Friday, 23 March 2007
By Sabria S. Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH
FAILURES of previous Arab summits appear to have dimmed the expectations from the Riyadh gathering of 22 Arab heads of state next week.
Despite their general optimism, many Saudi political analysts are not expecting much from the March 28-29 Arab League summit.
Hussein Shobokshi, a writer and a political analyst, said people are expecting a lot out of this summit especially that it comes at a critical moment when the Arab region is passing through tough times and the volume of foreign troops in the region is on the rise.
He does not expect any magic solutions. But he is optimistic considering the fact that the present situation necessitates at least coordination among Arab countries to overcome such crises.
Lebanon is the most important issue on the agenda of the summit. With Saudi efforts a solution is expected in Lebanon.
There are talks with Syria to come to a solution that brings together different factions in Lebanon and break the deadlock between the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority and the pro-Syrian opposition.
“Lebanon seems to be the most promising file among the suggested topics on the summit’s agenda,” he said.
The situation in Iraq, according to Shobokshi, is more complicated as foreign parties with different interests are involved.
“The situation is Iraq is more complicated simply because Iran and America are involved and they both are not attending the summit,” he said.
The involvement of those parties with their different interests as well as their influence would affect any positive outcome on Iraq, he said.
But, on the other hand, the intensified Saudi diplomacy has largely been effective in containing the Iranian influence in Iraq and Lebanon as well as Palestine.
Bringing the Iranians in and talking to them have reduced their influence in places where they seem to be getting stronger. People in Lebanon, for instance, seem to have less fear of a possible civil war.
The absence of Libya from the summit, Shobokshi said, will minimize the possibility of reaching an Arab-Arab solution to the Darfour crisis. Libya, he added, was a key player in the situation in Darfour and its absence will affect the attempts to reach a solution.
He noted no logical reason for Libya’s boycotting the summit other than its attempt to undermine the increasing weight and role that the Kingdom is gaining in the Arab and Islamic world.
Libya, though, he said, seems not to be the only country that does not want success from this summit.
United States prompted by Israel, he added, does not seem to be interested in any united Arab stand. However, he expects the Saudi initiative for Palestinian-Israeli peace may float again in this summit.
Hamad Al-Baheli, a writer and a political analyst, said the summit would not come up with absolute resolution to the present crises in the region but it would issue decisions that would bring Arab nations closer together and eliminate disputes among them.
“It would most probably pave the way for a future understanding of the position and role of each country in the region,” he said.
The success of the summit, he added, would be measured by its ability to contain the present disputes and to stop the situation form spinning out of control.
Moreover, he said, current events in the Arab arena required looking into effective solutions, and thus noted the importance of holding the summit at this time.
Though, he warned against exaggerations and great expectations that go beyond reaching an understanding and united stand on the international issues such as the Arab initiative.
The summit, he added, might define the way Sudan should deal with the United Nations and the role of Syria and Iran in both Iraq and Lebanon.
He did not note any significance in the change of the summit’s venue from Sharm El-Sheikh to Riyadh other than emphasizing the role played by the Saudi leadership. Having King Abdullah as chairman will further improve the odds for success, he said.
Anwar Ishqi, a political analyst, said several diplomatic efforts that preceded the summit would facilitate a solution to the present situation in the Middle East. He said it has helped in creating a better atmosphere for the summit.
Prior to the summit, King Abdullah held a series of meetings and made contacts with Arab leaders. He sponsored the Makkah Agreement that has led to the formation of the Palestinian unity government. He also held talks with Syria and Iran.
Arab diplomats in Saudi Arabia refused to do any guesswork. Until now, they keep to the obvious: the summit will address the situation in Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan and Somalia, and will seek to promote closer Arab political and economic relations, with special attention to issues of development and reform.
The venue, the date and agenda of the annual Arab summit have always proven material for debate, speculation and controversy.
