Tuesday, 31 July 2007
By Sabria S. Jawhar
Yesterday, while I was perusing the local Arabic newspapers, I was shocked to see so many pictures of apparently grief-stricken Saudis staring out at me. At first, I assumed that during my two-day emergency vacation from the Saudi Gazette some crisis had seized the Kingdom and my compatriots had been moved to tears because of it.
I quickly learned, however, that the tears were being shed over the Saudi loss in the championship game at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup soccer tournament in Jakarta. To be honest, I also felt sad that we had lost but I did not shed any tears over it. The fact is that the cup should go to the best team and, clearly, in that particular match, at least, the Saudi national team was not the best. It didn't take an expert to see that the Saudi performance, unfortunately, was not of the championship level.
Nevertheless, the scenes of those misty eyes and tears made me ask myself when was the last time that Saudis cried over something. And what was the motive behind those tears? Speaking for myself, I cried this summer more than any other time this year.
I cried first when my flight landed in Tokyo, Japan, last month and the bus took me through the streets of that beautiful and clean city. At that time, I wondered: what is happening to my beloved country? Who is to blame for the miserable appearance of most of our big cities? Why do some of them look like old, deserted cities straight out of the 18th century?
Why don't we have a transportation system and infrastructure like that of Japan, Seoul or even Dubai? Why does it take us so long to approve a project and much longer to implement it? Certainly, it's not the lack of money or expertise? Don't we love our country enough to dedicate ourselves to developing it?
On my way back from Tokyo, I had a layover at Istanbul airport. What I saw there was far beyond my expectations. The first thing that came to mind was King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah, a once beautiful lady that has lost all but just a hint of the good old days of beauty and glory.
My second stop was at Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz Airport in Madina and there I experienced my greatest shock. The female waiting area in the airport was like a junkyard. The filth and disarray made it impossible to sit, let alone pray.
That scene brought tears to my eyes. If this is what we are doing to the gateway of the Prophet's Mosque and this is the image that we are projecting to the Islamic world, then it's no wonder that Jeddah airport looks as miserable as it does.
The second time I cried this summer was when I read in an Arabic newspaper about a hot debate, which denigrated the importance of women in the workplace, saying that jobs should be secured for males first. The point seemed to be that the high level of unemployment in the Kingdom was the fault of women. Some people are still demanding that women stay at home and take care of kids. The whole world is progressing. People are talking about knowledge-based economies, high technology, and the use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes and we are still fighting over whether women should work or stay at home! Tell me: do I have the right to cry over my own people casting a blind eye to the progress in the world around them while busying themselves with issues as obsolete as the Great Wall of China?
It would have been more acceptable to me if those tearful eyes I saw in Monday's newspapers were a reaction to the deteriorating situation in the region. It would have been better if we all sat and cried over the daily deaths of tens if not hundreds of innocent souls in Iraq that stem from the horrendous miscalculation of the Bush administration.
The situation in Lebanon and Palestine is another good topic to cry over. Some people may think I'm exaggerating but this is why I cried this summer. In the end, maybe my people will find themselves part of a scenario that will move them to tears for reasons other than a lost football match. It could be that Saudis, and Arabs, in general, are saving their tears for bigger things, especially in light of the announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert concerning a new $30 billion defense package to preserve Israel's regional military superiority.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
To Keep Homes Intact
Monday, 30 July 2007
Ministry recommends citizenship for foreign mothers of Saudi children
By Sabria S. Jawhar
OFFICIALS at the Ministry of Social Affairs have submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Interior that, if passed, guarantees citizenship or at least permanent residency to foreign mothers of Saudi children, an official said.
"We have submitted the proposal. We are waiting for the Ministry's (of Interior) answer as it is the only concerned authority in this matter," said Nora Aal-Al-Sheikh, director of the supervision office at the Ministry of Social Affairs in Makkah region. She said that with the increasing number of divorce cases in general and among Saudi and non-Saudi couples in particular, foreign mothers of Saudi children should be granted citizenship in order to keep their rights as well as the family ties intact.
This citizenship, she explained, could be with specific limitations in order to prevent misusing or passing it on to those who are not entitled from the mother's side.
They could also be given a permanent Iqama (residency permission) as a temporary solution, she added.
Hadyah, an Arab national who didn't want her full name or nationality published, is only one example of many women who have been victims to misuse of custody and absence of a multilateral or bilateral treaty among Arab states dealing with the enforcement of custody agreements or judgments. She was married to a Saudi man who was 23 years her senior.
The marriage was not a fruit of love or agreement. On the contrary, it was mainly motivated by her impoverished condition and his desire to wed.
"I had to support my family and help them to survive and he was the only one who offered that sort of help with the condition of my becoming his wife," she said.
Unlike most of such kind of marriages that take place outside Saudi Arabia, Hadyah's marriage was legally registered and all of her rights as a wife were kept intact.
At the beginning of the marriage, he was so kind and generous with her as well as with her family.
But the appearance of happiness did not last long as after having two babies, he grew tired of the continuous travel to her country and decided to bring her, along with their children back to the Kingdom.
Hadyah's journey of suffering began here. His behavior, she explained, dramatically changed especially in the presence of his first wife and her children.
"He started to look down on me and treat me like a maid," she said. "Sometimes, he humiliates me by talking about my family's background as if he picked me up from the street."
Having been told that in Saudi Arabia custody disputes favor the Saudi parent and often rules in favor of men, Hadyah decided to maintain her marital status intact as her main concern was to retain the custody of her children and not be forced to leave the country if divorced.
The disagreement between her and her husband reached such a level and he decided to go forth with divorcing her and keep their children under the custody of his first wife.
Since visitation rights under these circumstances are not implemented unless the Saudi parent with custody rights voluntarily puts in the effort to make arrangements, it took Hady ah nine years to see her children again.
This reunion only occurred when she obtained an Umrah visa to enter the Kingdom accompanied with her new husband.
Al-Sheikh said that such kinds of problems are common among such marriages.
Actually, she added, her administration faces such kind of custody problems even among Saudi couples when the father abuses his rights.
Usually, she added, when couples face a crises in their marriage and decide on divorce, the main issue that results in a breakdown of communication between them is with regard to the guardianship and custody of their children.
In most of the cases, she explained, the husband insists on keeping the children and deporting the mother back to her home country without any respect to her feelings as a mother. The woman, she added, finds it difficult to find someone who is ready to sponsor her due to the regulations of the Ministry of Labor that tend to limit the number of visas given to non-Saudis.
The divorce also makes it difficult for a non-Saudi woman to live in Saudi Arabia without having a fixed financial income that allows her to support herself as well as her children in case she is granted custody.
Khalid Abu Rashid, A Saudi lawyer, said that the court does not differentiate between Saudi and non-Saudi mothers when it comes to custody.
"The ruling is usually in favor of the parent who can provide the best environment for the children whether the mother or the father regardless of their nationality," Abu Rashid said.
However, he said, due to the very limited job opportunities for non-Saudi women and means of financial support, they cannot provide their children with a suitable environment.
Based on this, most of the judges rule in favor of the father who, in most cases, is capable of supporting the children financially.
In the absence of the enforcement of the law of alimony in Saudi Arabia, Nora suggested taking the alimony out of the husband's salary automatically every month. She said that there should be a system that keeps the mother with her children after divorce and grants them a good monthly income.
Those children, she added, will be part of the fabric of the Saudi society, thus should be granted a healthy family environment in which they grow up as good citizens.
"Depriving children from their mother's care will create negative emotional states among them to an extent that would increase violence and certainly reflect negatively on the society," she said.
"The system should be developed in a way that serves the society to which it was initially introduced.
Ministry recommends citizenship for foreign mothers of Saudi children
By Sabria S. Jawhar
OFFICIALS at the Ministry of Social Affairs have submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Interior that, if passed, guarantees citizenship or at least permanent residency to foreign mothers of Saudi children, an official said.
"We have submitted the proposal. We are waiting for the Ministry's (of Interior) answer as it is the only concerned authority in this matter," said Nora Aal-Al-Sheikh, director of the supervision office at the Ministry of Social Affairs in Makkah region. She said that with the increasing number of divorce cases in general and among Saudi and non-Saudi couples in particular, foreign mothers of Saudi children should be granted citizenship in order to keep their rights as well as the family ties intact.
This citizenship, she explained, could be with specific limitations in order to prevent misusing or passing it on to those who are not entitled from the mother's side.
They could also be given a permanent Iqama (residency permission) as a temporary solution, she added.
Hadyah, an Arab national who didn't want her full name or nationality published, is only one example of many women who have been victims to misuse of custody and absence of a multilateral or bilateral treaty among Arab states dealing with the enforcement of custody agreements or judgments. She was married to a Saudi man who was 23 years her senior.
The marriage was not a fruit of love or agreement. On the contrary, it was mainly motivated by her impoverished condition and his desire to wed.
"I had to support my family and help them to survive and he was the only one who offered that sort of help with the condition of my becoming his wife," she said.
Unlike most of such kind of marriages that take place outside Saudi Arabia, Hadyah's marriage was legally registered and all of her rights as a wife were kept intact.
At the beginning of the marriage, he was so kind and generous with her as well as with her family.
But the appearance of happiness did not last long as after having two babies, he grew tired of the continuous travel to her country and decided to bring her, along with their children back to the Kingdom.
Hadyah's journey of suffering began here. His behavior, she explained, dramatically changed especially in the presence of his first wife and her children.
"He started to look down on me and treat me like a maid," she said. "Sometimes, he humiliates me by talking about my family's background as if he picked me up from the street."
Having been told that in Saudi Arabia custody disputes favor the Saudi parent and often rules in favor of men, Hadyah decided to maintain her marital status intact as her main concern was to retain the custody of her children and not be forced to leave the country if divorced.
The disagreement between her and her husband reached such a level and he decided to go forth with divorcing her and keep their children under the custody of his first wife.
Since visitation rights under these circumstances are not implemented unless the Saudi parent with custody rights voluntarily puts in the effort to make arrangements, it took Hady ah nine years to see her children again.
This reunion only occurred when she obtained an Umrah visa to enter the Kingdom accompanied with her new husband.
Al-Sheikh said that such kinds of problems are common among such marriages.
Actually, she added, her administration faces such kind of custody problems even among Saudi couples when the father abuses his rights.
Usually, she added, when couples face a crises in their marriage and decide on divorce, the main issue that results in a breakdown of communication between them is with regard to the guardianship and custody of their children.
In most of the cases, she explained, the husband insists on keeping the children and deporting the mother back to her home country without any respect to her feelings as a mother. The woman, she added, finds it difficult to find someone who is ready to sponsor her due to the regulations of the Ministry of Labor that tend to limit the number of visas given to non-Saudis.
The divorce also makes it difficult for a non-Saudi woman to live in Saudi Arabia without having a fixed financial income that allows her to support herself as well as her children in case she is granted custody.
Khalid Abu Rashid, A Saudi lawyer, said that the court does not differentiate between Saudi and non-Saudi mothers when it comes to custody.
"The ruling is usually in favor of the parent who can provide the best environment for the children whether the mother or the father regardless of their nationality," Abu Rashid said.
However, he said, due to the very limited job opportunities for non-Saudi women and means of financial support, they cannot provide their children with a suitable environment.
Based on this, most of the judges rule in favor of the father who, in most cases, is capable of supporting the children financially.
In the absence of the enforcement of the law of alimony in Saudi Arabia, Nora suggested taking the alimony out of the husband's salary automatically every month. She said that there should be a system that keeps the mother with her children after divorce and grants them a good monthly income.
Those children, she added, will be part of the fabric of the Saudi society, thus should be granted a healthy family environment in which they grow up as good citizens.
"Depriving children from their mother's care will create negative emotional states among them to an extent that would increase violence and certainly reflect negatively on the society," she said.
"The system should be developed in a way that serves the society to which it was initially introduced.
Monday, July 30, 2007
To Keep Homes Intact
Monday, 30 July 2007
Ministry recommends citizenship for foreign mothers of Saudi children
By Sabria S. Jawhar
OFFICIALS at the Ministry of Social Affairs have submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Interior that, if passed, guarantees citizenship or at least permanent residency to foreign mothers of Saudi children, an official said.
"We have submitted the proposal. We are waiting for the Ministry's (of Interior) answer as it is the only concerned authority in this matter," said Nora Aal-Al-Sheikh, director of the supervision office at the Ministry of Social Affairs in Makkah region. She said that with the increasing number of divorce cases in general and among Saudi and non-Saudi couples in particular, foreign mothers of Saudi children should be granted citizenship in order to keep their rights as well as the family ties intact.
This citizenship, she explained, could be with specific limitations in order to prevent misusing or passing it on to those who are not entitled from the mother's side.
They could also be given a permanent Iqama (residency permission) as a temporary solution, she added.
Hadyah, an Arab national who didn't want her full name or nationality published, is only one example of many women who have been victims to misuse of custody and absence of a multilateral or bilateral treaty among Arab states dealing with the enforcement of custody agreements or judgments. She was married to a Saudi man who was 23 years her senior.
The marriage was not a fruit of love or agreement. On the contrary, it was mainly motivated by her impoverished condition and his desire to wed.
"I had to support my family and help them to survive and he was the only one who offered that sort of help with the condition of my becoming his wife," she said.
Unlike most of such kind of marriages that take place outside Saudi Arabia, Hadyah's marriage was legally registered and all of her rights as a wife were kept intact.
At the beginning of the marriage, he was so kind and generous with her as well as with her family.
But the appearance of happiness did not last long as after having two babies, he grew tired of the continuous travel to her country and decided to bring her, along with their children back to the Kingdom.
Hadyah's journey of suffering began here. His behavior, she explained, dramatically changed especially in the presence of his first wife and her children.
"He started to look down on me and treat me like a maid," she said. "Sometimes, he humiliates me by talking about my family's background as if he picked me up from the street."
Having been told that in Saudi Arabia custody disputes favor the Saudi parent and often rules in favor of men, Hadyah decided to maintain her marital status intact as her main concern was to retain the custody of her children and not be forced to leave the country if divorced.
The disagreement between her and her husband reached such a level and he decided to go forth with divorcing her and keep their children under the custody of his first wife.
Since visitation rights under these circumstances are not implemented unless the Saudi parent with custody rights voluntarily puts in the effort to make arrangements, it took Hady ah nine years to see her children again.
This reunion only occurred when she obtained an Umrah visa to enter the Kingdom accompanied with her new husband.
Al-Sheikh said that such kinds of problems are common among such marriages.
Actually, she added, her administration faces such kind of custody problems even among Saudi couples when the father abuses his rights.
Usually, she added, when couples face a crises in their marriage and decide on divorce, the main issue that results in a breakdown of communication between them is with regard to the guardianship and custody of their children.
In most of the cases, she explained, the husband insists on keeping the children and deporting the mother back to her home country without any respect to her feelings as a mother. The woman, she added, finds it difficult to find someone who is ready to sponsor her due to the regulations of the Ministry of Labor that tend to limit the number of visas given to non-Saudis.
The divorce also makes it difficult for a non-Saudi woman to live in Saudi Arabia without having a fixed financial income that allows her to support herself as well as her children in case she is granted custody.
Khalid Abu Rashid, A Saudi lawyer, said that the court does not differentiate between Saudi and non-Saudi mothers when it comes to custody.
"The ruling is usually in favor of the parent who can provide the best environment for the children whether the mother or the father regardless of their nationality," Abu Rashid said.
However, he said, due to the very limited job opportunities for non-Saudi women and means of financial support, they cannot provide their children with a suitable environment.
Based on this, most of the judges rule in favor of the father who, in most cases, is capable of supporting the children financially.
In the absence of the enforcement of the law of alimony in Saudi Arabia, Nora suggested taking the alimony out of the husband's salary automatically every month. She said that there should be a system that keeps the mother with her children after divorce and grants them a good monthly income.
Those children, she added, will be part of the fabric of the Saudi society, thus should be granted a healthy family environment in which they grow up as good citizens.
"Depriving children from their mother's care will create negative emotional states among them to an extent that would increase violence and certainly reflect negatively on the society," she said.
"The system should be developed in a way that serves the society to which it was initially introduced.
Ministry recommends citizenship for foreign mothers of Saudi children
By Sabria S. Jawhar
OFFICIALS at the Ministry of Social Affairs have submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Interior that, if passed, guarantees citizenship or at least permanent residency to foreign mothers of Saudi children, an official said.
"We have submitted the proposal. We are waiting for the Ministry's (of Interior) answer as it is the only concerned authority in this matter," said Nora Aal-Al-Sheikh, director of the supervision office at the Ministry of Social Affairs in Makkah region. She said that with the increasing number of divorce cases in general and among Saudi and non-Saudi couples in particular, foreign mothers of Saudi children should be granted citizenship in order to keep their rights as well as the family ties intact.
This citizenship, she explained, could be with specific limitations in order to prevent misusing or passing it on to those who are not entitled from the mother's side.
They could also be given a permanent Iqama (residency permission) as a temporary solution, she added.
Hadyah, an Arab national who didn't want her full name or nationality published, is only one example of many women who have been victims to misuse of custody and absence of a multilateral or bilateral treaty among Arab states dealing with the enforcement of custody agreements or judgments. She was married to a Saudi man who was 23 years her senior.
The marriage was not a fruit of love or agreement. On the contrary, it was mainly motivated by her impoverished condition and his desire to wed.
"I had to support my family and help them to survive and he was the only one who offered that sort of help with the condition of my becoming his wife," she said.
Unlike most of such kind of marriages that take place outside Saudi Arabia, Hadyah's marriage was legally registered and all of her rights as a wife were kept intact.
At the beginning of the marriage, he was so kind and generous with her as well as with her family.
But the appearance of happiness did not last long as after having two babies, he grew tired of the continuous travel to her country and decided to bring her, along with their children back to the Kingdom.
Hadyah's journey of suffering began here. His behavior, she explained, dramatically changed especially in the presence of his first wife and her children.
"He started to look down on me and treat me like a maid," she said. "Sometimes, he humiliates me by talking about my family's background as if he picked me up from the street."
