is not really the norm these days in the Arab World. The predictable in Saudi Arabia is that nothing will happen. Things, regardless of how much I can complain, are very different compared to many other places in the world. However, I believe that there are at least four groups of Saudis when it comes to how a Saudi might interact with what is going on in the Arab World. The first group consists of those who don’t care much because they live isolated from what is going on, either because they are rich and live the elite life or poor enough to have most of their focus on what is in their food table every day. There is no way to really quantify this group in numbers. Yet, as more of this group becomes engaged in what is going on and feel that they must have a say over what is going on, the shift in power then might spark the unpredictable.

The second group includes Al-Qaeda supports and alike those who believe in overthrowing the government using violence. I heard many analysts claim that Al-Qaeda is losing ground in the Arab World these days because people can see an alternative to the violence Al-Qaeda adopted in its effort for change. On the short term, I agree. However, on the long term, time only can tell. If things improve in Tunisia and Egypt and the rest of the Arab World, the legitimacy of Al-Qaeda tactics will diminish. Yet, if things don’t improve or the new governments in the new Arab World adopt constitutions that are rejected by Al-Qaeda, more supports might be then following the route of Al-Qaeda seeking change in their countries.

The third group consists of those who are hopeful of change that lead to democracy, human rights and the state of institutions. This group in Saudi Arabia includes Islamic reformists, liberals (or so called), many females, educated younger generations and others. The latest calls for change in Saudi Arabia coincided with the return of King Abdullah after a long medical treatment trip. So far, I am aware of three letters that were signed by more than three thousands Saudis asking for reforms. These letters represents the voice of this group and the three letters had many basic common demands including an agreed upon constitution, elections for Shura Council, the release of many long term prisons who are in jail without trial, and Separation of the executive, legislative and judicial the powers. My friend and fellow Saudi blogger Ahmed Al-Omran translated the last of the three letters in the link here (Declaration of a National Reform). This group has been active in the cyberspace for the past few years. The current changes in Tunisia and Egypt inspired this stream and created more followers to its desires.

The Saudis who are not comfortable with change and think that things are not that bad represent the fourth group. This group includes various group of citizens who believe in the system and cannot see themselves crabapple or responsible of change. They feel that the government is the sole responsible about what to do to them and for the future of the country. I personally believe that this group is one of the larger groups, however cannot make much of difference since they are passive and expect things to happen to them by the government.

The last group consists of those who usually adopt the government and religious clerks. Some friends think that this set of people is getting smaller as people are exposed to more sources of information and discussions. I don’t completely agree since I believe that many Saudis trust the government decisions and look for the opinion of the pro-government religious institution in almost every problem.  

The interaction between these five groups and the government will be very crucial in determining the future of Saudi Arabia. It is extremely difficult to predict what exactly might happen, but it is evident that more Saudis demand more changes and freedoms inside their country. So far the government did not show much of understanding of what type of earthquake is hitting the Arab World. A very generous financial support package was announced through Royal Decrees but some Saudis felt that the government is not listening to their hopes. I personally felt very disappointed. In the era of new Arab revolutions, a financial package felt like a bribe that does not address the real constant issues in the country. The package will benefit some Saudis greatly, yet the prominent issue in the past was not the lack of the financial resources but the extremely weak monitoring of how these resources are spent and misuse of these resources.  I am dreaming of a constitution, elections and freedom of speech. If not enough Saudis show their readiness to be in charge of their future and take some risk and pressure the government to adopt change, things will be difficult to move ahead and completely dependent on the government’s choices only.

I found myself commenting on her post and not ignoring it for two reasons:

1. She is an Educated Saudi woman
2. She is an avid blogger who isn’t afraid to speak her mind which is something to admire about her spirit

In my comment, quoted below, I appealed to her love of freedom and expressed my curiosity in her thought process:

While I respect your right to free speech, I help but wonder how can a liberal educated woman such as yourself wishes and advocates for a decision that limits women’s freedom!

You say we are either with the 1 who chooses to cover her face willingly or the hundreds who don’t. But that is simply not true. It is quite irrational on your part. Can’t I support both of them in making their own minds? Wouldn’t introducing a concept of no forced covering had been a better course of action in your campaign?