Whether this one would come up with something different or not is something that the coming week will answer.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Saturday, March 24, 2007
We’re Only as Good as our Road Record
Monday, 19 March 2007
By Sabri S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
THE other day Abdullah Juma, president of Saudi Aramco, launched the opening of a traffic show to mark the 23rd annual GCC Traffic Week.
The idea is to promote traffic safety. Juma said that motorists and road conditions are the primary factors behind traffic accidents, and pointed to speeding as especially troublesome.
Well, excuse me if I don’t get excited.
I admire Saudi Aramco for taking a proactive approach to traffic safety. But with all due respect to the organizers of GCC Traffic Week, the program hardly begins to tackle the real problem of road safety in Saudi Arabia. In fact, it barely scratches the surface.
Reliable statistics of fatal traffic accidents in the Kingdom are hard to come by, but the Department of Neurosciences at the Armed Forced Hospital in Riyadh reported that between 1971 and 1997, 564,792 people died or were injured in road accidents. That’s equivalent to about 3.5 percent of the total population of our country.
More than 65 percent of accidents occur due to excess speeding or running red lights. Blown tires are the No. 2 reason for accidents.
If I had more recent numbers I’d give them to you, but those are sobering enough. And what is even more gruesome is the fact that in the past three years 140 teachers have been killed in road accidents. Eighty-six of those deaths are teachers from the southern Asir region.
We wring our hands each year over needless traffic deaths when we launch road safety programs, but beyond the rhetoric little is accomplished.
I am traveling with my driver on the streets of Jeddah every day and watch with horror the accidents and near accidents caused by the careless and the rude drivers. I hear incessant honking the second a traffic light turns green as if cars will move faster.
I see left turns from right-hand lands. I see right turns from left lanes. I don’t think I have ever seen a stop sign honored. I see speed contests among teenagers on motorcycles and in sports cars on congested Tahlia Street in the commercial district.
I see untrained taxi drivers with no business ferrying passengers in this city weave in and out of traffic at high speeds.
I see cars double parked. I see traffic officers idle at busy intersections while car after car runs a red light. I see huge potholes in the streets and crumbling sidewalks that force pedestrians to walk on the roadway.
And worse, I see unrestrained children bouncing inside cars and popping out of sunroofs as if they are immortal.
Yes, these ignorant, careless people – Saudis and expats alike – are responsible for this outrageously dangerous behavior.
But at the end of the day it’s the traffic police and the authority of the Saudi government behind the police responsible for our lives.
Enforcement is sporadic at best. I’m always pleased to see checkpoints manned by police looking for seatbelt violators, but distressed to hear stories about Saudis using “wasta” to avoid fines or berating patrolmen attempting to write citations.
And it serves no purpose to employ discriminatory practices of automatically faulting expat drivers in traffic accidents involving Saudis.
What’s the use of having traffic laws if the laws are not enforced? What’s the purpose of having a traffic safety awareness week if no one pays attention.
We all say the right things about being attentive to fellow motorists and tsk tsk over the latest traffic fatality report, but for some reason we don’t have the ability to slow down, belt our kids into seats, respect the driver next to us and honor all traffic laws.
Saudi society has come a long way. We are members of the WTO and we are moving towards opening our country to foreign tourists.
Do we really want to show our guests our poor behavior on the road? You can measure a society’s attitudes towards its own people and to its guests by how well it enforces traffic safety laws.
What does that say about us?
By Sabri S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
THE other day Abdullah Juma, president of Saudi Aramco, launched the opening of a traffic show to mark the 23rd annual GCC Traffic Week.
The idea is to promote traffic safety. Juma said that motorists and road conditions are the primary factors behind traffic accidents, and pointed to speeding as especially troublesome.
Well, excuse me if I don’t get excited.
I admire Saudi Aramco for taking a proactive approach to traffic safety. But with all due respect to the organizers of GCC Traffic Week, the program hardly begins to tackle the real problem of road safety in Saudi Arabia. In fact, it barely scratches the surface.