Having been told that in Saudi Arabia custody disputes favor the Saudi parent and often rules in favor of men, Hadyah decided to maintain her marital status intact as her main concern was to retain the custody of her children and not be forced to leave the country if divorced.
The disagreement between her and her husband reached such a level and he decided to go forth with divorcing her and keep their children under the custody of his first wife.
Since visitation rights under these circumstances are not implemented unless the Saudi parent with custody rights voluntarily puts in the effort to make arrangements, it took Hady ah nine years to see her children again.
This reunion only occurred when she obtained an Umrah visa to enter the Kingdom accompanied with her new husband.
Al-Sheikh said that such kinds of problems are common among such marriages.
Actually, she added, her administration faces such kind of custody problems even among Saudi couples when the father abuses his rights.
Usually, she added, when couples face a crises in their marriage and decide on divorce, the main issue that results in a breakdown of communication between them is with regard to the guardianship and custody of their children.
In most of the cases, she explained, the husband insists on keeping the children and deporting the mother back to her home country without any respect to her feelings as a mother. The woman, she added, finds it difficult to find someone who is ready to sponsor her due to the regulations of the Ministry of Labor that tend to limit the number of visas given to non-Saudis.
The divorce also makes it difficult for a non-Saudi woman to live in Saudi Arabia without having a fixed financial income that allows her to support herself as well as her children in case she is granted custody.
Khalid Abu Rashid, A Saudi lawyer, said that the court does not differentiate between Saudi and non-Saudi mothers when it comes to custody.
"The ruling is usually in favor of the parent who can provide the best environment for the children whether the mother or the father regardless of their nationality," Abu Rashid said.
However, he said, due to the very limited job opportunities for non-Saudi women and means of financial support, they cannot provide their children with a suitable environment.
Based on this, most of the judges rule in favor of the father who, in most cases, is capable of supporting the children financially.
In the absence of the enforcement of the law of alimony in Saudi Arabia, Nora suggested taking the alimony out of the husband's salary automatically every month. She said that there should be a system that keeps the mother with her children after divorce and grants them a good monthly income.
Those children, she added, will be part of the fabric of the Saudi society, thus should be granted a healthy family environment in which they grow up as good citizens.
"Depriving children from their mother's care will create negative emotional states among them to an extent that would increase violence and certainly reflect negatively on the society," she said.
"The system should be developed in a way that serves the society to which it was initially introduced.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Women Seek Exclusive Driving Club
Tuesday, 03 July 2007
By Khozaima Al-Attas
JEDDAH Mayor Adel Fakeeh was taken off-guard Monday when about 150 women, both students and workers, asked him to approve a special driving club for women where they can learn driving to deal with emergencies.
They also sought his support for reactivating the Labor Ministry decision to limit the jobs in lingerie shops to saleswomen.
Fakeeh expressed his reservation about these demands on grounds that their implementation doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of the mayoralty.
The role of the mayoralty is limited to granting a piece of land for the construction of the club once the authorities concerned approve the proposal.
Driving debate has been raging in the Kingdom ever since King Abdullah left open the possibility that women may be allowed to drive.
Information Minister Iyad Madani at the Jeddah Economic Forum last year said there was nothing in the law preventing women from obtaining a license.
"There is nothing in the law that prevents women from applying for a driver's license," he said.
As far as reserving jobs for women in lingerie shops is concerned, the deadline to replace salesmen with saleswomen was postponed last year for an undetermined period.
Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi made this decision following a representation by shop owners that they cannot meet the requirements of the Cabinet order within the specified deadline.
The Cabinet had set June 20, 2006, as the deadline to replace salesmen with saleswomen at all lingerie shops. The deadline to hire women in abaya shops and women-exclusive garment stores was June 9, 2007.
The Cabinet took the decision last June and businesses were given a year to prepare for implementation.
Statistics show that there are around 49 shopping malls and centers in Jeddah with around 247 shops to sell women's wears, 38 percent of the shops are for lingerie with only 15 percent of women sellers from the estimated number 879 employees.
The group of women, which met Adel Fakeeh Monday, also asked for the construction of playgrounds and sport clubs exclusively for women at the beach.
They also suggested construction of public libraries fully devoted to women.
They asked the mayor to open special sections in the mayoralty for women to enable them to follow their transactions themselves.
Feekeh revealed that the mayoralty's next budget will include allocations for securing jobs to Saudi women. The mayoralty will also open a special department to serve businesswomen.
He said the mayoralty has devoted Monday and Wednesday to serve women to follow up their transactions until a special section for women services is ready next year.
By Khozaima Al-Attas
JEDDAH Mayor Adel Fakeeh was taken off-guard Monday when about 150 women, both students and workers, asked him to approve a special driving club for women where they can learn driving to deal with emergencies.
They also sought his support for reactivating the Labor Ministry decision to limit the jobs in lingerie shops to saleswomen.
Fakeeh expressed his reservation about these demands on grounds that their implementation doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of the mayoralty.
The role of the mayoralty is limited to granting a piece of land for the construction of the club once the authorities concerned approve the proposal.
Driving debate has been raging in the Kingdom ever since King Abdullah left open the possibility that women may be allowed to drive.
Information Minister Iyad Madani at the Jeddah Economic Forum last year said there was nothing in the law preventing women from obtaining a license.
"There is nothing in the law that prevents women from applying for a driver's license," he said.
As far as reserving jobs for women in lingerie shops is concerned, the deadline to replace salesmen with saleswomen was postponed last year for an undetermined period.
Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi made this decision following a representation by shop owners that they cannot meet the requirements of the Cabinet order within the specified deadline.
The Cabinet had set June 20, 2006, as the deadline to replace salesmen with saleswomen at all lingerie shops. The deadline to hire women in abaya shops and women-exclusive garment stores was June 9, 2007.
The Cabinet took the decision last June and businesses were given a year to prepare for implementation.
Statistics show that there are around 49 shopping malls and centers in Jeddah with around 247 shops to sell women's wears, 38 percent of the shops are for lingerie with only 15 percent of women sellers from the estimated number 879 employees.
The group of women, which met Adel Fakeeh Monday, also asked for the construction of playgrounds and sport clubs exclusively for women at the beach.
They also suggested construction of public libraries fully devoted to women.
They asked the mayor to open special sections in the mayoralty for women to enable them to follow their transactions themselves.
Feekeh revealed that the mayoralty's next budget will include allocations for securing jobs to Saudi women. The mayoralty will also open a special department to serve businesswomen.
He said the mayoralty has devoted Monday and Wednesday to serve women to follow up their transactions until a special section for women services is ready next year.
Consumer Protection Agencies Approved
Tuesday, 03 July 2007
Saudi Gazette
THE Cabinet in Jeddah Monday approved the establishment of two agencies to protect the rights of consumers.
The first one, called Deputy Ministry for Consumer Affairs, will be part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It will supervise services offered to consumers by various administrations of the Ministry.
The second one, called the Consumer Protection Society, is a private entity that will look after the consumers' interest and defend their rights.
It will also help authorities spread consumer awareness and protect consumers from deception, forgery and misrepresentation of commodities and services, including imported and locally manufactured food and pharmaceutical products.
Citizens with special interest and expertise on consumer protection issues will be on the board of the society's general assembly.
The Cabinet, presided over by King Abdullah, called upon the ministries of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Agriculture, Commerce and Industry, Health, as well as Saudi Arabian Standards Organization, Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and Customs Department to strengthen and reinforce their roles in protecting consumers' rights.
At present, consumer concerns in the Kingdom are handled by chambers of commerce and industry through consumer protection committees in most of them.
These committees at the chambers of commerce and industry participate along with other technical and general committees and the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO) board of directors in setting quality standards of food and drug.
Most government agencies have departments to ensure consumer protection in collaboration with SASO.
The Cabinet also approved the academic calendar for the next 10 years.
The academic year has been split into two semesters. The duration of each semester will be at least 15 weeks, including the examination period.
Eid holidays for government employees will also apply to universities and schools.
King Abdullah also briefed the Council on the outcome of his meetings with the leaders of Morocco, Spain, France, Poland, Egypt, and Jordan.
King Abdullah expressed confidence that the Spanish, French and Polish leadership will consolidate their positive roles in enabling the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights and help Iraq achieve its national unity.
Saudi Gazette
THE Cabinet in Jeddah Monday approved the establishment of two agencies to protect the rights of consumers.
The first one, called Deputy Ministry for Consumer Affairs, will be part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It will supervise services offered to consumers by various administrations of the Ministry.
The second one, called the Consumer Protection Society, is a private entity that will look after the consumers' interest and defend their rights.
It will also help authorities spread consumer awareness and protect consumers from deception, forgery and misrepresentation of commodities and services, including imported and locally manufactured food and pharmaceutical products.
Citizens with special interest and expertise on consumer protection issues will be on the board of the society's general assembly.
The Cabinet, presided over by King Abdullah, called upon the ministries of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Agriculture, Commerce and Industry, Health, as well as Saudi Arabian Standards Organization, Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and Customs Department to strengthen and reinforce their roles in protecting consumers' rights.
At present, consumer concerns in the Kingdom are handled by chambers of commerce and industry through consumer protection committees in most of them.
These committees at the chambers of commerce and industry participate along with other technical and general committees and the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO) board of directors in setting quality standards of food and drug.
Most government agencies have departments to ensure consumer protection in collaboration with SASO.
The Cabinet also approved the academic calendar for the next 10 years.
The academic year has been split into two semesters. The duration of each semester will be at least 15 weeks, including the examination period.
Eid holidays for government employees will also apply to universities and schools.
King Abdullah also briefed the Council on the outcome of his meetings with the leaders of Morocco, Spain, France, Poland, Egypt, and Jordan.
King Abdullah expressed confidence that the Spanish, French and Polish leadership will consolidate their positive roles in enabling the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights and help Iraq achieve its national unity.
More Beggars Flood Streets
Tuesday, 03 July 2007
Saudi Gazette
THE number of beggars in the Kingdom has ballooned in the last two years, according to the latest statistics of the Ministry of Social Affairs published in Al-Madina Arabic language newspaper Sunday.
Some 81 percent of the beggars are expatriates. Their number grew to 24,771 from 15,015 in two years. Saudi beggars in different regions also rose 40 percent from 3,630 to 5,317 in two years.
Many of the beggars do not have chronic diseases or permanent disabilities.
Four government departments are preparing a national plan that includes formation of local committees in Taif, Makkah and Jeddah to arrest beggars and hand them over to authorities.
It is in line with the order of the Council of Ministers to rid Saudi Arabia of beggary.
Dr. Sa'eed Al-Ghamdi, Director General of Social Affairs in Makkah, has submitted a plan in this regard to Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Province.
Statistics last year found that begging among children was on the rise in Makkah, especially around the Grand Mosque.
Some of the arrested child beggars said their fathers dumped them on the street, where they spent more than 12 hours at traffic lights. Their fathers would collect the proceeds when they returned home.
A. Kh., a 14-year-old beggar, said, "I have been begging for many years. My father dumps me at the traffic lights and in the Central Area surrounding the Grand Mosque. When I spot the Immigration (Passports) Department's men or the Vagrancy Combat Office teams, I mix with the worshipers. During a day I collect at least SR200. When I return home, I find my father waiting for me to take the proceeds. I came to know many other beggars old and young. Each one has his trick to win sympathy. Some of them pretend to be handicapped while others make sure to win the sympathy of the worshipers and get money. We know the rich from their appearance. We know where they are staying and in what hotels. We stand near their luxurious cars. One woman gave me more than SR1,000. When she saw my health condition, she sympathized with me."
Last year, 4,228 male and female beggars were apprehended.
Non-Saudi beggar is handed over to the Committee for Investigating Expatriate Beggars that is an affiliate of Makkah Police so that the necessary measures are taken. In brief, they are deported to their respective countries.
However, if the beggar is a Saudi national, he is handed over to the Vagrancy Combat Office so that sociologists study his case to know the reasons for begging. If the study shows that he is in need, he is transferred to the charitable societies to help or to the General Organization for Social Insurance. If he is disabled and nobody is there to take care of him, he is transferred to the social care home.
Saudi Gazette
THE number of beggars in the Kingdom has ballooned in the last two years, according to the latest statistics of the Ministry of Social Affairs published in Al-Madina Arabic language newspaper Sunday.
Some 81 percent of the beggars are expatriates. Their number grew to 24,771 from 15,015 in two years. Saudi beggars in different regions also rose 40 percent from 3,630 to 5,317 in two years.
Many of the beggars do not have chronic diseases or permanent disabilities.
Four government departments are preparing a national plan that includes formation of local committees in Taif, Makkah and Jeddah to arrest beggars and hand them over to authorities.
It is in line with the order of the Council of Ministers to rid Saudi Arabia of beggary.
Dr. Sa'eed Al-Ghamdi, Director General of Social Affairs in Makkah, has submitted a plan in this regard to Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Province.
Statistics last year found that begging among children was on the rise in Makkah, especially around the Grand Mosque.
Some of the arrested child beggars said their fathers dumped them on the street, where they spent more than 12 hours at traffic lights. Their fathers would collect the proceeds when they returned home.
A. Kh., a 14-year-old beggar, said, "I have been begging for many years. My father dumps me at the traffic lights and in the Central Area surrounding the Grand Mosque. When I spot the Immigration (Passports) Department's men or the Vagrancy Combat Office teams, I mix with the worshipers. During a day I collect at least SR200. When I return home, I find my father waiting for me to take the proceeds. I came to know many other beggars old and young. Each one has his trick to win sympathy. Some of them pretend to be handicapped while others make sure to win the sympathy of the worshipers and get money. We know the rich from their appearance. We know where they are staying and in what hotels. We stand near their luxurious cars. One woman gave me more than SR1,000. When she saw my health condition, she sympathized with me."
Last year, 4,228 male and female beggars were apprehended.
Non-Saudi beggar is handed over to the Committee for Investigating Expatriate Beggars that is an affiliate of Makkah Police so that the necessary measures are taken. In brief, they are deported to their respective countries.
However, if the beggar is a Saudi national, he is handed over to the Vagrancy Combat Office so that sociologists study his case to know the reasons for begging. If the study shows that he is in need, he is transferred to the charitable societies to help or to the General Organization for Social Insurance. If he is disabled and nobody is there to take care of him, he is transferred to the social care home.
3,106 in Custody for Terror Links – Naif
Tuesday, 03 July 2007
Agencies
AUTHORITIES have arrested 9,000 people during anti-terror operations over the past four years, Interior Minister Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz said in comments published, Monday.
Except for 3,106, most of these arrested people have been released, Arabic language daily quoted him as saying.
"The security forces have foiled 180 terrorist operations," Prince Naif said.
If only 10 percent of these operations had succeeded, the Kingdom would have faced "catastrophe," he said, adding that the extremists' "huge plan" had been disrupted.
His comments come a day after he announced the formation of special security forces to protect the Kingdom's vast oil infrastructure from attacks.
"Preparations are underway to put in place a force of 35,000 men to assure the protection of the industrial installations," he said.
The first units from the new force would be deployed to protect oil infrastructure.
Security forces thwarted an alleged Al-Qaeda suicide car bomb attack against Abqaiq oil processing facility in February last year. Two members of the security forces and two assailants were killed.
Oil prices leapt in the immediate aftermath of that incident.
The Kingdom has been battling suspected Al-Qaeda militants since they launched a wave of shootings and bombings, many targeting Westerners, in May 2003.
In April this year the interior ministry said 172 terror suspects had been rounded up in one security operation, along with weapons and cash.
Some of the militants were allegedly plotting airborne attacks on oil facilities and army bases.
Earlier this month, Prince Naif announced the establishment of two courts - one in Riyadh and one in Jeddah - to speed up the trials of terrorist suspects.
Saudi Arabia has already created a state security court to try terror-related cases.
The special tribunal comprises five to seven judges, nominated by the justice and interior ministers and appointed by King Abdullah.
Earlier this year, Saudi security forces arrested 10 people accused of staging a massive fund-raising operation to send insurgents to Iraq and other troubled spots in the Middle East.
Security men conducted raids in Jeddah and Madina, arresting nine Saudis and one foreigner and seizing a "huge amount" of cash.
Seven Saudis were arrested at a house in Jeddah and two taken into custody in Madina. The nationality of the foreigner was not released.
The Ministry of Interior issued a statement Jan. 22 warning against collecting donations for groups not registered with the government.
Agencies
AUTHORITIES have arrested 9,000 people during anti-terror operations over the past four years, Interior Minister Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz said in comments published, Monday.
Except for 3,106, most of these arrested people have been released, Arabic language daily quoted him as saying.
"The security forces have foiled 180 terrorist operations," Prince Naif said.
If only 10 percent of these operations had succeeded, the Kingdom would have faced "catastrophe," he said, adding that the extremists' "huge plan" had been disrupted.
His comments come a day after he announced the formation of special security forces to protect the Kingdom's vast oil infrastructure from attacks.
"Preparations are underway to put in place a force of 35,000 men to assure the protection of the industrial installations," he said.
The first units from the new force would be deployed to protect oil infrastructure.
Security forces thwarted an alleged Al-Qaeda suicide car bomb attack against Abqaiq oil processing facility in February last year. Two members of the security forces and two assailants were killed.
Oil prices leapt in the immediate aftermath of that incident.
The Kingdom has been battling suspected Al-Qaeda militants since they launched a wave of shootings and bombings, many targeting Westerners, in May 2003.
In April this year the interior ministry said 172 terror suspects had been rounded up in one security operation, along with weapons and cash.
Some of the militants were allegedly plotting airborne attacks on oil facilities and army bases.
Earlier this month, Prince Naif announced the establishment of two courts - one in Riyadh and one in Jeddah - to speed up the trials of terrorist suspects.
Saudi Arabia has already created a state security court to try terror-related cases.
The special tribunal comprises five to seven judges, nominated by the justice and interior ministers and appointed by King Abdullah.
Earlier this year, Saudi security forces arrested 10 people accused of staging a massive fund-raising operation to send insurgents to Iraq and other troubled spots in the Middle East.