You campaign to take away the choice from women to cover their face, just because you hate what it represents, is making you look like some kinda of dictator to me.

peace out

She quickly replied, quotes below, with a proposition and a couple of questions. So, this post represents the alternative Saudi voices blog spirit in providing an alternative perspective on the issue by trying to address Eman’s concerns and highlight the misconceptions in her take on the subject:

The Freedom Insurance Proposition

Once you figure out how you can ensure that a woman fully and willingly chose the niqab, I’ll agree with you. However real life has shown that the majority of women who wear it are pressured and sometimes forced to. Here in Saudi Arabia school doors are guarded to enforce covering the face completely.

First of all, no individual can ensure anything when it comes to a social change. This is the reason for starting such campaigns as hers against niqab. So our voices can be heard, supported by others (individuals, bloggers & traditional media) and generally generating just enough public interest on the subject for law-makers to feel the need to pass a law that will, finally, ensure whatever the objective is! In this case, no forced “niqab”; and even then, it comes down to the society and its willingness/readiness for such change.

Where is your Humanity?

Can you yourself endure a piece of black fabric on your face every time you leave the house? From a humane perspective, do you really believe that human beings were meant to start out their day that way?

No, I wouldn’t dream of enduring a “niqab” but I suspect one can get used to it with time. Also, I don’t think humans are meant to eat their way to obesity or pierce every corner of their body. However, I would find it disgraceful to relish in the fact that any government has seen it fit to deprive the people from their personal freedom which does not interfere with others freedom.

Imaginary Ignorant Muslim Women!

Many simple women I personally know abhor the face cover but endure it because they were informed by extremist shiekhs that without it they are no longer Muslims. Do you consider these women victims of ignorance and misinformation or women who freely chose to cover?

Finally, I think Eman exaggerates when she suggests that “many simple women” believe that they will lose their Islam without their “niqab”. It’s 2010, Eman.. Even the most conservative women would only say that it is a major sin to remove your “niqab”. I Can’t imagine anyone saying that a woman would automatically be considered non-muslim just for uncovering her face. Not anymore sister and I would’ve really appreciated it if Eman took a balanced approach in depicting the situation.

peace out

Changes took place in the country during the past five years. Yet, I hardly can identify any which directly impacted majority of Saudis in their daily life. I can claim that the changes were either in the appearance or satisfactory to a factional “war”. How?

Some of the most important changes that the King pushed for are in education and juridical system. Fruits in such areas need a lot of time before being felt. Yet, indications especially in education are not promising, I believe.

Another tool used to enforce the change were the Royal Decrees Some of these Decrees created hope when announced, while others created controversy to say the least. After the death of 120 people in Jeddah back in November as a result of moderate rain followed by a flood, a very strong worded Royal Decree was announced ordering detailed investigations of the reasons of the tragedy. It really cooled down the public mood which was so shocked of what happened. However, it is been almost a year and no real action took place against those involved in corruption that killed innocent people. What is more important is that the investigation results are still not published and kept secretive.

Though the King seemed supportive to dialogue (including dialogue between religions) and local newspapers got more critical of the performance of the ministries, the Royal Decree dismissing one of the members of the highest religious council after criticizing KAUST because of the mix of sexes in the University caused a lot of argument and was considered as a factional victory for, the so called, Saudi Liberals. Few weeks ago, another Decree was announced limiting the public fatwa to the members of the highest religious council. Keeping in mind what happened to their colleague few months ago, I doubt that the council will be in position to announce any fatwa that might not be liked by the King.

The two controversial Royal Decrees demonstrate to me that Saudi Arabia is still far away from a period of real reforms and that many things happen behind the scene causing a high level of public anxiety and create a feeling of uncertainty of the future.

When would reforms in Saudi Arabia be real reforms and not the gift of the King?. It is when those reforms focus on finding solutions to the real issues of the country rather than creating more fictional wars. On my personal view, the list of real life issues include, but not limited to, unemployment (currently at 10%, at least), homeownership (at least 40% of Saudis do not own their houses), the inflation especially as a result of greed and lack of regulations over monopoly. That might be just the tip of the iceberg because of the chronic issues such as; lack of transparency on the government income and spending, lack of public participation in governance and the accountability and finally the separation of the authorities in the country.

In a country with more than 50% of the citizens below the age of 25 years old, challenges can be turned into opportunities by taking the right strategies and inclusion of the young generations into building their own, and the country’s, future. However there is no enough evidence that such thinking exists among the ones leading the country.