Reliable statistics of fatal traffic accidents in the Kingdom are hard to come by, but the Department of Neurosciences at the Armed Forced Hospital in Riyadh reported that between 1971 and 1997, 564,792 people died or were injured in road accidents. That’s equivalent to about 3.5 percent of the total population of our country.
More than 65 percent of accidents occur due to excess speeding or running red lights. Blown tires are the No. 2 reason for accidents.
If I had more recent numbers I’d give them to you, but those are sobering enough. And what is even more gruesome is the fact that in the past three years 140 teachers have been killed in road accidents. Eighty-six of those deaths are teachers from the southern Asir region.
We wring our hands each year over needless traffic deaths when we launch road safety programs, but beyond the rhetoric little is accomplished.
I am traveling with my driver on the streets of Jeddah every day and watch with horror the accidents and near accidents caused by the careless and the rude drivers. I hear incessant honking the second a traffic light turns green as if cars will move faster.
I see left turns from right-hand lands. I see right turns from left lanes. I don’t think I have ever seen a stop sign honored. I see speed contests among teenagers on motorcycles and in sports cars on congested Tahlia Street in the commercial district.
I see untrained taxi drivers with no business ferrying passengers in this city weave in and out of traffic at high speeds.
I see cars double parked. I see traffic officers idle at busy intersections while car after car runs a red light. I see huge potholes in the streets and crumbling sidewalks that force pedestrians to walk on the roadway.
And worse, I see unrestrained children bouncing inside cars and popping out of sunroofs as if they are immortal.
Yes, these ignorant, careless people – Saudis and expats alike – are responsible for this outrageously dangerous behavior.
But at the end of the day it’s the traffic police and the authority of the Saudi government behind the police responsible for our lives.
Enforcement is sporadic at best. I’m always pleased to see checkpoints manned by police looking for seatbelt violators, but distressed to hear stories about Saudis using “wasta” to avoid fines or berating patrolmen attempting to write citations.
And it serves no purpose to employ discriminatory practices of automatically faulting expat drivers in traffic accidents involving Saudis.
What’s the use of having traffic laws if the laws are not enforced? What’s the purpose of having a traffic safety awareness week if no one pays attention.
We all say the right things about being attentive to fellow motorists and tsk tsk over the latest traffic fatality report, but for some reason we don’t have the ability to slow down, belt our kids into seats, respect the driver next to us and honor all traffic laws.
Saudi society has come a long way. We are members of the WTO and we are moving towards opening our country to foreign tourists.
Do we really want to show our guests our poor behavior on the road? You can measure a society’s attitudes towards its own people and to its guests by how well it enforces traffic safety laws.
What does that say about us?
Shoura Passes Draft Law on Shop Timings
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH
ALL commercial shops in Jeddah will close at 10 p.m. in summer and at 11 p.m. in winter, if a draft law endorsed by the Shoura Council on Sunday is approved by the Cabinet.
Businessmen strongly opposed the move, saying they will incur an yearly SR10 billion loss.
At present there is no regulation governing the shop timings. So most of the shops in the city remain open till late in the night.
But as per the new draft regulation, shops will remain open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. in winter and from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. in summer.
Pharmacies, restaurants and recreational facilities are exempted from these working hours. They can remain open till late in the night.
The logic behind changing the shop timing is to attract Saudi jobseekers, said a Shoura member on condition of anonymity.
The present long working hours are not conducive for Saudis to take up jobs in these shops, because they - unlike foreign workers managing commercial establishments - have families. With the new timing, Saudis may take up these positions, said the Shoura member.
It will also bring social order. The youths who roam around shops till late in the night will have no option but to go home and be with their families when shops are closed, the Shoura member reasoned.
The draft law to change the shop timing was approved with minimum vote, said the Shoura member who took part in the voting.
Only 75 members out of 150 voted in favor of Article 4, which is related to shop timings.
This prompted some members to suggest introducing new related Article that gives regional councils the flexibility to implement the regulation.
But this has not been discussed yet, he said.