Security men conducted raids in Jeddah and Madina, arresting nine Saudis and one foreigner and seizing a "huge amount" of cash.
Seven Saudis were arrested at a house in Jeddah and two taken into custody in Madina. The nationality of the foreigner was not released.
The Ministry of Interior issued a statement Jan. 22 warning against collecting donations for groups not registered with the government.
Peace a Wild Dream
Tuesday, 03 July 2007
By Sabria S Jawhar
THE United Nations, from the outset, has always endeavored to address the conflict in the Middle East in a manner that saves lives and improves security. However, all its efforts have failed to bring about peace in the region. Today, the situation is at its worst because of the US policy of aggression in the region and the continuation of its blatant support to Israel, which has encouraged the Jewish state to reject and sabotage various peace initiatives over the years.
Last week, the Department of Public Information at the United Nations held a seminar on peace in the Middle East in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in Tokyo. The seminar aimed at restoring the path to peace by reengaging Israeli and Palestinians in the search for a comprehensive and lasting political settlement. It brought together almost 100 participants from the Middle East and other parts of the world. Current and former policymakers, parliamentarians, representatives of civil societies and labor unions, mayors, academics and journalists were among the participants.
Yet, despite the high-profile participation, the seminar failed to come up with even a list of recommendations that can be followed up some day. It also fell short of convincing some of the participants to overcome their ill will towards each other, which resulted in the discussion being reduced to a bitter argument that was unprofessional despite the organizers' best efforts to create a friendly atmosphere.
For me, the seminar was nothing but a reflection of the real big picture of the situation in the region. If we are ever to achieve peace in the Middle East, I wonder, do we need a new approach? Why have previous efforts to achieve peace failed? What led to the present situation of unbridled violence and loss of life?
From the Madrid and Oslo accords in 1991-93 to the Arab Initiative of 2007, the international community has been yearning for peace through a strong political settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which guarantees peace and a secure future for a new Palestinian state and for Israel as well.
But peace will remain elusive so long as Israel wields the power to resist moves to find a solution to the Palestinian issue. Simply put, the scale of power weighs heavily in favor of Israel.
There is no denying that the US government has contributed to this power imbalance with its huge financial and military support to Israel over the decades. US aid to Israel exceeds the amount of foreign aid it provides to any other country. In contrast, the US began providing limited financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority only since 2002.
Now, following the violent takeover of Gaza by Hamas, the US government, which regards Hamas as a terrorist organization, aims to pour money, aid and political recognition on the West Bank. But how can the US ever be committed to the West Bank and Gaza as it struggles to extricate itself from the Iraqi quagmire, especially with the mounting pressure inside the US for withdrawal? What will happen if those anti-war advocates win?
Another obstacle to peace is the US habit of using its veto power to strike down UN Security Council resolutions that criticize Israeli actions, even as it condemns other nations for similar actions. This favoritism and unlimited support to Israel by the US, along with its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, have compelled many in the region to perceive the US as a cruel occupying power. It has created an increasing feeling of ill-will against Israel, the US and the countries supporting US foreign policy. US policy regarding Israel, Afghanistan and Iraq, and its threatening manner towards Iran, have angered youths in the region and led to the creation of several extremist organizations with their individual anti-US and anti-Israel agendas.
When Hamas got involved in the political process in Palestine and gave up its role as a resistance group, it won 62 percent of the Palestinian vote in an election that was deemed legal by the international community. But rather than honor the will of the Palestinians to practice democracy through a legal election, the US criticizes Hamas as a terrorist organization and declares it would not work or cooperate with the newly elected government.
The blockade and isolation of Hamas by the US and Israel created confusion. Even Hamas leaders did not know what role to play - resistance or a legal government? Following the disagreement between Hamas and Fatah that temporarily ended with the Makkah agreement, Hamas agreed to fall in line, accepting the least influential ministries and with the minimum authority. But did this put an end to its isolation? The answer is No.
Let's take as an example the Arab peace initiative that was initiated at the Beirut summit in 2002 and collectively agreed upon at the Riyadh summit in 2007. The initiative tackled most, if not all, the major issues between the two sides. Considered a progressive proposal, it calls for Israel to withdraw its forces from all the Occupied Territories, including the Golan Heights, to recognize "an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital" in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as a "just solution" for the Palestinian refugees wanting to return to their homes. In exchange, the Arab states affirmed they would recognize the state of Israel, consider the Arab-Israeli conflict over and establish "normal relations" with Israel.
In response, Israel is still imposing conditions for negotiations that make the whole process nothing but a wild dream.
The US and Israel seem also to be overlooking the role of Iran and Syria in the peace process, with whom they refuse to negotiate. While the US, in the past few months, has loosened its rigid position of not negotiating with Iran and Syria - although it's still a long way from meaningful dialogue - it continues its counterproductive polices by hinting at possible military action against both countries but for different reasons. The point, though, is that the more the US escalates its threats against those two influential countries in the region, the more they will create trouble by provoking extremist groups.
The insecurity and instability that such countries are able to create by using their influence would generate a new generation of extremists who believe in nothing but violence as a way of obtaining political gains; a new generation that is well-versed in technology and scientific infrastructure of modernity; a generation that embraces modern technology but rejects cultural modernity including democracy.
With the shocking developments in Gaza, the peace process dream seems to have become unattainable. This deteriorated situation is a natural outcome of the Bush administration's six years of negligence.
Are the US and Israel aware of the consequences of the collapse of the unity government and the isolation of Hamas in the Gaza Strip? The answer is no as it seems that they have both found a good opportunity in this development.
The US and Israel certainly had their own agendas in mind when they quickly expressed support for the Palestinian Authority. It seems that the Bush administration is aiming to guide the West Bank towards significantly better living standards, by providing political, economic and military support, while at the same time seeking to teach Hamas a lesson by leaving the people in Gaza to languish in poverty and misery through the economic blockade and political isolation.
Maybe it is trying to force Hamas supporters, both in Gaza and West Bank, to turn away and align themselves with Fatah, accusing Hamas of being the main reason behind their misery.
This scenario is likely but officials in the US have to keep in mind other scenarios too. For instance, the support that Hamas gets from Iran and Syria, What if Hamas manages to establish a lawful and prosperous nation? What if it succeeds in bringing about security? By isolating Hamas, the US and Israel are giving it a chance to reorganize its military operations and start a new furious wave of resistance. If Hamas loses control of Gaza, this would open the gate for terrorist groups from all over the world to turn it into a new training ground for terrorists to target Israeli and American interests in the region.
The solution to the Middle East crisis doesn't lie in the region. On the contrary, it lies in Washington. Any delay in accepting comprehensive initiatives such as that of the Riyadh summit will worsen the situation and make the confrontation more violent and bloody. It will also create an atmosphere for terrorism that would be exported not only to the neighboring countries but also to the rest of the world.
By Sabria S Jawhar
THE United Nations, from the outset, has always endeavored to address the conflict in the Middle East in a manner that saves lives and improves security. However, all its efforts have failed to bring about peace in the region. Today, the situation is at its worst because of the US policy of aggression in the region and the continuation of its blatant support to Israel, which has encouraged the Jewish state to reject and sabotage various peace initiatives over the years.
Last week, the Department of Public Information at the United Nations held a seminar on peace in the Middle East in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in Tokyo. The seminar aimed at restoring the path to peace by reengaging Israeli and Palestinians in the search for a comprehensive and lasting political settlement. It brought together almost 100 participants from the Middle East and other parts of the world. Current and former policymakers, parliamentarians, representatives of civil societies and labor unions, mayors, academics and journalists were among the participants.
Yet, despite the high-profile participation, the seminar failed to come up with even a list of recommendations that can be followed up some day. It also fell short of convincing some of the participants to overcome their ill will towards each other, which resulted in the discussion being reduced to a bitter argument that was unprofessional despite the organizers' best efforts to create a friendly atmosphere.
For me, the seminar was nothing but a reflection of the real big picture of the situation in the region. If we are ever to achieve peace in the Middle East, I wonder, do we need a new approach? Why have previous efforts to achieve peace failed? What led to the present situation of unbridled violence and loss of life?
From the Madrid and Oslo accords in 1991-93 to the Arab Initiative of 2007, the international community has been yearning for peace through a strong political settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which guarantees peace and a secure future for a new Palestinian state and for Israel as well.
But peace will remain elusive so long as Israel wields the power to resist moves to find a solution to the Palestinian issue. Simply put, the scale of power weighs heavily in favor of Israel.
There is no denying that the US government has contributed to this power imbalance with its huge financial and military support to Israel over the decades. US aid to Israel exceeds the amount of foreign aid it provides to any other country. In contrast, the US began providing limited financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority only since 2002.
Now, following the violent takeover of Gaza by Hamas, the US government, which regards Hamas as a terrorist organization, aims to pour money, aid and political recognition on the West Bank. But how can the US ever be committed to the West Bank and Gaza as it struggles to extricate itself from the Iraqi quagmire, especially with the mounting pressure inside the US for withdrawal? What will happen if those anti-war advocates win?
Another obstacle to peace is the US habit of using its veto power to strike down UN Security Council resolutions that criticize Israeli actions, even as it condemns other nations for similar actions. This favoritism and unlimited support to Israel by the US, along with its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, have compelled many in the region to perceive the US as a cruel occupying power. It has created an increasing feeling of ill-will against Israel, the US and the countries supporting US foreign policy. US policy regarding Israel, Afghanistan and Iraq, and its threatening manner towards Iran, have angered youths in the region and led to the creation of several extremist organizations with their individual anti-US and anti-Israel agendas.
When Hamas got involved in the political process in Palestine and gave up its role as a resistance group, it won 62 percent of the Palestinian vote in an election that was deemed legal by the international community. But rather than honor the will of the Palestinians to practice democracy through a legal election, the US criticizes Hamas as a terrorist organization and declares it would not work or cooperate with the newly elected government.
The blockade and isolation of Hamas by the US and Israel created confusion. Even Hamas leaders did not know what role to play - resistance or a legal government? Following the disagreement between Hamas and Fatah that temporarily ended with the Makkah agreement, Hamas agreed to fall in line, accepting the least influential ministries and with the minimum authority. But did this put an end to its isolation? The answer is No.
Let's take as an example the Arab peace initiative that was initiated at the Beirut summit in 2002 and collectively agreed upon at the Riyadh summit in 2007. The initiative tackled most, if not all, the major issues between the two sides. Considered a progressive proposal, it calls for Israel to withdraw its forces from all the Occupied Territories, including the Golan Heights, to recognize "an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital" in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as a "just solution" for the Palestinian refugees wanting to return to their homes. In exchange, the Arab states affirmed they would recognize the state of Israel, consider the Arab-Israeli conflict over and establish "normal relations" with Israel.
In response, Israel is still imposing conditions for negotiations that make the whole process nothing but a wild dream.
The US and Israel seem also to be overlooking the role of Iran and Syria in the peace process, with whom they refuse to negotiate. While the US, in the past few months, has loosened its rigid position of not negotiating with Iran and Syria - although it's still a long way from meaningful dialogue - it continues its counterproductive polices by hinting at possible military action against both countries but for different reasons. The point, though, is that the more the US escalates its threats against those two influential countries in the region, the more they will create trouble by provoking extremist groups.
The insecurity and instability that such countries are able to create by using their influence would generate a new generation of extremists who believe in nothing but violence as a way of obtaining political gains; a new generation that is well-versed in technology and scientific infrastructure of modernity; a generation that embraces modern technology but rejects cultural modernity including democracy.
With the shocking developments in Gaza, the peace process dream seems to have become unattainable. This deteriorated situation is a natural outcome of the Bush administration's six years of negligence.
Are the US and Israel aware of the consequences of the collapse of the unity government and the isolation of Hamas in the Gaza Strip? The answer is no as it seems that they have both found a good opportunity in this development.
The US and Israel certainly had their own agendas in mind when they quickly expressed support for the Palestinian Authority. It seems that the Bush administration is aiming to guide the West Bank towards significantly better living standards, by providing political, economic and military support, while at the same time seeking to teach Hamas a lesson by leaving the people in Gaza to languish in poverty and misery through the economic blockade and political isolation.
Maybe it is trying to force Hamas supporters, both in Gaza and West Bank, to turn away and align themselves with Fatah, accusing Hamas of being the main reason behind their misery.
This scenario is likely but officials in the US have to keep in mind other scenarios too. For instance, the support that Hamas gets from Iran and Syria, What if Hamas manages to establish a lawful and prosperous nation? What if it succeeds in bringing about security? By isolating Hamas, the US and Israel are giving it a chance to reorganize its military operations and start a new furious wave of resistance. If Hamas loses control of Gaza, this would open the gate for terrorist groups from all over the world to turn it into a new training ground for terrorists to target Israeli and American interests in the region.
The solution to the Middle East crisis doesn't lie in the region. On the contrary, it lies in Washington. Any delay in accepting comprehensive initiatives such as that of the Riyadh summit will worsen the situation and make the confrontation more violent and bloody. It will also create an atmosphere for terrorism that would be exported not only to the neighboring countries but also to the rest of the world.
Teach Them How to Love their Country
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
By Sabria S Jawhar
THE Ministry of Interior's efforts to combat terrorists have been recognized locally and internationally. These efforts are not limited to the military level where they recently proved they have the required capability to foil attempts to target the country's economic and security establishments. As for those few cases in which the terrorists could strike, the ministry's men managed to reach the culprits and bring them to justice.
At the intellectual level, the ministry has established a 130- member Guidance Committee to hold dialogues with what the Saudi government refers to as "deviant groups" so as to try to change their minds and lead them back to the right path.
The Guidance Committee consists of Islamic scholars, preachers and academics, who team up and work according to a preset program to rehabilitate detained suspects or convicts affected by the deviant group's ideology.
The committee claims to have accomplished a great victory by bringing back to the right path almost as many as 700 detainees who had wrong beliefs or destructive ideas.
The committee is divided into three subcommittees handling security, scientific and psychological affairs. Their work includes lecturing detainees on religious issues that they have doubts about or which are misinterpreted. Those lectures last for five weeks. Then they are tested and, if they pass, are given certificates. The detainees are also involved in one-to-one dialogues with qualified preachers who clear any confusion concerning religious issues. A team of psychologists and sociologists also talk to them and study their social and economic background.
These tremendous efforts should be applauded. However the question remains: are these enough to combat and uproot terrorism?
Saudi society is religious by nature. They listen to Imams at mosques and follow their advice. This fact had pushed the Saudi government to inspect the attitude of several Imams in mosques, in 2003, send about 1,000 Imams for retraining programs to promote religious moderation and repudiate violence.
But, unfortunately, we still hear from time to time, some Imams using violent language in preaching to youth, which brings us back to the same cycle and raises question: where does violence come from?
We rarely hear an Imam in his Friday sermon or at any other ceremony talk about the importance of loving one's country and protecting its property as a religious duty. Sometimes, it seems to me, they are very cautions and avoid talking about patriotism, as if there is a contradiction between patriotism and religion.
I believe that guidance and advice should relate patriotism to religion. The new generation has to learn how to love their own country and to consider that as part of being a Muslim. Youngsters have to know that having national pride or strong patriotism is not against Islam. On the contrary, it is the core of Islam. Imams in mosques should highlight this and appeal to the citizens' religious sentiments when they tackle terrorism or any other security issues.
They have to stop using that timid language of theirs when condemning terrorist acts as if they are doing it out of duty and not conviction.
Education should involve more with love of the country. Educators have to know that instilling patriotism is a practice, not a book for study and test.
We have to realize that we've already lost some of our kids by overlooking the importance of loving one's own land. They became victims of foreign ideology that made them forsake their own country as a strategy for fighting infidels. What mentality is this that believes targeting and destroying one's own country's economy is a holy war? If those people were taught in advance that Jihad is not being waged in their own country, that it is governed by very strict regulations and that it should be declared by their country's ruler, would they have done what they did to their country in the name of Jihad?
Watching the Saudi television interview with those arrested for the terrorist plot to attack oil facilities in the Kingdom, clearly reflects the importance of enhancing the patriotism in the souls of those kids. One of the terrorist-cell member's excuse of "uncontrolled jealousy" as the reason behind the plot or its possible consequence, is what we have to stop and think about. What jealousy are they talking about? And was it for the good of the country?
Simply, we have to teach them how to love and how to express it. Love is not a crime or a shame that we have to hide. Love for the country starts from home, mosque and schools.
Have we shown enough love at these places? Did we offer our kids a role model of how to love?
By Sabria S Jawhar
THE Ministry of Interior's efforts to combat terrorists have been recognized locally and internationally. These efforts are not limited to the military level where they recently proved they have the required capability to foil attempts to target the country's economic and security establishments. As for those few cases in which the terrorists could strike, the ministry's men managed to reach the culprits and bring them to justice.
At the intellectual level, the ministry has established a 130- member Guidance Committee to hold dialogues with what the Saudi government refers to as "deviant groups" so as to try to change their minds and lead them back to the right path.
The Guidance Committee consists of Islamic scholars, preachers and academics, who team up and work according to a preset program to rehabilitate detained suspects or convicts affected by the deviant group's ideology.
The committee claims to have accomplished a great victory by bringing back to the right path almost as many as 700 detainees who had wrong beliefs or destructive ideas.
The committee is divided into three subcommittees handling security, scientific and psychological affairs. Their work includes lecturing detainees on religious issues that they have doubts about or which are misinterpreted. Those lectures last for five weeks. Then they are tested and, if they pass, are given certificates. The detainees are also involved in one-to-one dialogues with qualified preachers who clear any confusion concerning religious issues. A team of psychologists and sociologists also talk to them and study their social and economic background.
These tremendous efforts should be applauded. However the question remains: are these enough to combat and uproot terrorism?
Saudi society is religious by nature. They listen to Imams at mosques and follow their advice. This fact had pushed the Saudi government to inspect the attitude of several Imams in mosques, in 2003, send about 1,000 Imams for retraining programs to promote religious moderation and repudiate violence.