Yet it really seems odd that the Gaza siege is been there for almost four years. It was supported by the quartet in addition to the Egyptian government and the other so called moderate Arab governments. What happened now to make the siege of Gaza inappropriate and useless? Is it the fact that 9 Turkish citizens were killed? Are they really more worthy than 1.5 million humans living in Gaza? Was it twitter & social media? Or it might be the impact of President Obama (though he is been in the White House since the begging of the year). I’m not really sure, but glad that the world realizes now how unfair is the siege.

Writing more than two weeks after what happened allows a more rational view, I hope. The siege was unethical since day one because it was politically motivated and yet clearly directed against the people rather than the de facto government in Gaza. Resorting to a siege against the winner of a free election, this time happen to be called Hamas, sends the wrong message to the Arab World saying “Either you elect political parties that are up to the Western desires and wishes or you’ll seriously suffer”. The people at this part of the world get lectured a lot on the importance and value of dialogue, yet find out that the lecturer is unable to walk the talk.

On the other hand, I think that the wide delight over the Turkish Prime Minister Mr.  Ardogan action seem a little exaggerated and immature. However, in the Arab World we lack leaders who‏ ‏show much of value or even respect to their citizens. As a result, Mr. Ardogan’s reaction seems heroic. What I’m sure about is that Mr. Ardogan is a professional politician, regardless of his possible ideological drive for such reaction.  He’ll care most for the reaction of what he says and does in Istanbul much more than in Riyadh, Cairo or even Gaza.

Maybe it is very important to mention that the Israeli aggressive action against the Freedom Flotilla demonstrates the normal daily aggression faced by the Palestinians for as long as Israel existed. These actions keep shattering any real hope of diverting the position of Arabs opinion in favor of peace, someday.

On the other hand, some of the newspaper writers in Saudi Arabia who are, rightly or wrongly, considered as liberals did not feel that good about Turkey’s strong reaction to the incident and went into bazaar explanation such as their usual pointing to Iran and showed their worries over the Turkish involvement in the Palestinian-Israeli problems. Their highest concern goes to the worry over the potential influence of Turkey in the region in a manner that makes the reader feel like Turkey is a stranger to the region.  Such point of view reflects the anxiety of some of the regions governments over losing their regional influence, if much of it is really left.

What happened resembles a very strong humanitarian call to everyone around the globe to reconsider their view of what is happening not only in Gaza but also to the Palestinian cause and the usual Israeli claims that keep failing once they face reality.  Individuals can make a difference and collective efforts of individuals in the form of civil societies such as Free Gaza are able to create greater impact. It is true that in Saudi Arabia we lack such societies, yet we can learn and adopt such practices and in the same time create greater pressure into our government to allow the formation of such societies in the near future.

As it is important to realize how much the new media and social electronic networks allowed people to know what happens anywhere momentarily. It is important to realize that it makes it more difficult to be honest and sure about the news that goes around. I must admit that a point of time, I re-twitted a message saying that more than 40 people were killed as a result of the Israeli attack on the Flotilla. Killing one person or ten is surely a crime. Yet, being objective and reliable must be part of using such wide reach communication means.

It is been more than two weeks since Israel killed the nine activists, yet nothing changed much for the people of Gaza. The pressure to lift the siege shall be maintained to allow the people of Gaza to live at the minimum of proper human conditions.

A less selfish reason is my belief that resolving root causes is more fruitful in the long term. Not allowing women to drive is just a septum that gets the attention away from other rooted issues that deserve to be resolved. Saudi Arabia faces a long list of critical issues which are forced, in a way that seems sometimes to be intentional, to be away from the public attention due to the nonstop fighting over smaller issues, such as allowing women to drive, while issues like the public participation in running the country and transparency in spending the public money.

On the other hand and regardless of how much I try, I cannot take such attention to the Saudi women driving issue in the world’s media at its face value. Why? Because the human rights issue in Saudi Arabia goes way far beyond the issue of women driving in the streets of Saudi Arabia yet it gets less attention by the same media. When such attention is given to the right causes such as people who are in prisons without trials for many years, I’ll feel that the media coverage is candid, fair and objective.

I just wonder how many times Saudi Arabia will appear in the international media if someday oil runs out of our wells or the world finds a better source of energy.