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH
ALL commercial shops in Jeddah will close at 10 p.m. in summer and at 11 p.m. in winter, if a draft law endorsed by the Shoura Council on Sunday is approved by the Cabinet.
Businessmen strongly opposed the move, saying they will incur an yearly SR10 billion loss.
At present there is no regulation governing the shop timings. So most of the shops in the city remain open till late in the night.
But as per the new draft regulation, shops will remain open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. in winter and from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. in summer.
Pharmacies, restaurants and recreational facilities are exempted from these working hours. They can remain open till late in the night.
The logic behind changing the shop timing is to attract Saudi jobseekers, said a Shoura member on condition of anonymity.
The present long working hours are not conducive for Saudis to take up jobs in these shops, because they - unlike foreign workers managing commercial establishments - have families. With the new timing, Saudis may take up these positions, said the Shoura member.
It will also bring social order. The youths who roam around shops till late in the night will have no option but to go home and be with their families when shops are closed, the Shoura member reasoned.
The draft law to change the shop timing was approved with minimum vote, said the Shoura member who took part in the voting.
Only 75 members out of 150 voted in favor of Article 4, which is related to shop timings.
This prompted some members to suggest introducing new related Article that gives regional councils the flexibility to implement the regulation.
But this has not been discussed yet, he said.
Authorities Warn Foreigners May Be Targets of Attacks
Thursday, 08 March 2007
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH
Saudi authorities have warned foreign embassies that a group blamed for last month’s killing of four French nationals could strike again.
According to General Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior, the warning was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The warning was sent to all diplomatic envoys in the Kingdom with no exceptions,” Al-Turki told The Saudi Gazette. “They were told to warn their citizens and to urge them to exercise caution when they go out.”
Diplomats took the warning seriously.
“Saudi authorities officially notified us on Tuesday that the group could attack again and urged foreigners to avoid traveling outside cities,” a Western diplomat said.
Some French residents in Riyadh said they received text messages on Tuesday from their embassy informing them of the Saudi warning.
“We reacted immediately by informing our nationals of the warning, which urged foreigners in general to be cautious and to call police as soon as they notice that they are being monitored,” French embassy spokesman Alain Guepratte said.
According to Al-Turki, “When the crime took place, we found ourselves face-to-face with an unknown group that killed and threatened to kill more, so there was an urgent need for exercising extreme caution in rural areas or outside of cities. We have two suspects who are still on the loose. So, until further notification, everyone should be cautious.”
On Tuesday, Saudi officials announced that they had arrested some suspects in the killing of the four French nationals and gave 24 hours to two Saudi nationals to turn themselves in.
That deadline passed Wednesday morning with no sign of the two suspects, Abdallah Sayer Al-Mohammadi, 23, and Nasser Bin-Latif Al-Balawi, 24.
According to Arabic daily newspaper Al-Madina, authorities identified the two suspects through fingerprints found at the crime scene.
Although details are sketchy, police have released some information on the suspects.
Both men reside in the Al-Jarf District of Madina and both are unmarried. Al-Mohammadi has an elementary school education. He served as a soldier in an unnamed branch of the military for a year-and-a-half before leaving that position. He is not believed to have worked since then.
Al-Balawi is believed to have a minimal education and no job, as well. He has been arrested twice for theft, and those who know him say that he has not been seen for several months.
Authorities said that he travels frequently between Madina and Al-Ula, some 400 km north of the holy city, and is said to have extensive knowledge of the mountainous desert terrain between the two cities.
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH
Saudi authorities have warned foreign embassies that a group blamed for last month’s killing of four French nationals could strike again.
According to General Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior, the warning was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The warning was sent to all diplomatic envoys in the Kingdom with no exceptions,” Al-Turki told The Saudi Gazette. “They were told to warn their citizens and to urge them to exercise caution when they go out.”
Diplomats took the warning seriously.
“Saudi authorities officially notified us on Tuesday that the group could attack again and urged foreigners to avoid traveling outside cities,” a Western diplomat said.