But, unfortunately, we still hear from time to time, some Imams using violent language in preaching to youth, which brings us back to the same cycle and raises question: where does violence come from?
We rarely hear an Imam in his Friday sermon or at any other ceremony talk about the importance of loving one's country and protecting its property as a religious duty. Sometimes, it seems to me, they are very cautions and avoid talking about patriotism, as if there is a contradiction between patriotism and religion.
I believe that guidance and advice should relate patriotism to religion. The new generation has to learn how to love their own country and to consider that as part of being a Muslim. Youngsters have to know that having national pride or strong patriotism is not against Islam. On the contrary, it is the core of Islam. Imams in mosques should highlight this and appeal to the citizens' religious sentiments when they tackle terrorism or any other security issues.
They have to stop using that timid language of theirs when condemning terrorist acts as if they are doing it out of duty and not conviction.
Education should involve more with love of the country. Educators have to know that instilling patriotism is a practice, not a book for study and test.
We have to realize that we've already lost some of our kids by overlooking the importance of loving one's own land. They became victims of foreign ideology that made them forsake their own country as a strategy for fighting infidels. What mentality is this that believes targeting and destroying one's own country's economy is a holy war? If those people were taught in advance that Jihad is not being waged in their own country, that it is governed by very strict regulations and that it should be declared by their country's ruler, would they have done what they did to their country in the name of Jihad?
Watching the Saudi television interview with those arrested for the terrorist plot to attack oil facilities in the Kingdom, clearly reflects the importance of enhancing the patriotism in the souls of those kids. One of the terrorist-cell member's excuse of "uncontrolled jealousy" as the reason behind the plot or its possible consequence, is what we have to stop and think about. What jealousy are they talking about? And was it for the good of the country?
Simply, we have to teach them how to love and how to express it. Love is not a crime or a shame that we have to hide. Love for the country starts from home, mosque and schools.
Have we shown enough love at these places? Did we offer our kids a role model of how to love?
Tips for a Good Summer Vacation
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
By Sabria S Jawhar
DO you feel like gritting your teeth and clenching your fists? Do you have a desire to raise your voice and yell? When you talk to an official anywhere do you have thoughts like "Who the hell does he think he is?"
Don't worry, it's only typical of the advent of summer. However, don't let anger get the better of you otherwise you might land in trouble or end up spending your summer vacation in jail instead of a lovely resort in the Kingdom or abroad.
Also, keep in mind that during summer people are more inclined to become angry and short-tempered than at any other time of the year, except Ramadan in Saudi Arabia
For those who don't know how to control their temper in summer, I recommend the following;
If you are a visitor to Saudi Arabia, avoid going out in the middle of a summer day. If your car, God forbid, is hit by another one, make sure not to stop and claim money for repairs unless you're sure the other driver is not Saudi, otherwise the damage will be double as you will lose your car and most probably one of your eyes. Moreover, you won't get back your claim. Saudis are always right.
If you're hungry, go for any other restaurant food but Haneedh, Mandi or Madhbi (Saudi traditional dishes), or you'll waste your time in a very long queue and end up quitting to make do with fried chicken from a Bukhari restaurant in a side street, because Saudis have the priority - not because they pay more but simply because the expatriate workers at restaurants have become smarter and know now, more than any other time, whom to serve first. After all, no one wants to lose his teeth or eyes over such a trifle matter.
If you are attending a seminar in Japan, make sure you go with a cool driver who doesn't smoke cigarette. Otherwise he will piss off the consulate's bored guard who might harass, push or slap him on the face. Also make sure that you know where you will be staying even if you are the guest of the ministry of foreign affairs of Japan or the United Nations. Officials there are very straightforward and believe in nothing that is not Japanese.
If you are going to China, happy you - people at the consulate are so friendly they tell you even how to get a cheaper price for the visa, "The earlier you apply, the less you pay." If you don't know how to fill in the application, don't worry, you'll always find someone to help you only for 10 riyals per person.
If you are going to Australia, apply and pay the money for the visa in the Kingdom but be informed that you are expected to pay for the express mail to send your passport to Dubai. Officials at the Australian embassy in Riyadh seem to be not entitled to issue visas. Don't worry about the legality of sending your passport outside the borders without a courier to carry it; the beautiful Australia is worth violating the Saudi passport's law.
If you are traveling by Saudia Airlines, make sure that you have a tranquilizer. Zanax is highly recommended. It keeps your temper down in front of the already edgy official. Also don't forget to take a blanket and pillow for the kids as well as for yourself: your flight might be delayed a whole day. Compensation is a wild dream.
Finally, if you have a tragic or funny experience with a foreign consulate or embassy, please share it with us. From my side, I wish all those courageous and cool people who bear the humiliating treatment at most of the western embassies and consulates a safe and enjoyable trip.
I also wish a happy stay for those who have chosen to stand the hot Saudi weather and temper. As for me, I haven't decided what to do with my vacation yet. But till I do so, wish me a happy one and meet you in three weeks, Insha' Allah.
By Sabria S Jawhar
DO you feel like gritting your teeth and clenching your fists? Do you have a desire to raise your voice and yell? When you talk to an official anywhere do you have thoughts like "Who the hell does he think he is?"
Don't worry, it's only typical of the advent of summer. However, don't let anger get the better of you otherwise you might land in trouble or end up spending your summer vacation in jail instead of a lovely resort in the Kingdom or abroad.
Also, keep in mind that during summer people are more inclined to become angry and short-tempered than at any other time of the year, except Ramadan in Saudi Arabia
For those who don't know how to control their temper in summer, I recommend the following;
If you are a visitor to Saudi Arabia, avoid going out in the middle of a summer day. If your car, God forbid, is hit by another one, make sure not to stop and claim money for repairs unless you're sure the other driver is not Saudi, otherwise the damage will be double as you will lose your car and most probably one of your eyes. Moreover, you won't get back your claim. Saudis are always right.
If you're hungry, go for any other restaurant food but Haneedh, Mandi or Madhbi (Saudi traditional dishes), or you'll waste your time in a very long queue and end up quitting to make do with fried chicken from a Bukhari restaurant in a side street, because Saudis have the priority - not because they pay more but simply because the expatriate workers at restaurants have become smarter and know now, more than any other time, whom to serve first. After all, no one wants to lose his teeth or eyes over such a trifle matter.
If you are attending a seminar in Japan, make sure you go with a cool driver who doesn't smoke cigarette. Otherwise he will piss off the consulate's bored guard who might harass, push or slap him on the face. Also make sure that you know where you will be staying even if you are the guest of the ministry of foreign affairs of Japan or the United Nations. Officials there are very straightforward and believe in nothing that is not Japanese.
If you are going to China, happy you - people at the consulate are so friendly they tell you even how to get a cheaper price for the visa, "The earlier you apply, the less you pay." If you don't know how to fill in the application, don't worry, you'll always find someone to help you only for 10 riyals per person.
If you are going to Australia, apply and pay the money for the visa in the Kingdom but be informed that you are expected to pay for the express mail to send your passport to Dubai. Officials at the Australian embassy in Riyadh seem to be not entitled to issue visas. Don't worry about the legality of sending your passport outside the borders without a courier to carry it; the beautiful Australia is worth violating the Saudi passport's law.
If you are traveling by Saudia Airlines, make sure that you have a tranquilizer. Zanax is highly recommended. It keeps your temper down in front of the already edgy official. Also don't forget to take a blanket and pillow for the kids as well as for yourself: your flight might be delayed a whole day. Compensation is a wild dream.
Finally, if you have a tragic or funny experience with a foreign consulate or embassy, please share it with us. From my side, I wish all those courageous and cool people who bear the humiliating treatment at most of the western embassies and consulates a safe and enjoyable trip.
I also wish a happy stay for those who have chosen to stand the hot Saudi weather and temper. As for me, I haven't decided what to do with my vacation yet. But till I do so, wish me a happy one and meet you in three weeks, Insha' Allah.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Making headlines for wrong reasons
Sabria S. Jawhar
ALLEGED violations and abuse of authority by some members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice are making headlines in Saudi Arabia these days.
Even as readers drew their breath on learning about the death of a young man in the Commission’s center in Riyadh came news of another such death in Tabuk and pictures of a student who, according to his father, was beaten up by Commission members in Najran – all within a period of just 10 days.
Last week, though, as murder investigations got underway against some Commission members on the charge of forced entry into a house and beating to death of a Saudi citizen, Commission officials appealed to the public not to jump to conclusions and asked the media to be fair and balanced in their coverage. Yet, some of them fell into the very same trap they were warning against by defending their colleagues even before the result of the investigation came out.
Media focus on the ways of some the Commission members came almost at the same time as the release of a report by the Saudi National Human Rights Association (NHRA) on the human rights situation in the Kingdom. The report highlights the importance of reviewing the authority given to the Commission since it sees some overlap with the authority given to other government’s establishments. Nevertheless, we are not here to criticize or evaluate the Commission’s authority as this should be left to specialists and based on facts and numbers.
Our discussion here will be limited to the reasons behind the recent rise of violence in Saudi society from the domestic level to a schools, prisons and now the very Commission that is supposed to be guarding the door of Islamic teaching.
Violence between some members of the Commission and citizens is not something new. The media has been reporting such cases of violence but none of them has reached the level of death in custody.
In the days ahead, we will know whether the Commission members are guilty or innocent. The question that will remain though is, what led the advocates of religion to violence in their own establishment? Aren’t they supposed to be advising people in a manner as to attract them to the religion? Aren’t they trained enough to deal with violence and avoid it when it uncontrollably erupts? What about those so-called freelancers? Are they trained enough to be able to verify the truth and make sure that a suspected vice is indeed taking place before reporting it to the Commission’s center?
Last year, the Saudi leadership issued a decree announced by Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, that said suspects apprehended by the Commission must be handed over to the regular police for questioning and subsequent trial in a court of law – Islamic law.
The decree underlined that last point on jurisdiction, saying the Commission’s role will end with the arrest. Another decree was also issued that prohibits the Commission members from using cars other than the official ones with the logo.
Based on these facts, is the hiring of freelancers a legal act? What are the limitations of their authority? Isn’t it a sort of interference in people’s private life? What is Islam’s point of view concerning spying by freelancers posing as ordinary citizens like you and me?
Have we got so familiar with the daily scenes of blood and violence in the media that we have become immune to them? Does alcohol trading or any other morality crime justify an act of cruelty or human rights violation?
These questions are not aimed at undermining the Commission’s role or doubting the good intention of its members. It is just a call for a national strategic plan to fighting increasing violence in our society and to establish social studies centers to research into not only this disturbing phenomenon but also the ideal actions that should be taken to establish a healthy and strong relationship between the religious establishments and the community. This relationship should be based on mutual respect, not fear and intimidation.
I believe that the time has come to revise the way religion is used in our government and non-government establishments. The use of religion for interference and imposing guardianship on people should be immediately and officially stopped before things get out of control. Religion is a holy relationship between a person and his God. It should not be imposed by force.
ALLEGED violations and abuse of authority by some members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice are making headlines in Saudi Arabia these days.
Even as readers drew their breath on learning about the death of a young man in the Commission’s center in Riyadh came news of another such death in Tabuk and pictures of a student who, according to his father, was beaten up by Commission members in Najran – all within a period of just 10 days.
Last week, though, as murder investigations got underway against some Commission members on the charge of forced entry into a house and beating to death of a Saudi citizen, Commission officials appealed to the public not to jump to conclusions and asked the media to be fair and balanced in their coverage. Yet, some of them fell into the very same trap they were warning against by defending their colleagues even before the result of the investigation came out.
Media focus on the ways of some the Commission members came almost at the same time as the release of a report by the Saudi National Human Rights Association (NHRA) on the human rights situation in the Kingdom. The report highlights the importance of reviewing the authority given to the Commission since it sees some overlap with the authority given to other government’s establishments. Nevertheless, we are not here to criticize or evaluate the Commission’s authority as this should be left to specialists and based on facts and numbers.
Our discussion here will be limited to the reasons behind the recent rise of violence in Saudi society from the domestic level to a schools, prisons and now the very Commission that is supposed to be guarding the door of Islamic teaching.
Violence between some members of the Commission and citizens is not something new. The media has been reporting such cases of violence but none of them has reached the level of death in custody.
In the days ahead, we will know whether the Commission members are guilty or innocent. The question that will remain though is, what led the advocates of religion to violence in their own establishment? Aren’t they supposed to be advising people in a manner as to attract them to the religion? Aren’t they trained enough to deal with violence and avoid it when it uncontrollably erupts? What about those so-called freelancers? Are they trained enough to be able to verify the truth and make sure that a suspected vice is indeed taking place before reporting it to the Commission’s center?
Last year, the Saudi leadership issued a decree announced by Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, that said suspects apprehended by the Commission must be handed over to the regular police for questioning and subsequent trial in a court of law – Islamic law.
The decree underlined that last point on jurisdiction, saying the Commission’s role will end with the arrest. Another decree was also issued that prohibits the Commission members from using cars other than the official ones with the logo.
Based on these facts, is the hiring of freelancers a legal act? What are the limitations of their authority? Isn’t it a sort of interference in people’s private life? What is Islam’s point of view concerning spying by freelancers posing as ordinary citizens like you and me?
Have we got so familiar with the daily scenes of blood and violence in the media that we have become immune to them? Does alcohol trading or any other morality crime justify an act of cruelty or human rights violation?
These questions are not aimed at undermining the Commission’s role or doubting the good intention of its members. It is just a call for a national strategic plan to fighting increasing violence in our society and to establish social studies centers to research into not only this disturbing phenomenon but also the ideal actions that should be taken to establish a healthy and strong relationship between the religious establishments and the community. This relationship should be based on mutual respect, not fear and intimidation.
I believe that the time has come to revise the way religion is used in our government and non-government establishments. The use of religion for interference and imposing guardianship on people should be immediately and officially stopped before things get out of control. Religion is a holy relationship between a person and his God. It should not be imposed by force.
What after the Saudi Human Rights Report
IT’S not news to say that Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country that bases its constitution on the Islamic Shariah. It governs every single aspect of daily life in Saudi Arabia. It also sets out the system of government and rights of citizens.
Shariah has always guaranteed integration of human rights in every time and place. However, people in Saudi Arabia still cannot understand the idea that Islam is the same but its followers and its practice have been changing with time.
They still cannot believe that human rights might be violated in a country that bases its basic law on Islamic regulations. Thus, they have always been reluctant to take any steps towards issuing regulations that protect those rights and set penalties against their violators.
On Sunday, however, the Saudi National Human Rights Association (NHRA) published its report about the situation of human rights in the country. The report was the first since the establishment of the newly formed government-affiliated association.
Reading the report one cannot help but admire the noticeable transparency and the accuracy of the information given, especially if we compare it to those published by foreign organizations. To Saudis, those reports are, in most of cases, biased and superficial. They focus on controversial topics that Muslims deem non-negotiable. This fact and others have always created a strong negative and defensive reaction in Saudi society. It has also led to rejection of the reports regardless of their significance as an indicator of the way the world look at us.
But this should not necessarily be the case with the NHRA report as it is conducted and published by a Saudi government association. This gives the report more credibility and acceptance among Saudis.
It covers almost all areas where human rights might possibly be or are violated in the country. For instance, The Saudi judicial system has been recently criticized for not meeting the increasing demands of the rapid social change in the Kingdom. Complains are escalating about the reluctance to establish a family court that would help in solve the problem of delay in finalizing cases related to divorce and child custody.
Women’s situation inside the Saudi court has also been criticized and characterized as being biased. In most court proceedings, such as those involving divorce and family law, women are asked to deputize male relatives to speak on their behalf, which affects the verdict. No one better represents the woman than herself.
The report tackles issues emphasizing the importance of having an independent judicial system as well as protecting judges from pressure and interference. At the same time, it stresses the necessity of holding judges accountable for falling short in carrying out their duties.
The rights of the minorities in the country and the importance of finding out speedy solutions for their complains is also part of the report’s focus. The high percentage of unemployment, the outcome of education in its present form and discrimination against women covered a respectable part of the report.
The inappropriateness of the sponsorship system that governs citizen-expatriate relationship is also criticized. In fact, the report calls for abolishing that system, characterizing it as a violation of human rights.
It also calls for reviewing the authority given to the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. It states that such authority should be accurately reviewed and rewritten in a way that prevents possible abuse.
Generally speaking, the report is objective and touches the pain and sufferings of Saudi society. It reflects the transparency and patriotism of those who worked on collecting and reporting the facts. But since the association is only a supervising body that has no executive authority, the report will remain in word only, which will end up in locked drawers unless officials in the government bodies concerned use it as guideline for reform and change.
There should be a committee working under the umbrella of the Cabinet to follow up such reports and make sure that human rights violations are stopped or at least addressed. This committee should be given the authority to issue penalties against the government departments or ministries that do not act to prevent violations. It should report directly to the King so as to guarantee its independence.
Shariah has always guaranteed integration of human rights in every time and place. However, people in Saudi Arabia still cannot understand the idea that Islam is the same but its followers and its practice have been changing with time.
They still cannot believe that human rights might be violated in a country that bases its basic law on Islamic regulations. Thus, they have always been reluctant to take any steps towards issuing regulations that protect those rights and set penalties against their violators.
On Sunday, however, the Saudi National Human Rights Association (NHRA) published its report about the situation of human rights in the country. The report was the first since the establishment of the newly formed government-affiliated association.
Reading the report one cannot help but admire the noticeable transparency and the accuracy of the information given, especially if we compare it to those published by foreign organizations. To Saudis, those reports are, in most of cases, biased and superficial. They focus on controversial topics that Muslims deem non-negotiable. This fact and others have always created a strong negative and defensive reaction in Saudi society. It has also led to rejection of the reports regardless of their significance as an indicator of the way the world look at us.
But this should not necessarily be the case with the NHRA report as it is conducted and published by a Saudi government association. This gives the report more credibility and acceptance among Saudis.
It covers almost all areas where human rights might possibly be or are violated in the country. For instance, The Saudi judicial system has been recently criticized for not meeting the increasing demands of the rapid social change in the Kingdom. Complains are escalating about the reluctance to establish a family court that would help in solve the problem of delay in finalizing cases related to divorce and child custody.
Women’s situation inside the Saudi court has also been criticized and characterized as being biased. In most court proceedings, such as those involving divorce and family law, women are asked to deputize male relatives to speak on their behalf, which affects the verdict. No one better represents the woman than herself.
The report tackles issues emphasizing the importance of having an independent judicial system as well as protecting judges from pressure and interference. At the same time, it stresses the necessity of holding judges accountable for falling short in carrying out their duties.
The rights of the minorities in the country and the importance of finding out speedy solutions for their complains is also part of the report’s focus. The high percentage of unemployment, the outcome of education in its present form and discrimination against women covered a respectable part of the report.
The inappropriateness of the sponsorship system that governs citizen-expatriate relationship is also criticized. In fact, the report calls for abolishing that system, characterizing it as a violation of human rights.
It also calls for reviewing the authority given to the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. It states that such authority should be accurately reviewed and rewritten in a way that prevents possible abuse.
Generally speaking, the report is objective and touches the pain and sufferings of Saudi society. It reflects the transparency and patriotism of those who worked on collecting and reporting the facts. But since the association is only a supervising body that has no executive authority, the report will remain in word only, which will end up in locked drawers unless officials in the government bodies concerned use it as guideline for reform and change.
There should be a committee working under the umbrella of the Cabinet to follow up such reports and make sure that human rights violations are stopped or at least addressed. This committee should be given the authority to issue penalties against the government departments or ministries that do not act to prevent violations. It should report directly to the King so as to guarantee its independence.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Saudi Women in the Media
Friday, 04 May 2007
2-day forum takes up issues of gender bias, rights
By Suzan Zawawi
Saudi Gazette
RIGHTS of journalists, obstacles facing female journalists, ethics of Arab journalism and the limited training were some of the issues touched upon by Saudi female journalists in Riyadh Wednesday night.
The two-day forum on "Saudi Women in the Media" was organized and sponsored by writer and journalist Nahed Bashatah, head of the Saudi Women's Information Center.
Saudi women in the field of information and multimedia are known for their struggle to succeed in spite of the fact that they do not have a role in decision-making, said Bashatah. "They do their best in the face of all odds, to continue doing their job to the highest possible standards."
The aim of the annual forum is to support female journalists and encourage them, said Bashatah.
This year's theme was, "how the women and the trends of multimedia impact on economic and social development."
The forum, which was inaugurated by Princess Adelah Bint Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, was a rare gathering of female media professionals from all over the country.
Among the speakers were Hayam Al-Kilani, the first female TV program director; Nawal Bahksh, head of the female section of Radio Riyadh; Sultanah Al-Sudery, a prominent writer and intellectual; Sabria Jawhar of the Saudi Gazette; and Qubul Al-Hajiri, of Ilaf electronic newspaper.
"I would like to make the point that physical segregation should never mean intellectual separation," said Princess Hissa bint Salman bin Abdulaziz, the forum's executive head during her inauguration speech.
"If one adds to this the facts that Saudi media women have the responsibility of reflecting a clear picture of this separate world, one will realize how important is the availability of women specialized in journalism's various branches; economic, political, social, educational, health and sports," said Princess Hissa.
Journalists' rights was the focus of Jawhar's paper. "Through my research for this paper, it became clear that it is very difficult to obtain a list of media regulations. I couldn't even find it on the Ministry of Information website," she said.
The unclear media regulations have resulted in diverse practices in media organizations, said Jawhar.
While male journalists themselves face some problems regarding their rights being violated, female journalists and freelancers face discrimination mostly in terms of low salaries, copyright violations, transportation benefits and protection.
There are no clear regulations that govern the world of freelancers, payment and promotion system, she said.
Another problem is the lack of a monitoring authority that supervises the implementation of ranking scale and structure within a media organization when they do exist which opens a door for manipulation, she said.
After her paper, many freelancers presented their personal story of years of discrimination. Fatimah Al-Anizi, from Radio Riyadh, complained of working for 17 years as a freelancer without being hired fulltime.
After hearing the plight of female freelancers, Princess Adelah requested Anizi and others to document their situation so that she could address the appropriate authorities.
2-day forum takes up issues of gender bias, rights
By Suzan Zawawi
Saudi Gazette
RIGHTS of journalists, obstacles facing female journalists, ethics of Arab journalism and the limited training were some of the issues touched upon by Saudi female journalists in Riyadh Wednesday night.
The two-day forum on "Saudi Women in the Media" was organized and sponsored by writer and journalist Nahed Bashatah, head of the Saudi Women's Information Center.
Saudi women in the field of information and multimedia are known for their struggle to succeed in spite of the fact that they do not have a role in decision-making, said Bashatah. "They do their best in the face of all odds, to continue doing their job to the highest possible standards."
The aim of the annual forum is to support female journalists and encourage them, said Bashatah.
This year's theme was, "how the women and the trends of multimedia impact on economic and social development."
The forum, which was inaugurated by Princess Adelah Bint Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, was a rare gathering of female media professionals from all over the country.
Among the speakers were Hayam Al-Kilani, the first female TV program director; Nawal Bahksh, head of the female section of Radio Riyadh; Sultanah Al-Sudery, a prominent writer and intellectual; Sabria Jawhar of the Saudi Gazette; and Qubul Al-Hajiri, of Ilaf electronic newspaper.
"I would like to make the point that physical segregation should never mean intellectual separation," said Princess Hissa bint Salman bin Abdulaziz, the forum's executive head during her inauguration speech.
"If one adds to this the facts that Saudi media women have the responsibility of reflecting a clear picture of this separate world, one will realize how important is the availability of women specialized in journalism's various branches; economic, political, social, educational, health and sports," said Princess Hissa.
Journalists' rights was the focus of Jawhar's paper. "Through my research for this paper, it became clear that it is very difficult to obtain a list of media regulations. I couldn't even find it on the Ministry of Information website," she said.
The unclear media regulations have resulted in diverse practices in media organizations, said Jawhar.
While male journalists themselves face some problems regarding their rights being violated, female journalists and freelancers face discrimination mostly in terms of low salaries, copyright violations, transportation benefits and protection.
There are no clear regulations that govern the world of freelancers, payment and promotion system, she said.
Another problem is the lack of a monitoring authority that supervises the implementation of ranking scale and structure within a media organization when they do exist which opens a door for manipulation, she said.
After her paper, many freelancers presented their personal story of years of discrimination. Fatimah Al-Anizi, from Radio Riyadh, complained of working for 17 years as a freelancer without being hired fulltime.
After hearing the plight of female freelancers, Princess Adelah requested Anizi and others to document their situation so that she could address the appropriate authorities.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
A Fatwa on Organ Transplant Needed
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
By Sabria S. Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
KIDNEY failure continues to increase as a phenomenon all over the world, and Saudi Arabia is no different. Almost 3,000 people in the Kingdom alone need a transplant of a healthy kidney in order to live.
However, a health official says a Fatwa (verdict) is needed that would allow doctors to use the body parts of dead patient or a brain dead one.
Faisal A. Shaheen, director-general of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation, said that issuing such a decision would largely help the Kingdom's government reduce the long waiting list for kidney transplants.
He said that there are almost 450 confirmed brain dead cases in Saudi hospitals.
Issuing a Fatwa would provide as many as 450 hearts and livers in good enough shape for transplant. It could also provide 900 kidneys, more than a third of the current waiting list.
Currently, the Ministry of Health spends almost SR1 billion annually on renal patients inside its hospitals. Each patient costs the government almost SR100,000 a year.
"It will also help in putting an end to the accumulation of the cases inside Saudi hospitals that cost the country a huge amount of money and effort," he said.
The Saudi community lacks awareness of the importance of organ donation, Shaheen said.
In contrast, in the West doctors are even entitled to use the body parts of a deceased donor immediately after his death, without consulting the family, if he elects to become a donor.
There are three million donor cards in Saudi Arabia, but these cannot be used without family's permission of the deceased.
"Here, and according to Shariah, permission of close relatives should be obtained before the use of any body part," he said.
The Saudi Commission of Senior Ulama (scholars) recently permitted tissue and organ transplantation from both living donors and cadavers. The decision marked a new era in organ transplantation in the Kingdom; however, with no crystal-clear Fatwa urging people to donate, the decision has been interpreted in many different ways.
In October 2006, a law was passed in Saudi Arabia to allow and compensate unrelated donors. The government, in cooperation with Prince Fahd Bin Salman Charity, has decided to offer life-long benefits to the donors, including lifetime medical care.
The law aims at stopping Saudi citizens from traveling abroad to Asian countries such to receive organ transplants, which might make them victims of scams or expose them to a variety of health problems.
To regulate live unrelated organ donation without a commercial transaction, Shaheen said, Saudi Arabia formed a committee that meets with the unrelated living donor and interviews him at least three times to make sure that he is donating out of his conscience and with complete willingness - not out of poverty, need or pressure.
The law is now in its final stages, after having been approved by the cabinet. The final stage, he said, is the approval of the Health Service Council chaired by the Minister of Health.
"Our main concern is how to make this new agreement purely altruistic," Shaheen said.
If approved, the law is expected to provide at least 400 kidneys yearly, which will go a long way toward ending organ shortages in the Kingdom, he said.
By Sabria S. Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
KIDNEY failure continues to increase as a phenomenon all over the world, and Saudi Arabia is no different. Almost 3,000 people in the Kingdom alone need a transplant of a healthy kidney in order to live.
However, a health official says a Fatwa (verdict) is needed that would allow doctors to use the body parts of dead patient or a brain dead one.
Faisal A. Shaheen, director-general of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation, said that issuing such a decision would largely help the Kingdom's government reduce the long waiting list for kidney transplants.
He said that there are almost 450 confirmed brain dead cases in Saudi hospitals.
Issuing a Fatwa would provide as many as 450 hearts and livers in good enough shape for transplant. It could also provide 900 kidneys, more than a third of the current waiting list.
Currently, the Ministry of Health spends almost SR1 billion annually on renal patients inside its hospitals. Each patient costs the government almost SR100,000 a year.
"It will also help in putting an end to the accumulation of the cases inside Saudi hospitals that cost the country a huge amount of money and effort," he said.
The Saudi community lacks awareness of the importance of organ donation, Shaheen said.
In contrast, in the West doctors are even entitled to use the body parts of a deceased donor immediately after his death, without consulting the family, if he elects to become a donor.
There are three million donor cards in Saudi Arabia, but these cannot be used without family's permission of the deceased.
"Here, and according to Shariah, permission of close relatives should be obtained before the use of any body part," he said.
The Saudi Commission of Senior Ulama (scholars) recently permitted tissue and organ transplantation from both living donors and cadavers. The decision marked a new era in organ transplantation in the Kingdom; however, with no crystal-clear Fatwa urging people to donate, the decision has been interpreted in many different ways.
In October 2006, a law was passed in Saudi Arabia to allow and compensate unrelated donors. The government, in cooperation with Prince Fahd Bin Salman Charity, has decided to offer life-long benefits to the donors, including lifetime medical care.
The law aims at stopping Saudi citizens from traveling abroad to Asian countries such to receive organ transplants, which might make them victims of scams or expose them to a variety of health problems.
To regulate live unrelated organ donation without a commercial transaction, Shaheen said, Saudi Arabia formed a committee that meets with the unrelated living donor and interviews him at least three times to make sure that he is donating out of his conscience and with complete willingness - not out of poverty, need or pressure.
The law is now in its final stages, after having been approved by the cabinet. The final stage, he said, is the approval of the Health Service Council chaired by the Minister of Health.
"Our main concern is how to make this new agreement purely altruistic," Shaheen said.
If approved, the law is expected to provide at least 400 kidneys yearly, which will go a long way toward ending organ shortages in the Kingdom, he said.
Women’s Hotline open
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
By Arjuwan Lakkadawala
The Saudi Gaazette
SAUDI women who find themselves troubled, stressed out or at wit's end, now have a place to turn.
Al-Shaka'ik, an organization dedicated to helping women and girls, has created a hotline women can call for guidance and advice.
Women and girls can call 6917799 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Since the hotline opened, it has received 1,162 calls, mostly marital issues or emotional problems.
"One of our primary aims," said Intesar Salam Al-Sabban of Al-Shaka'ik, "is to give girls and women emotional support so that they can feel mentally stable, which is the only way that they can feel happy. "
In addition to the hotline, Al-Shaka'ik also runs a program that teaches girls how to be successful wives, teaching them the tools that are necessary to handle both the small and the large issues that inevitably crop up in marriages. The girls are also taught cooking and home decoration. The organization also offers programs for mothers, teachers and students.
"When a woman is aware of herself and has received the support of others, not only she will profit but society as a whole will profit, as well," said Nora Khalid Al-Saad, an Al-Shaka'ik member.
By Arjuwan Lakkadawala
The Saudi Gaazette
SAUDI women who find themselves troubled, stressed out or at wit's end, now have a place to turn.
Al-Shaka'ik, an organization dedicated to helping women and girls, has created a hotline women can call for guidance and advice.
Women and girls can call 6917799 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Since the hotline opened, it has received 1,162 calls, mostly marital issues or emotional problems.
"One of our primary aims," said Intesar Salam Al-Sabban of Al-Shaka'ik, "is to give girls and women emotional support so that they can feel mentally stable, which is the only way that they can feel happy. "
In addition to the hotline, Al-Shaka'ik also runs a program that teaches girls how to be successful wives, teaching them the tools that are necessary to handle both the small and the large issues that inevitably crop up in marriages. The girls are also taught cooking and home decoration. The organization also offers programs for mothers, teachers and students.
"When a woman is aware of herself and has received the support of others, not only she will profit but society as a whole will profit, as well," said Nora Khalid Al-Saad, an Al-Shaka'ik member.
What does a Saudi woman want in a man?
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
By Sabria S. Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
Jeddah
Some people say “You don’t know what you want until you see it”. It seems, however, that this is not the situation with Saudi women, especially when it comes to the type of man they are looking for.
What does a Saudi woman want in a man?
To answer this question, the Saudi Gazette interviewed a number of Saudi women whose ages ranged between 21 and 37. Each of the women, though, seemed to be looking for something different. Most of them, however, seem to have given up on their Saudi counterparts, more interested, instead, on looking abroad for love and the qualities they desire in a partner.
Mr. Right, for most of them, is of another Arab or Western nationality. The reasons for giving up Saudi men, however, varied as much as the women’s age groups.
For instance, at the same time that young women like Hawazen Mohammad, 21, a university student, wants a man who is attractive with a jovial nature , others like Shomookh Omar, a 35 teacher, are looking for a man who is appreciative of his wife’s career and more of a partner in daily life.
They all agreed that education, travel, satellite channels and internet have introduced them to a new style of life that is different from what they were used to. They said that now they have points of comparison.
“I am not ready to take any junk just for being Saudi or for the sake of marriage and having children,” Omar said.
Most of the women, though, summarized the characteristics that they want in their man as follows:
A friend
Omar said she wants a man with whom she can discuss every single detail of her life. She does not want him to criticize or prejudge her. She wants him to see the best of her, mainly, her intellect. Put simply. she wants a friend.
“ I don’t care how his body or face look,” Omar said. “ I am an independent woman, so if I like him, I really don't care what my friends or family think.”
Passionate and Romantic
Mona Al Harbi, a 37 year-old teacher, said she does not care about the man’s appearance or even his money. As an independent working woman, she added, all that she cares about is his passion and feelings towards her.
“I want a romantic man who showers me with his sweet words. A man who does not hesitate to cry in front of me. A man that surprises me with even one flower just to say ‘I love you’,” she added.
This does not mean a weak man or with a flaw in his character, she said. On the contrary, she added, I want him to be a "what you see is what you get" type of men.
Loyal
Following a dramatic divorce, Manal Ameen, 33, a private sector employee, has changed her parameters of Mr. Right. She said that she wants a loyal and confident man who is assertive , positive and doesn't dither. She also prefers him to be in his 50s.
“I don’t want him to be sitting next to me and gazing at other women thinking they are better or even different,” she said.
Accept her weirdness
Maha Al Ghamdi, a 21 year-old student, said she wants a guy who accepts her weirdness, loves the crazy moments, and has infinite patience.
“ I want him to be adventurous so that at any moment you would catch us bungee jumping, skiing in Dorat Al Arous or even climbing Taif mountain like monkeys,” she said with a wide smile.
A Loving
Eman Swaileh, a 29 year-old nurse, said she simply wants to be cherished and loved. She wants to demonstrate her love publicly in a way that does not undermine Saudi social traditions, but still shows they are a loving and happy couple.
“ I desire to be encouraged with my dreams, loved for who I am, and adored,” she said. “I want someone who is understanding.”
Overall, she added, she wants a man who will fight for her heart and never stop seeking her love and attention even after marriage. As a nurse and with all the stigma surrounding the profession, she said, she wants a man who will protect her but also let her spread her wings.
“Saudis are pressured by the society around them and can not meet my conditions even if they want to,” she said, “ that’s why I want him to be from any nationality other than Saudi”.
She also expressed readiness to face all the consequences and difficulties that such a marriage would bring, especially at the social and legal level. To find the man she is looking for, she added, she has been mingling and working closely with non-Saudi male colleagues.
“I have never told them about my thoughts because I don’t want to be misjudged or taken advantage of,” she concluded.
Religious
Hanan Abdul Wahid, a 35 year-old teacher, said she wants a man whose behavior is governed by Islamic regulations in every aspect. These days, she said, most of the guys are corrupted and dishonest. Most of them treat their wives like maids.
“If they were following Islamic regulations, they would not have done that to their partners,” she said. “Islam gives women equal rights to men.”
Marrying a religious man, she added, makes a woman at least feel comfortable that she will never be cheated or fooled.
“When a religious man wants another woman he takes the shortest way and gets married to a second wife,” she said. “To know that my husband is married to one good woman is better than sleeping with tens of bad women behind my back.”