Some French residents in Riyadh said they received text messages on Tuesday from their embassy informing them of the Saudi warning.
“We reacted immediately by informing our nationals of the warning, which urged foreigners in general to be cautious and to call police as soon as they notice that they are being monitored,” French embassy spokesman Alain Guepratte said.
According to Al-Turki, “When the crime took place, we found ourselves face-to-face with an unknown group that killed and threatened to kill more, so there was an urgent need for exercising extreme caution in rural areas or outside of cities. We have two suspects who are still on the loose. So, until further notification, everyone should be cautious.”
On Tuesday, Saudi officials announced that they had arrested some suspects in the killing of the four French nationals and gave 24 hours to two Saudi nationals to turn themselves in.
That deadline passed Wednesday morning with no sign of the two suspects, Abdallah Sayer Al-Mohammadi, 23, and Nasser Bin-Latif Al-Balawi, 24.
According to Arabic daily newspaper Al-Madina, authorities identified the two suspects through fingerprints found at the crime scene.
Although details are sketchy, police have released some information on the suspects.
Both men reside in the Al-Jarf District of Madina and both are unmarried. Al-Mohammadi has an elementary school education. He served as a soldier in an unnamed branch of the military for a year-and-a-half before leaving that position. He is not believed to have worked since then.
Al-Balawi is believed to have a minimal education and no job, as well. He has been arrested twice for theft, and those who know him say that he has not been seen for several months.
Authorities said that he travels frequently between Madina and Al-Ula, some 400 km north of the holy city, and is said to have extensive knowledge of the mountainous desert terrain between the two cities.
Al-Qaeda Methods Seen in Attack
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
Shooting of French Nationals could Affect Tourism
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH
THE slaying of four French nationals near Madina shared similar characteristics of an Al-Qaeda attack, a security source said Tuesday.
But Ministry of Interior officials said it’s too early to determine whether the attacks were terror-related.
“I noticed Al-Qaeda-covered style in this operation,” said a Saudi security official, who asked not to identified.
He said that people must keep in mind that there are still sleeper cells waiting for a signal to start operations. He said, “what is better than a quiet and isolated place like that near Madina to hide and hunt down foreigners,” he added.
Saudi officials have always maintained that terrorism has not been completely defeated in the Kingdom. Yet, unlike the neighboring countries, the security situation is still under control.
“We have security all over the country and our work is still going on whether there are threats or not,” said the security official.
Abdullah Al-Sultan, a political analyst, did not comment on whether the attack has Al-Qaeda characteristics, but he also did not rule out the possibility of sleeper cells. He said terrorists usually change their tactics to make it more difficult for law authorities to foil their attacks.
“The more progress security men achieve, the more new tactics those groups (terrorists) come up with,” Al-Sultan said.
On Monday, four Frenchmen were fatally shot near the historic site of Madain Saleh in the northwest region of the Kingdom.
The men were resting on the side of a road about 10 miles north of Madina when gunmen fired at their car, instantly killing two of them. The other two men died later after they were rushed to a hospital. Women and children also were with the group but they were unhurt.
A Ministry of Interior source said that the group was 17 kilometers from the main road when the men were shot. He said that the victims decided to take that road by themselves, but it is not clear whether they were going for Umrah or simply traveling to another ancient site.
The ministry source did not comment on whether the incident would affect tourism that has been recently opened to non-Muslims. He said that 48 hours is not enough to judge, especially when there is no clear connection to terrorism.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” the source said, “Anything that we might say now is only a speculation.”
But Al-Sultan said that tourism is not yet a business in Saudi Arabia so he ruled out any possibility of targeting it by itself. He said if it is proved to be a terrorist attack, then the sent message is that “Al-Qaeda does exist and their attacks can be effective.”
The security official said the attack should be seen as a wake-up call for paying more attention to the tourist sites.
“If we want to promote tourism as a business we have to follow the international standards of taking care of them,” he said.” Tourist places should be guarded and checkpoints should be placed on the roads that take to them.”