Strong personality
Sameera Hassan, a 22 year-old university student, said she wants a man who is a leader by nature, some one who influences everyone he comes in contact with.
“Some guys mix strong personalities with toughness and rudeness, They talk nonsense and think they are making an impression,” she said. “We (girls), sometimes keep silent not because we are impressed but because we believe deep inside that they are a hopeless case so we enjoy watching them being cocky .”
Generous but responsible
Sarah Al Jehani, a 30 year-old social worker, said she doesn’t want a mean man who is expecting her to spend money on him. She wants him to buy her gifts just to tell her that he was thinking of her, not necessarily expensive ones, she added. She wants him to take her to fancy restaurants, particularly on special occasions. She wants him to be proud of her walking next to him, not to walk 10 meters ahead from her.
“When we are in a restaurant and the bill comes, I don’t want him to pretend that he forgot his wallet or to withdraw cash just to force me to pay,” she said.
Yet, to her, it is difficult these days to differentiate the real gentleman from the jerk. They all know perfectly how to act until the girl is dragged into the marriage trap. Some of them, she said, spend like crazy before marriage but once married, he makes his wife pay all the bills including that of his own car .
“I want to pay because I want to, not because I have to,” she added.
Maturity
Abeer Nassar, a 28 year-old teacher, wants a mature man who knows exactly what he wants in life and chooses her accordingly.
“ Maturity is one reason that quite a lot of women find older men attractive,” she said
Abeer has always been attracted to older men despite her young age. Yet she doesn’t want a man who oppresses her or clips her wings under the excuse of maturity.
By Sabria S. Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
Jeddah
Some people say “You don’t know what you want until you see it”. It seems, however, that this is not the situation with Saudi women, especially when it comes to the type of man they are looking for.
What does a Saudi woman want in a man?
To answer this question, the Saudi Gazette interviewed a number of Saudi women whose ages ranged between 21 and 37. Each of the women, though, seemed to be looking for something different. Most of them, however, seem to have given up on their Saudi counterparts, more interested, instead, on looking abroad for love and the qualities they desire in a partner.
Mr. Right, for most of them, is of another Arab or Western nationality. The reasons for giving up Saudi men, however, varied as much as the women’s age groups.
For instance, at the same time that young women like Hawazen Mohammad, 21, a university student, wants a man who is attractive with a jovial nature , others like Shomookh Omar, a 35 teacher, are looking for a man who is appreciative of his wife’s career and more of a partner in daily life.
They all agreed that education, travel, satellite channels and internet have introduced them to a new style of life that is different from what they were used to. They said that now they have points of comparison.
“I am not ready to take any junk just for being Saudi or for the sake of marriage and having children,” Omar said.
Most of the women, though, summarized the characteristics that they want in their man as follows:
A friend
Omar said she wants a man with whom she can discuss every single detail of her life. She does not want him to criticize or prejudge her. She wants him to see the best of her, mainly, her intellect. Put simply. she wants a friend.
“ I don’t care how his body or face look,” Omar said. “ I am an independent woman, so if I like him, I really don't care what my friends or family think.”
Passionate and Romantic
Mona Al Harbi, a 37 year-old teacher, said she does not care about the man’s appearance or even his money. As an independent working woman, she added, all that she cares about is his passion and feelings towards her.
“I want a romantic man who showers me with his sweet words. A man who does not hesitate to cry in front of me. A man that surprises me with even one flower just to say ‘I love you’,” she added.
This does not mean a weak man or with a flaw in his character, she said. On the contrary, she added, I want him to be a "what you see is what you get" type of men.
Loyal
Following a dramatic divorce, Manal Ameen, 33, a private sector employee, has changed her parameters of Mr. Right. She said that she wants a loyal and confident man who is assertive , positive and doesn't dither. She also prefers him to be in his 50s.
“I don’t want him to be sitting next to me and gazing at other women thinking they are better or even different,” she said.
Accept her weirdness
Maha Al Ghamdi, a 21 year-old student, said she wants a guy who accepts her weirdness, loves the crazy moments, and has infinite patience.
“ I want him to be adventurous so that at any moment you would catch us bungee jumping, skiing in Dorat Al Arous or even climbing Taif mountain like monkeys,” she said with a wide smile.
A Loving
Eman Swaileh, a 29 year-old nurse, said she simply wants to be cherished and loved. She wants to demonstrate her love publicly in a way that does not undermine Saudi social traditions, but still shows they are a loving and happy couple.
“ I desire to be encouraged with my dreams, loved for who I am, and adored,” she said. “I want someone who is understanding.”
Overall, she added, she wants a man who will fight for her heart and never stop seeking her love and attention even after marriage. As a nurse and with all the stigma surrounding the profession, she said, she wants a man who will protect her but also let her spread her wings.
“Saudis are pressured by the society around them and can not meet my conditions even if they want to,” she said, “ that’s why I want him to be from any nationality other than Saudi”.
She also expressed readiness to face all the consequences and difficulties that such a marriage would bring, especially at the social and legal level. To find the man she is looking for, she added, she has been mingling and working closely with non-Saudi male colleagues.
“I have never told them about my thoughts because I don’t want to be misjudged or taken advantage of,” she concluded.
Religious
Hanan Abdul Wahid, a 35 year-old teacher, said she wants a man whose behavior is governed by Islamic regulations in every aspect. These days, she said, most of the guys are corrupted and dishonest. Most of them treat their wives like maids.
“If they were following Islamic regulations, they would not have done that to their partners,” she said. “Islam gives women equal rights to men.”
Marrying a religious man, she added, makes a woman at least feel comfortable that she will never be cheated or fooled.
“When a religious man wants another woman he takes the shortest way and gets married to a second wife,” she said. “To know that my husband is married to one good woman is better than sleeping with tens of bad women behind my back.”
Strong personality
Sameera Hassan, a 22 year-old university student, said she wants a man who is a leader by nature, some one who influences everyone he comes in contact with.
“Some guys mix strong personalities with toughness and rudeness, They talk nonsense and think they are making an impression,” she said. “We (girls), sometimes keep silent not because we are impressed but because we believe deep inside that they are a hopeless case so we enjoy watching them being cocky .”
Generous but responsible
Sarah Al Jehani, a 30 year-old social worker, said she doesn’t want a mean man who is expecting her to spend money on him. She wants him to buy her gifts just to tell her that he was thinking of her, not necessarily expensive ones, she added. She wants him to take her to fancy restaurants, particularly on special occasions. She wants him to be proud of her walking next to him, not to walk 10 meters ahead from her.
“When we are in a restaurant and the bill comes, I don’t want him to pretend that he forgot his wallet or to withdraw cash just to force me to pay,” she said.
Yet, to her, it is difficult these days to differentiate the real gentleman from the jerk. They all know perfectly how to act until the girl is dragged into the marriage trap. Some of them, she said, spend like crazy before marriage but once married, he makes his wife pay all the bills including that of his own car .
“I want to pay because I want to, not because I have to,” she added.
Maturity
Abeer Nassar, a 28 year-old teacher, wants a mature man who knows exactly what he wants in life and chooses her accordingly.
“ Maturity is one reason that quite a lot of women find older men attractive,” she said
Abeer has always been attracted to older men despite her young age. Yet she doesn’t want a man who oppresses her or clips her wings under the excuse of maturity.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Violence inside our schools
Tuesday. April 10.
The Saudi Gazette
Sabria S. Jawhar
Schools should be a safe and secure place not only for students but also for teachers, and staff members. Without the feeling of security, teachers wouldn’t be able to carry out their mission of teaching and shaping their students’ personalities.
However, recently, a series of cases of student violence against teachers have been reported by the local media in a shocking way. Those reports indicate a dramatic increase in violence inside our schools which arise serious concerns about challenges to the authority of teachers and educational institutions.
When intermediate school students, for instance, knock down and kick their teacher inside the class room till he falls unconscious , we have to investigate the reasons and question the environment inside that particular school.
underestimating the phenomenon and calling it “rare”, as some officials from the ministry of education did, is unacceptable. Some officials went as far as looking for excuses and explanations for the students’ bad behavior of assaulting their teachers.
How could they assume that the number of cases is limited while the reality is that we don’t even have figures for them? If they do, why didn’t they reveal them.
What is worse is that those officials failed even to provide concrete measures to prevent violence and protect teachers' authority and educational rights in the future.
They did not even bother themselves condemning it or talking about the possible punishments for that particular group of students.
It is well-known, though, that some directors refuse to report violent incidents inside their schools to education authorities thinking that this would ruin their reputation and make them look bad. But what have we done about those cases that have been already talked about in the media?
Given the long-standing tradition of reverence for teachers and of respect for the institutions of education throughout the Saudi history, those incidents in which students attacked their teachers should be viewed as a major change in both the society and the concept of education. They should not be overlooked and more focus should be placed on conducting scientific research about them. Overlooking and considering them as rare will help in nothing but increasing their occurrence and turning our schools into dangerous places. Speak not about the possible produced generation.
This is not to single out Saudi schools form those in the rest of the world. Actually, in 2006, the number of reported attacks against teachers in England reached 221cases. Roughly, a teacher falls victim to a serious assault every single working day.
Does this mean that we should let those cases go as an international phenomenon? The answer is definitely No.
Our students have to be made to understand that the law applies inside the school gates just the same as outside. It should be clear that violent attacks against teachers are completely unacceptable and must be prosecuted.
We need to take strong action where there's serious violence against teachers. Schools should be given the right to take tough action to remove or prosecute any student who is behaving in an aggressive way.
Sentencing guidelines should be issued to make it a more serious offence to assault school staff inside or outside the establishment.
There should be social workers or psychiatrists in those schools where children seem to be damaged or poorly socialized in order to help them to cope in a school environment.
Teachers should not be the only ones who take the blame for parental failure especially with the absence of effective disciplinary sanctions to support them.
Its true that some teachers are exaggerating in their use of authority the thing that might make children victims of violence and abuse. But this could be attributed to the lack of adequate training to deal with behavior difficulties of students and should call for more training for teachers. Simply the teacher’s power of discipline in our schools should not be a paper tiger.
The Saudi Gazette
Sabria S. Jawhar
Schools should be a safe and secure place not only for students but also for teachers, and staff members. Without the feeling of security, teachers wouldn’t be able to carry out their mission of teaching and shaping their students’ personalities.
However, recently, a series of cases of student violence against teachers have been reported by the local media in a shocking way. Those reports indicate a dramatic increase in violence inside our schools which arise serious concerns about challenges to the authority of teachers and educational institutions.
When intermediate school students, for instance, knock down and kick their teacher inside the class room till he falls unconscious , we have to investigate the reasons and question the environment inside that particular school.
underestimating the phenomenon and calling it “rare”, as some officials from the ministry of education did, is unacceptable. Some officials went as far as looking for excuses and explanations for the students’ bad behavior of assaulting their teachers.
How could they assume that the number of cases is limited while the reality is that we don’t even have figures for them? If they do, why didn’t they reveal them.
What is worse is that those officials failed even to provide concrete measures to prevent violence and protect teachers' authority and educational rights in the future.
They did not even bother themselves condemning it or talking about the possible punishments for that particular group of students.
It is well-known, though, that some directors refuse to report violent incidents inside their schools to education authorities thinking that this would ruin their reputation and make them look bad. But what have we done about those cases that have been already talked about in the media?
Given the long-standing tradition of reverence for teachers and of respect for the institutions of education throughout the Saudi history, those incidents in which students attacked their teachers should be viewed as a major change in both the society and the concept of education. They should not be overlooked and more focus should be placed on conducting scientific research about them. Overlooking and considering them as rare will help in nothing but increasing their occurrence and turning our schools into dangerous places. Speak not about the possible produced generation.
This is not to single out Saudi schools form those in the rest of the world. Actually, in 2006, the number of reported attacks against teachers in England reached 221cases. Roughly, a teacher falls victim to a serious assault every single working day.
Does this mean that we should let those cases go as an international phenomenon? The answer is definitely No.
Our students have to be made to understand that the law applies inside the school gates just the same as outside. It should be clear that violent attacks against teachers are completely unacceptable and must be prosecuted.
We need to take strong action where there's serious violence against teachers. Schools should be given the right to take tough action to remove or prosecute any student who is behaving in an aggressive way.
Sentencing guidelines should be issued to make it a more serious offence to assault school staff inside or outside the establishment.
There should be social workers or psychiatrists in those schools where children seem to be damaged or poorly socialized in order to help them to cope in a school environment.
Teachers should not be the only ones who take the blame for parental failure especially with the absence of effective disciplinary sanctions to support them.
Its true that some teachers are exaggerating in their use of authority the thing that might make children victims of violence and abuse. But this could be attributed to the lack of adequate training to deal with behavior difficulties of students and should call for more training for teachers. Simply the teacher’s power of discipline in our schools should not be a paper tiger.
King offers inspiration, now get the job done
Thusday. April,17.
The Saudi Gazette
Jeddah
Last Sunday, was not just a normal day in the Shoura Council where members meet to discuss governmental systems, statues and performance. It was the annual day when the King reviews about country’s internal and external strategies for the coming year.
King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz’s speech this year was concise and comprehensive. It covered all areas of interest for citizens as well as the world. With wisdom and experience, the King provided the Shoura members with the outlines to define the means to meet the challenges expected in the coming years.
Even the newly emerging problem of nuclear weapons in the region was covered in the speech. The King reiterated the Kingdom’s stand that calls for freeing the region from nuclear weapons while giving every country the right to develop nuclear capability for civilian purposes, within the framework of its international commitments and respect for non-proliferation rules.
The King also created a climate of confidence for business by assuring his support to the growing private sector in a way as to attract more foreign investment. Oil price equilibrium was part of the King’s concern and he assured the world that the Kingdom seeks to achieve fair oil prices in the interest of both producers and consumers.
He confirmed the Shoura Council’s effective participation in the country’s development process. In recent years, the Shoura has enacted a series of regulations to advance the reform process the King has committed himself to. Moreover, they opened their sessions to the public and engaged in monitoring the performance of governmental establishments, thereby introducing the Saudi community to the concept of transparency.
Yet, there are still certain areas where the Shoura was sort of reluctant to take the lead in. For instance, the Shoura failed to discuss some controversial issues such as those related to women driving or having them included as full-fledged members in the Shoura rather than part time consultants.
It also failed to suggest a practical solution to solve or ease the tension of millions of Saudi citizens, whom it supposed to be serving, over the stock market crises that struck early last year.
What’s meant is not criticism of the Shoura but rather, what the council and the other government establishments should learn from the King’s speech.
I believe that any issue that Shoura discuss in future should be inspired by the King’s speech that reflected respect for dialogue and negotiation in a spirit of community solidarity.
His words about sustainable development, uprooting terrorism, goals of the Millennium and the coming phase of growth should be the base upon which officials work in the coming years. They have to avoid rushed or unstudied decisions that feed tension and resentments, fire passions, and give free rein to all those who proclaim ideologies of violence and confrontation.
The King did not exclude women throughout his speech and talked about the citizen in general, as a genderless concept. This means that we have to overcome our fears and be serious bout including women as active members in our social and political life.
The King’s use of a neutral term implies that both genders are included, without any of the discrimination or reservation some officials impose in implementation of decrees simply because they are victims of social perception and pressure.
The fact that the King’s speech was preceded by a decision to hire the first Saudi female as a president of a university to join the 18 male members of the Council of Higher Education, will help create a remarkable climate of confidence in the Saudi woman’s ability not only to manage her own affairs but also to lead minds.
Having a woman as part of the body entrusted with education policy is a deep message to those who question women’s ability. So it goes by default that if we trust women with formulating the policies to shape future generations, we have to trust their judgment on other issues.
It’s time for the Shoura Council to intensify its discussions and efforts to encourage the community to shoulder its responsibilities, in particular regarding statues on women. I am referring, in particular, to broadening their participation in decision making at all levels, which requires urgent mobilization of the King’s innovative mechanisms of introducing a new image for the Saudi woman.
The Saudi Gazette
Jeddah
Last Sunday, was not just a normal day in the Shoura Council where members meet to discuss governmental systems, statues and performance. It was the annual day when the King reviews about country’s internal and external strategies for the coming year.
King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz’s speech this year was concise and comprehensive. It covered all areas of interest for citizens as well as the world. With wisdom and experience, the King provided the Shoura members with the outlines to define the means to meet the challenges expected in the coming years.
Even the newly emerging problem of nuclear weapons in the region was covered in the speech. The King reiterated the Kingdom’s stand that calls for freeing the region from nuclear weapons while giving every country the right to develop nuclear capability for civilian purposes, within the framework of its international commitments and respect for non-proliferation rules.
The King also created a climate of confidence for business by assuring his support to the growing private sector in a way as to attract more foreign investment. Oil price equilibrium was part of the King’s concern and he assured the world that the Kingdom seeks to achieve fair oil prices in the interest of both producers and consumers.
He confirmed the Shoura Council’s effective participation in the country’s development process. In recent years, the Shoura has enacted a series of regulations to advance the reform process the King has committed himself to. Moreover, they opened their sessions to the public and engaged in monitoring the performance of governmental establishments, thereby introducing the Saudi community to the concept of transparency.
Yet, there are still certain areas where the Shoura was sort of reluctant to take the lead in. For instance, the Shoura failed to discuss some controversial issues such as those related to women driving or having them included as full-fledged members in the Shoura rather than part time consultants.
It also failed to suggest a practical solution to solve or ease the tension of millions of Saudi citizens, whom it supposed to be serving, over the stock market crises that struck early last year.
What’s meant is not criticism of the Shoura but rather, what the council and the other government establishments should learn from the King’s speech.
I believe that any issue that Shoura discuss in future should be inspired by the King’s speech that reflected respect for dialogue and negotiation in a spirit of community solidarity.
His words about sustainable development, uprooting terrorism, goals of the Millennium and the coming phase of growth should be the base upon which officials work in the coming years. They have to avoid rushed or unstudied decisions that feed tension and resentments, fire passions, and give free rein to all those who proclaim ideologies of violence and confrontation.
The King did not exclude women throughout his speech and talked about the citizen in general, as a genderless concept. This means that we have to overcome our fears and be serious bout including women as active members in our social and political life.
The King’s use of a neutral term implies that both genders are included, without any of the discrimination or reservation some officials impose in implementation of decrees simply because they are victims of social perception and pressure.
The fact that the King’s speech was preceded by a decision to hire the first Saudi female as a president of a university to join the 18 male members of the Council of Higher Education, will help create a remarkable climate of confidence in the Saudi woman’s ability not only to manage her own affairs but also to lead minds.
Having a woman as part of the body entrusted with education policy is a deep message to those who question women’s ability. So it goes by default that if we trust women with formulating the policies to shape future generations, we have to trust their judgment on other issues.
It’s time for the Shoura Council to intensify its discussions and efforts to encourage the community to shoulder its responsibilities, in particular regarding statues on women. I am referring, in particular, to broadening their participation in decision making at all levels, which requires urgent mobilization of the King’s innovative mechanisms of introducing a new image for the Saudi woman.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Khamis Girl Pardoned
Khamis Girl Pardoned
Friday, 13 April 2007
The Saudi Gazette
KHAMIS MUSHAYT
The eight-year saga of a woman who had been jailed for murder in Khamis Mushayt came to a happy ending on Thursday when the family of the victim agreed to spare her life after vigorous mediation efforts.
Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz and Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, the Emir of Asir Region, were at the forefront of the mediators to talk the victim’s family into sparing the life of the woman, known as Samira.
Hussein Bin Said Bin Mushait, the chief of the Shahrani tribe, called the elders of the tribes dwelling in the southern region to his home early on Thursday morning, as is the norm in tribal common law, and embarked on helping the family of the victim and that of Samira’s.
The victim’s family agreed to spare her life on the condition that 50 of her family would swear that they had not been involved in her crime, among other things, as a precondition to sign the document of final concession.
However, the family of the victim later decided to go one better: They spared Samira’s tribe the burden to take the oath, but said that only the immediate families of Samira and her husband should swear that they never participated in the murder or knew about it at the time.
Early birds
The tribal delegations began to flock to Bin Mushait’s house early on Thursday morning, coming from all over the southern region. First to arriver were the elders and dignitaries of the tribes. They were later shown in the so-called “round table of right,” a tribal tradition used to discuss and settle all kinds of disputes.
Said Bin Ahmed Al-Shahrani, director of the Scientific Institute in Khamis Mushait, started with a brief speech in which he asked Samira’s family for forgiveness and tolerance.
Then, Bin Mushait responded with his own speech.
“All hopes and aspirations are aimed at forgiveness for the daughter of the Murait family,” he said. “The dignitaries and elders of the (Asir) region have made their utmost efforts to bring about a pardon for her, and it was meant to happen on the hands of a man of honor and generosity – Crown Prince Sultan. His efforts were not in vain with the follow-up of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.”
Dhafer Bin Khulais, a member of the victim’s tribe, responded with a speech on behalf of his tribe, in which he announced the tribe’s pardon to Samira.
“We are honored and grateful to God today for his blessing, as we are happy to announce to you that we have pardoned the killer (Samira) of our late brother, Khaled Bin Mohammed Al Khulais.”
He then heaped praise on Crown Prince Sultan for his efforts to bring the two families together.
“You are a man of honor and a glorious pedigree, a prince of hearts in times of plight, and we shall not forget your effort. You have helped us find forgiveness and closure in our hearts.”
He said that the tribe had many reasons before to refuse granting pardon to Samira, mainly fear that this will cause sedition.
In their own speeches, a number of tribal dignitaries thanked Samira’s family for their generous gesture and Crown Prince Sultan and Prince Khaled Al-Faisal for their efforts to bring about closure to what had been a lengthy and protracted case.
Sleepless Samira
In cell block 3 of the prison, Samira had been too nervous to get any sleep for the two days prior to the fateful – and fruitful – tribal meeting on Thursday.
A psychologist was called in from Abha Hospital on Wednesday night to keep her company and comfort her with some medication.
Samira, dubbed the Khamis Girl, had been behind bars in the Abha Jail for more than eight years after she had been convicted of the murder of Khaled Al Khulais when she was in her late teens.
Samira has a high school education, is married, and has nine brothers and two sisters.
Even though there had been a lot of speculation about her motives, evidence seemed to back up her story that she killed the victim in defense of her honor.
Samira confessed in an official affidavit that she had killed Al Khulais and dumped his corpse in a garbage container, after cutting the body to pieces and wrapping it in a blanket.
She told investigators that the victim had been stalking her even after she got married, and when she got fed up with his advances, she lured him and murdered him after he refused to back off in response to her pleas.
The victim’s family said they would not bury the body until she was executed. They claimed that Samira could not have acted alone, but used the aid of accomplices from her own family, something which she and her family vehemently denied.
Controversy
Samira’s story has generated substantial controversy in the Kingdom and abroad. She had been sentenced to death after having been convicted of the murder of Khaled Al Khulais. Many Western commentators were critical of the ruling, and some human rights groups called it a violation of human rights.
Even a Web site was dedicated to her, with more than 4,500 members calling for her pardon, which added to the considerable sympathy among Saudis towards her. Site moderators say that the site has received more than a million hits from 75 countries, and 61 international law groups were involved in the site.
Amid the controversy, some people involved in the legal system in the Kingdom called for a written criminal law, basing their opinions on the vagueness with which the western media handled Samira’s case and the misinformed opinions generated there.
Some judiciary groups said they went to great lengths to shed light on the human element in the case.
“We’ve gone out of our way to talk the victim’s family into foregoing their right, but they refused,” said Thurayya Al-Shaikh, a member of the Saudi National Society for Human Rights. “Dignitaries have also failed, and now, I don’t think anyone can stop the court’s decision unless the victim’s family agrees.”
Friday, 13 April 2007
The Saudi Gazette
KHAMIS MUSHAYT
The eight-year saga of a woman who had been jailed for murder in Khamis Mushayt came to a happy ending on Thursday when the family of the victim agreed to spare her life after vigorous mediation efforts.
Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz and Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, the Emir of Asir Region, were at the forefront of the mediators to talk the victim’s family into sparing the life of the woman, known as Samira.
Hussein Bin Said Bin Mushait, the chief of the Shahrani tribe, called the elders of the tribes dwelling in the southern region to his home early on Thursday morning, as is the norm in tribal common law, and embarked on helping the family of the victim and that of Samira’s.
The victim’s family agreed to spare her life on the condition that 50 of her family would swear that they had not been involved in her crime, among other things, as a precondition to sign the document of final concession.
However, the family of the victim later decided to go one better: They spared Samira’s tribe the burden to take the oath, but said that only the immediate families of Samira and her husband should swear that they never participated in the murder or knew about it at the time.
Early birds
The tribal delegations began to flock to Bin Mushait’s house early on Thursday morning, coming from all over the southern region. First to arriver were the elders and dignitaries of the tribes. They were later shown in the so-called “round table of right,” a tribal tradition used to discuss and settle all kinds of disputes.
Said Bin Ahmed Al-Shahrani, director of the Scientific Institute in Khamis Mushait, started with a brief speech in which he asked Samira’s family for forgiveness and tolerance.
Then, Bin Mushait responded with his own speech.
“All hopes and aspirations are aimed at forgiveness for the daughter of the Murait family,” he said. “The dignitaries and elders of the (Asir) region have made their utmost efforts to bring about a pardon for her, and it was meant to happen on the hands of a man of honor and generosity – Crown Prince Sultan. His efforts were not in vain with the follow-up of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.”
Dhafer Bin Khulais, a member of the victim’s tribe, responded with a speech on behalf of his tribe, in which he announced the tribe’s pardon to Samira.
“We are honored and grateful to God today for his blessing, as we are happy to announce to you that we have pardoned the killer (Samira) of our late brother, Khaled Bin Mohammed Al Khulais.”
He then heaped praise on Crown Prince Sultan for his efforts to bring the two families together.
“You are a man of honor and a glorious pedigree, a prince of hearts in times of plight, and we shall not forget your effort. You have helped us find forgiveness and closure in our hearts.”
He said that the tribe had many reasons before to refuse granting pardon to Samira, mainly fear that this will cause sedition.
In their own speeches, a number of tribal dignitaries thanked Samira’s family for their generous gesture and Crown Prince Sultan and Prince Khaled Al-Faisal for their efforts to bring about closure to what had been a lengthy and protracted case.
Sleepless Samira
In cell block 3 of the prison, Samira had been too nervous to get any sleep for the two days prior to the fateful – and fruitful – tribal meeting on Thursday.
A psychologist was called in from Abha Hospital on Wednesday night to keep her company and comfort her with some medication.
Samira, dubbed the Khamis Girl, had been behind bars in the Abha Jail for more than eight years after she had been convicted of the murder of Khaled Al Khulais when she was in her late teens.
Samira has a high school education, is married, and has nine brothers and two sisters.
Even though there had been a lot of speculation about her motives, evidence seemed to back up her story that she killed the victim in defense of her honor.
Samira confessed in an official affidavit that she had killed Al Khulais and dumped his corpse in a garbage container, after cutting the body to pieces and wrapping it in a blanket.
She told investigators that the victim had been stalking her even after she got married, and when she got fed up with his advances, she lured him and murdered him after he refused to back off in response to her pleas.
The victim’s family said they would not bury the body until she was executed. They claimed that Samira could not have acted alone, but used the aid of accomplices from her own family, something which she and her family vehemently denied.
Controversy
Samira’s story has generated substantial controversy in the Kingdom and abroad. She had been sentenced to death after having been convicted of the murder of Khaled Al Khulais. Many Western commentators were critical of the ruling, and some human rights groups called it a violation of human rights.
Even a Web site was dedicated to her, with more than 4,500 members calling for her pardon, which added to the considerable sympathy among Saudis towards her. Site moderators say that the site has received more than a million hits from 75 countries, and 61 international law groups were involved in the site.
Amid the controversy, some people involved in the legal system in the Kingdom called for a written criminal law, basing their opinions on the vagueness with which the western media handled Samira’s case and the misinformed opinions generated there.
Some judiciary groups said they went to great lengths to shed light on the human element in the case.
“We’ve gone out of our way to talk the victim’s family into foregoing their right, but they refused,” said Thurayya Al-Shaikh, a member of the Saudi National Society for Human Rights. “Dignitaries have also failed, and now, I don’t think anyone can stop the court’s decision unless the victim’s family agrees.”
Saudi Divorce Rate Growing
Monday, 16 April 2007
By Suzan Zawawi
The Saudi Gazette
ALTHOUGH yet to attain the heights of Western divorce rates, Saudi Arabia has seen a divorce rate of some 20 percent in the last couple of years. Translated into real numbers, this means that 33 Saudi women get divorced daily.
"This frightening rise in the divorce rate," said Nora Al-Shamlan, head of the Research Center at King Saud Girls College, "is the result of couples' ill-preparedness for marriage and its responsibilities."
The answer, claimed Al Shamlan, who organized a three-day seminar to discuss the reasons behind the sudden rise in divorce, is to offer marriage preparation courses. And there are many others who support that view.
"We can reduce the divorce rate by 30-60 percent by conducting such courses," according to Sheikh Salman Al-Oda, a prominent and popular Islamic scholar. "Take Malaysia, for example. They started pre-marriage counseling and seminars and the divorce rate plummeted."
Without frank talk about marriage and sexuality in the home and at school, Saudi youth resort to the media for pertinent information.
"They have no choice but to learn from the media," said Ghada Al-Tureef.
Al-Tureef also cited a study that showed that a full 78 percent of Saudi youth not only learn about marital relations from the media, but they are also basing their expectations for their own lives from the media.
There are a variety of problems that stem from youth basing their lives on media images, the most obvious being that so much of the media to which Saudi youth are exposed is Western in origin and not relevant in the supposed reality it portrays.
In another study conducted by Al-Jawaher Al-Zamil, Professor of Social Studies at King Saud University, two out of 3 of the males interviewed said that the media plays a big role in defining what an Arab family means.
"If the media has been changing the perception of what marriage and a family mean then we have a big problem. Just look at the many different channels and programs that are being transmitted into our living rooms."
In order to counteract the negative aspects of the media, Tureef called on the individual elements of a young person's world to unite in preparing Saudi youth for adulthood.
"The mosque, Friday sermons, the school curriculum and the family can become more active," she said.
After all is said and done, it does take a village.
Better preparation for adult life and marriage could, indeed, stem the spiraling divorce rate in the Kingdom. In her presentation to the conference, Al Zamil cited her study that showed 43 percent of Saudi marriages suffering from neglect, violence, constant arguments and/or one spouse dominating the other.
"This is a result of many couples being emotionally detached but remaining married for the sake of their children, or social prestige and social pressure," according to Al-Zamil.
On the other hand, Al-Zamil said, all is not lost for Saudi couples as a number of indicators show Saudi marriages and childrearing in a reasonably healthy state.
A full 57 percent of Saudi couples polled by Al-Zamil indicated that they were living a good marriage with love and understanding prevailing. Al Zamil also said that th e majority of families give their children greater leeway in choosing a future spouse.
"This is a positive social change, probably the result of lessons learned from previous forced marriages," she concluded.
STATISTICS
65% of divorcees aged 18-35.
46% of divorces took place during the first three years of marriage.
41% of divorced women were house wives
25% of divorced couples lived with husband's family.
75% of husbands believed they acted too hastily.
45% of divorced men would return to their wife.
40% of divorcees hold BA's, 23% high school graduates 4% higher education
44% marital problems started at the end of the first year of marriage.
Ministry of Justice statistics:
With 60% divorce rate, the Eastern Province witnessed 60% divorce rate in 2005, the highest.
King Fahd Bridge to Bahrain was attributed to be the reason for the highest divorce rate in the Eastern Province (60%). Husbands go to Bahrain for the nightlife, where alcohol is served legally and men and women mingle freely.
Riyadh came second place with 50% divorce rate
Tabuk 29% divorce
Madinah 16%
Makkah 15%
Baha the lowest with 9 % divorce rate
Reasons for divorce
He Said:
1-Family interference.
2-Wife unable or unwilling to take up her share of the responsibilities.
3-Wife's employment.
4- Wife not staying at home, visiting her family, going out with friends too often.
5- Constant criticism by wife.
6- Wife's stubbornness.
She Said:
1- Physical or mental abuse.
2- Another women, a second wife, an affair, or the maid.
3- Husband's weak religious beliefs and practices.
4- Husband not taking up financial and family obligations.
5- The influence of satellite channels, Internet chatting and pornography.
6- Husbands stingy and gold-diggers
Marriage comes in different forms
Thinking of marriage?
You first need to decide what type of marriage suits you the most.
Besides traditional marriage, there are different types of marriages to chose from.
Misyar
A marriage of convenience. It is a legal marriage but both the bride and groom place pre-marriage conditions which mostly consist of the woman relinquishing her right to be financially supported by the husband and her right for him to reside with her in her home.
Other popular conditions consist of not bearing children and keeping the marriage a secret usually from the groom's family and first wife and kids.
Orfi
This type of marriage comes in three forms: undocumented marriage, a woman marries without the consent of her legal guardian.
Misfar
This new type of marriage was in news last month when the Deputy Minister of Higher Education Abdullah Al-Mojel announced that all female scholarship students must travel with a male relative.
This is a legal marriage, the only condition is that the wife will be traveling to continue her education and that the husband would be traveling with her as per the ministry's new regulations.
By Suzan Zawawi
The Saudi Gazette
ALTHOUGH yet to attain the heights of Western divorce rates, Saudi Arabia has seen a divorce rate of some 20 percent in the last couple of years. Translated into real numbers, this means that 33 Saudi women get divorced daily.
"This frightening rise in the divorce rate," said Nora Al-Shamlan, head of the Research Center at King Saud Girls College, "is the result of couples' ill-preparedness for marriage and its responsibilities."
The answer, claimed Al Shamlan, who organized a three-day seminar to discuss the reasons behind the sudden rise in divorce, is to offer marriage preparation courses. And there are many others who support that view.
"We can reduce the divorce rate by 30-60 percent by conducting such courses," according to Sheikh Salman Al-Oda, a prominent and popular Islamic scholar. "Take Malaysia, for example. They started pre-marriage counseling and seminars and the divorce rate plummeted."
Without frank talk about marriage and sexuality in the home and at school, Saudi youth resort to the media for pertinent information.
"They have no choice but to learn from the media," said Ghada Al-Tureef.
Al-Tureef also cited a study that showed that a full 78 percent of Saudi youth not only learn about marital relations from the media, but they are also basing their expectations for their own lives from the media.
There are a variety of problems that stem from youth basing their lives on media images, the most obvious being that so much of the media to which Saudi youth are exposed is Western in origin and not relevant in the supposed reality it portrays.
In another study conducted by Al-Jawaher Al-Zamil, Professor of Social Studies at King Saud University, two out of 3 of the males interviewed said that the media plays a big role in defining what an Arab family means.
"If the media has been changing the perception of what marriage and a family mean then we have a big problem. Just look at the many different channels and programs that are being transmitted into our living rooms."
In order to counteract the negative aspects of the media, Tureef called on the individual elements of a young person's world to unite in preparing Saudi youth for adulthood.
"The mosque, Friday sermons, the school curriculum and the family can become more active," she said.
After all is said and done, it does take a village.
Better preparation for adult life and marriage could, indeed, stem the spiraling divorce rate in the Kingdom. In her presentation to the conference, Al Zamil cited her study that showed 43 percent of Saudi marriages suffering from neglect, violence, constant arguments and/or one spouse dominating the other.
"This is a result of many couples being emotionally detached but remaining married for the sake of their children, or social prestige and social pressure," according to Al-Zamil.
On the other hand, Al-Zamil said, all is not lost for Saudi couples as a number of indicators show Saudi marriages and childrearing in a reasonably healthy state.
A full 57 percent of Saudi couples polled by Al-Zamil indicated that they were living a good marriage with love and understanding prevailing. Al Zamil also said that th e majority of families give their children greater leeway in choosing a future spouse.
"This is a positive social change, probably the result of lessons learned from previous forced marriages," she concluded.
STATISTICS
65% of divorcees aged 18-35.
46% of divorces took place during the first three years of marriage.
41% of divorced women were house wives
25% of divorced couples lived with husband's family.
75% of husbands believed they acted too hastily.
45% of divorced men would return to their wife.
40% of divorcees hold BA's, 23% high school graduates 4% higher education
44% marital problems started at the end of the first year of marriage.
Ministry of Justice statistics:
With 60% divorce rate, the Eastern Province witnessed 60% divorce rate in 2005, the highest.
King Fahd Bridge to Bahrain was attributed to be the reason for the highest divorce rate in the Eastern Province (60%). Husbands go to Bahrain for the nightlife, where alcohol is served legally and men and women mingle freely.
Riyadh came second place with 50% divorce rate
Tabuk 29% divorce
Madinah 16%
Makkah 15%
Baha the lowest with 9 % divorce rate
Reasons for divorce
He Said:
1-Family interference.
2-Wife unable or unwilling to take up her share of the responsibilities.
3-Wife's employment.
4- Wife not staying at home, visiting her family, going out with friends too often.
5- Constant criticism by wife.
6- Wife's stubbornness.
She Said:
1- Physical or mental abuse.
2- Another women, a second wife, an affair, or the maid.
3- Husband's weak religious beliefs and practices.
4- Husband not taking up financial and family obligations.
5- The influence of satellite channels, Internet chatting and pornography.
6- Husbands stingy and gold-diggers
Marriage comes in different forms
Thinking of marriage?
You first need to decide what type of marriage suits you the most.
Besides traditional marriage, there are different types of marriages to chose from.
Misyar
A marriage of convenience. It is a legal marriage but both the bride and groom place pre-marriage conditions which mostly consist of the woman relinquishing her right to be financially supported by the husband and her right for him to reside with her in her home.
Other popular conditions consist of not bearing children and keeping the marriage a secret usually from the groom's family and first wife and kids.
Orfi
This type of marriage comes in three forms: undocumented marriage, a woman marries without the consent of her legal guardian.
Misfar
This new type of marriage was in news last month when the Deputy Minister of Higher Education Abdullah Al-Mojel announced that all female scholarship students must travel with a male relative.
This is a legal marriage, the only condition is that the wife will be traveling to continue her education and that the husband would be traveling with her as per the ministry's new regulations.
Saudi Divorse Cases on the Rise
Monday, 16 April 2007
By Suzan Zawawi
The Saudi Gazette
SOME 33 Saudi women are getting divorced every day in the Kingdom, resulting in nearly 1,000 new divorcees monthly, studies show.
The skyrocketing divorce rate shocked Nora Al-Shamlan, head of the Reserarch Center at King Saud Girls college, so much that she organized a three-day seminar in Riyadh recently to address the state of Saudi marriage.
Numerous speakers took to the dais to present papers full of statistics and studies that depict an institution - marriage - in turmoil, but one that is still far from its precarious position in the West.
The overall conclusion of the conference was that a lack of preparation for marriage was the biggest hurdle faced by young couples tying the knot for the first time. A variety of reasons were offered for this lack preparation that some contended led to a lack of realistic expectations for marriage and adult life.
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, mass media took the biggest hit, with many speakers pointing to the proliferation of TV shows which do not reflect traditional, local values as a principle culprit.
Most dismaying, perhaps, was the contention in one study that 78 percent of Saudi youth rely on mass media for their sex education.
"Because the school curriculum does not address senstitive issues such as sexual education, it leaves Saudi youth with no choice but to learn about such things from the media.
Fifty-two percent get that education from TV; 38 percent get it from the Internet; 7 percent get it from newspapers; and 3 percent rely on the radio.
Additionally, one study showed Saudi youth get their ideas about family from the media, as well. One widely supported approach to stemming the surging tide of divorce was the implementation of pre-marriage courses, designed to prepare newlyweds for the ups and downs of married life. One speaker pointed to Malaysia as an example of a Muslim country that implemented such courses and succeeded in greatly reducing its divorce rates.
Not all was bad news, however, as 53 percent of married Saudis in one study claimed to be in stable marriages that celebrated mutual understanding on the parts of both spouses.
By Suzan Zawawi
The Saudi Gazette
SOME 33 Saudi women are getting divorced every day in the Kingdom, resulting in nearly 1,000 new divorcees monthly, studies show.
The skyrocketing divorce rate shocked Nora Al-Shamlan, head of the Reserarch Center at King Saud Girls college, so much that she organized a three-day seminar in Riyadh recently to address the state of Saudi marriage.
Numerous speakers took to the dais to present papers full of statistics and studies that depict an institution - marriage - in turmoil, but one that is still far from its precarious position in the West.
The overall conclusion of the conference was that a lack of preparation for marriage was the biggest hurdle faced by young couples tying the knot for the first time. A variety of reasons were offered for this lack preparation that some contended led to a lack of realistic expectations for marriage and adult life.
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, mass media took the biggest hit, with many speakers pointing to the proliferation of TV shows which do not reflect traditional, local values as a principle culprit.
Most dismaying, perhaps, was the contention in one study that 78 percent of Saudi youth rely on mass media for their sex education.
"Because the school curriculum does not address senstitive issues such as sexual education, it leaves Saudi youth with no choice but to learn about such things from the media.
Fifty-two percent get that education from TV; 38 percent get it from the Internet; 7 percent get it from newspapers; and 3 percent rely on the radio.
Additionally, one study showed Saudi youth get their ideas about family from the media, as well. One widely supported approach to stemming the surging tide of divorce was the implementation of pre-marriage courses, designed to prepare newlyweds for the ups and downs of married life. One speaker pointed to Malaysia as an example of a Muslim country that implemented such courses and succeeded in greatly reducing its divorce rates.
Not all was bad news, however, as 53 percent of married Saudis in one study claimed to be in stable marriages that celebrated mutual understanding on the parts of both spouses.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
The Commission is Going Scientific
Tuesday, 03 April 2007
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
IN the absence of scientific data to gauge public opinion, such as from surveys and polls, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice utilizes a new approach to evaluate its members' field performance.
Al-Madina newspaper this week published a report that aroused my admiration for the commission's new strategy to deal with both the rapid social and economic changes in Saudi Arabia today.
The report was about a study carried out by the Institute of Research and Consultation Services at Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh. The study is aimed at identifying the problems the Commission's members (mutawwas) face on field assignments and the reasons behind them.
It also tackles what they are supposed to be doing, how they are doing it and the efficiency of the new communicative approaches they are adopting as a step towards improving general performance.
The two-year-long study is divided into two parts: theoretical and experimental. It covers 240 commission members, 65 heads or directors of the commission's branches, 390 members of other related government establishments, and 2,600 citizens.
The study also examines important areas such as preparation, selection and training of staff. Such a study might be perceived as a "so what?" or a "must," but, as I always maintain, knowing the background of a problem helps to better understand it and, in this case, shows the value of such an initiative taken by the Commission.
The dramatic social and economic developments of late in Saudi Arabia have visibly opened gaps in the society, especially between the new generation that represents more than 60 percent of the population and the Commission that works to make sure that everyone adheres to Islamic values.
The reason can be summarized in the two sides' different perceptions of the rapid social changes. The youngsters believe they have the right to be their age in public and wear what they want while the Commission's members perceive this as un-Islamic and mimicking the West; therefore, they try their best to keep it to a minimum if not totally stop it.
The youngsters believe that what the members of the Commission are calling for would make them lag far behind the social and economic changes taking place in the world around them.
Disputes arising from such misunderstandings seemed to be behind the Ministry of Interior's decree that those arrested for moral offenses should be handed over straight to the public prosecutors instead of the religious police.
Awareness of some moderate members of the Commission of the increasing local and international criticism of their role has brought about more scientific approaches in their dealings with the public. A number of programs were introduced aimed at educating and training the Commission's members. Last month, for instance, the Commission conducted training courses to familiarize 375 of its members with cyber technology to help monitor moral offenses The program included a study on the proliferation of cyber culture with particular focus on computer-related offenses and how to detect and deal with them, as well as specialized training courses to obtain the ICDL (International Computer Driving License).
Prior to this, the Commission launched a training and orientation program on the rules of Fiqh (jurisprudence). The program was accompanied by workshops to introduce the criminal procedures system and demonstrate how the mutawwas should deal with the public in view of the recent developments, including the good manners to be shown during an assignment.
Even the ways they should deal with non-Muslim tourists were recently discussed between the Supreme Commission of Tourism and the mutawwas.
All these reflect a change in the commission's strategy and a tendency towards moderation. It also reflects coordination with other authorities in line with the country's general policy of openness. Within those broad scientific mechanisms designed to bolster efficiency, exist the seeds of a real understanding of the Commission's social and religious role. This understanding, if fostered, would minimize conflict and increase acceptance of the real vital role it should be playing to strike a balance between culture and identity on one hand and openness on the other. This would also minimize the outside pressure on the Saudi Government in this regard.
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
IN the absence of scientific data to gauge public opinion, such as from surveys and polls, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice utilizes a new approach to evaluate its members' field performance.
Al-Madina newspaper this week published a report that aroused my admiration for the commission's new strategy to deal with both the rapid social and economic changes in Saudi Arabia today.
The report was about a study carried out by the Institute of Research and Consultation Services at Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh. The study is aimed at identifying the problems the Commission's members (mutawwas) face on field assignments and the reasons behind them.
It also tackles what they are supposed to be doing, how they are doing it and the efficiency of the new communicative approaches they are adopting as a step towards improving general performance.
The two-year-long study is divided into two parts: theoretical and experimental. It covers 240 commission members, 65 heads or directors of the commission's branches, 390 members of other related government establishments, and 2,600 citizens.
The study also examines important areas such as preparation, selection and training of staff. Such a study might be perceived as a "so what?" or a "must," but, as I always maintain, knowing the background of a problem helps to better understand it and, in this case, shows the value of such an initiative taken by the Commission.
The dramatic social and economic developments of late in Saudi Arabia have visibly opened gaps in the society, especially between the new generation that represents more than 60 percent of the population and the Commission that works to make sure that everyone adheres to Islamic values.
The reason can be summarized in the two sides' different perceptions of the rapid social changes. The youngsters believe they have the right to be their age in public and wear what they want while the Commission's members perceive this as un-Islamic and mimicking the West; therefore, they try their best to keep it to a minimum if not totally stop it.
The youngsters believe that what the members of the Commission are calling for would make them lag far behind the social and economic changes taking place in the world around them.
Disputes arising from such misunderstandings seemed to be behind the Ministry of Interior's decree that those arrested for moral offenses should be handed over straight to the public prosecutors instead of the religious police.
Awareness of some moderate members of the Commission of the increasing local and international criticism of their role has brought about more scientific approaches in their dealings with the public. A number of programs were introduced aimed at educating and training the Commission's members. Last month, for instance, the Commission conducted training courses to familiarize 375 of its members with cyber technology to help monitor moral offenses The program included a study on the proliferation of cyber culture with particular focus on computer-related offenses and how to detect and deal with them, as well as specialized training courses to obtain the ICDL (International Computer Driving License).
Prior to this, the Commission launched a training and orientation program on the rules of Fiqh (jurisprudence). The program was accompanied by workshops to introduce the criminal procedures system and demonstrate how the mutawwas should deal with the public in view of the recent developments, including the good manners to be shown during an assignment.
Even the ways they should deal with non-Muslim tourists were recently discussed between the Supreme Commission of Tourism and the mutawwas.
All these reflect a change in the commission's strategy and a tendency towards moderation. It also reflects coordination with other authorities in line with the country's general policy of openness. Within those broad scientific mechanisms designed to bolster efficiency, exist the seeds of a real understanding of the Commission's social and religious role. This understanding, if fostered, would minimize conflict and increase acceptance of the real vital role it should be playing to strike a balance between culture and identity on one hand and openness on the other. This would also minimize the outside pressure on the Saudi Government in this regard.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Here's What Saudis Want
Sabria S. Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
ON Thursday King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz announced that the Saudi Cabinet would be retained unchanged. He also extended the tenures of various advisers and heads of government departments.
The announcement came as a surprise for local and international media especially following much speculation of major changes. Some people misread the speculation as a sign of reluctance in some quarters of Saudi society to pursue the comprehensive reforms encouraged by the King since he was crown prince.
The decision to retain all the ministers in their posts was a smart move by the King. Most of the ministers were appointed at a time when the region was suffering the consequences of the two Gulf wars, including a long period of low oil prices in the 1990s that froze most of the development projects in the country.
It was a time when the parameter for success was assessed according to the ability of ministries to work at full potential while keeping infrastructure development plans to a minimum. Ministerial performance during this period varied dramatically. Some carried out the job successfully and maximized performance with whatever was available to them – Ali Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum, for instance, who has emerged over the past 12 years as the most influential minister in OPEC. Some others lost control of their ministries, which gave rise to bribery and corruption. More recent appointees found insufficient time to prove themselves and to implement their long-term plans.
Today, Saudi Arabia is at the peak of both economic and prosperity and political stability. By retaining the Cabinet, King Abdullah is giving the ministers a real chance to take action and prove themselves.
The recently approved bill on a national strategy to promote honesty and combat corruption will be the framework that governs ministerial performance in the coming term. The anti-graft law, recommended by the Shoura Council, calls for enhancing cooperation among government authorities to combat corruption in all its forms.
The new law allows the government to hold accountable those who have shown carelessness or dishonesty in carrying out their duties of office. At the same time, it protects those who are honest to their country.
The King’s trust in his ministers should be met by gratitude and sincerity. Their reappointment should trigger implementation of a larger number of social and economic projects across the country. It should lead to an end to bureaucratic red tape and prompt action on pending projects, especially considering that the world is fast moving ahead.
From now on, officials and citizens should work hand in hand to accomplish the King’s dream of taking our country to progress with transparency and accountability as its guidelines. At the social level, ministers should do more to strengthen the community’s fabric so that no one breaks through and hijacks our peaceful country to turn it into a breeding nest for terrorism.
More job opportunities should be created for male and female graduates, with no differences whatsoever because society is like a bird that cannot fly with one wing. More emphasis should be placed on women’s empowerment even if it means introducing the quota system in our establishments.
The country’s economy should also be protected from those who have been playing with the nation’s treasure under the umbrella of the so-called “stock market.” The market should be closely watched and monitored in order to control prices. Our society has become a huge experimental laboratory for international companies.
We should improve our education system to match the developed countries instead of wasting our money on schools that have produced nothing but failures. Our students are not good even for our local labor market, not to speak of the international one.
We want a good infrastructure in all of our cities, the big and small ones. We want wide, clean and safe streets. We want a good comprehensive health system that protects us from being victims of health brokers.
We want an independent and codified legal system that protects the weak from the strong, a system that respects women and gives them their rights. We want a citizen, whether man or woman, who can speak freely without being harassed or misjudged.
Simply, we want our real Saudi country back as was set by the constitution based on the Islamic Sharia, but which was unfortunately hijacked.
The Saudi Gazette
ON Thursday King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz announced that the Saudi Cabinet would be retained unchanged. He also extended the tenures of various advisers and heads of government departments.
The announcement came as a surprise for local and international media especially following much speculation of major changes. Some people misread the speculation as a sign of reluctance in some quarters of Saudi society to pursue the comprehensive reforms encouraged by the King since he was crown prince.
The decision to retain all the ministers in their posts was a smart move by the King. Most of the ministers were appointed at a time when the region was suffering the consequences of the two Gulf wars, including a long period of low oil prices in the 1990s that froze most of the development projects in the country.
It was a time when the parameter for success was assessed according to the ability of ministries to work at full potential while keeping infrastructure development plans to a minimum. Ministerial performance during this period varied dramatically. Some carried out the job successfully and maximized performance with whatever was available to them – Ali Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum, for instance, who has emerged over the past 12 years as the most influential minister in OPEC. Some others lost control of their ministries, which gave rise to bribery and corruption. More recent appointees found insufficient time to prove themselves and to implement their long-term plans.
Today, Saudi Arabia is at the peak of both economic and prosperity and political stability. By retaining the Cabinet, King Abdullah is giving the ministers a real chance to take action and prove themselves.
The recently approved bill on a national strategy to promote honesty and combat corruption will be the framework that governs ministerial performance in the coming term. The anti-graft law, recommended by the Shoura Council, calls for enhancing cooperation among government authorities to combat corruption in all its forms.
The new law allows the government to hold accountable those who have shown carelessness or dishonesty in carrying out their duties of office. At the same time, it protects those who are honest to their country.
The King’s trust in his ministers should be met by gratitude and sincerity. Their reappointment should trigger implementation of a larger number of social and economic projects across the country. It should lead to an end to bureaucratic red tape and prompt action on pending projects, especially considering that the world is fast moving ahead.
From now on, officials and citizens should work hand in hand to accomplish the King’s dream of taking our country to progress with transparency and accountability as its guidelines. At the social level, ministers should do more to strengthen the community’s fabric so that no one breaks through and hijacks our peaceful country to turn it into a breeding nest for terrorism.
More job opportunities should be created for male and female graduates, with no differences whatsoever because society is like a bird that cannot fly with one wing. More emphasis should be placed on women’s empowerment even if it means introducing the quota system in our establishments.
The country’s economy should also be protected from those who have been playing with the nation’s treasure under the umbrella of the so-called “stock market.” The market should be closely watched and monitored in order to control prices. Our society has become a huge experimental laboratory for international companies.
We should improve our education system to match the developed countries instead of wasting our money on schools that have produced nothing but failures. Our students are not good even for our local labor market, not to speak of the international one.
We want a good infrastructure in all of our cities, the big and small ones. We want wide, clean and safe streets. We want a good comprehensive health system that protects us from being victims of health brokers.
We want an independent and codified legal system that protects the weak from the strong, a system that respects women and gives them their rights. We want a citizen, whether man or woman, who can speak freely without being harassed or misjudged.
Simply, we want our real Saudi country back as was set by the constitution based on the Islamic Sharia, but which was unfortunately hijacked.
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