Mohammad Al-Jehani, a resident of Madina, expressed concern over the business of tourism, adding that people of Al-Ola, where most of the historic sites are open for tourists, were expecting a good market in the near future.
“This attack might bring us back to the time when we used not to see a single tourist for weeks,” he said.
The Supreme Commission of Tourism refused to comment on the possible effect of such an attack of their recently introduced project to promote tourism.
Al-Sultan urged Westerners not to help terrorists to achieve their goals by leaving their jobs in the Kingdom or become intimidated by such incidents.
“Help us to fight them and put down their plans by integrating and being part of this welcoming society,” he said.
Saudi Arabia has recently started a project to promote tourism to Saudis, Arab visitors and special niche markets that are looking at the cultural heritage aspect of Saudi Arabia. Following Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, many Saudis have started traveling regionally and not going on long-distance flights.
Shooting of French Nationals could Affect Tourism
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH
THE slaying of four French nationals near Madina shared similar characteristics of an Al-Qaeda attack, a security source said Tuesday.
But Ministry of Interior officials said it’s too early to determine whether the attacks were terror-related.
“I noticed Al-Qaeda-covered style in this operation,” said a Saudi security official, who asked not to identified.
He said that people must keep in mind that there are still sleeper cells waiting for a signal to start operations. He said, “what is better than a quiet and isolated place like that near Madina to hide and hunt down foreigners,” he added.
Saudi officials have always maintained that terrorism has not been completely defeated in the Kingdom. Yet, unlike the neighboring countries, the security situation is still under control.
“We have security all over the country and our work is still going on whether there are threats or not,” said the security official.
Abdullah Al-Sultan, a political analyst, did not comment on whether the attack has Al-Qaeda characteristics, but he also did not rule out the possibility of sleeper cells. He said terrorists usually change their tactics to make it more difficult for law authorities to foil their attacks.
“The more progress security men achieve, the more new tactics those groups (terrorists) come up with,” Al-Sultan said.
On Monday, four Frenchmen were fatally shot near the historic site of Madain Saleh in the northwest region of the Kingdom.
The men were resting on the side of a road about 10 miles north of Madina when gunmen fired at their car, instantly killing two of them. The other two men died later after they were rushed to a hospital. Women and children also were with the group but they were unhurt.
A Ministry of Interior source said that the group was 17 kilometers from the main road when the men were shot. He said that the victims decided to take that road by themselves, but it is not clear whether they were going for Umrah or simply traveling to another ancient site.
The ministry source did not comment on whether the incident would affect tourism that has been recently opened to non-Muslims. He said that 48 hours is not enough to judge, especially when there is no clear connection to terrorism.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” the source said, “Anything that we might say now is only a speculation.”
But Al-Sultan said that tourism is not yet a business in Saudi Arabia so he ruled out any possibility of targeting it by itself. He said if it is proved to be a terrorist attack, then the sent message is that “Al-Qaeda does exist and their attacks can be effective.”
The security official said the attack should be seen as a wake-up call for paying more attention to the tourist sites.
“If we want to promote tourism as a business we have to follow the international standards of taking care of them,” he said.” Tourist places should be guarded and checkpoints should be placed on the roads that take to them.”
Mohammad Al-Jehani, a resident of Madina, expressed concern over the business of tourism, adding that people of Al-Ola, where most of the historic sites are open for tourists, were expecting a good market in the near future.
“This attack might bring us back to the time when we used not to see a single tourist for weeks,” he said.
The Supreme Commission of Tourism refused to comment on the possible effect of such an attack of their recently introduced project to promote tourism.
Al-Sultan urged Westerners not to help terrorists to achieve their goals by leaving their jobs in the Kingdom or become intimidated by such incidents.
“Help us to fight them and put down their plans by integrating and being part of this welcoming society,” he said.
Saudi Arabia has recently started a project to promote tourism to Saudis, Arab visitors and special niche markets that are looking at the cultural heritage aspect of Saudi Arabia. Following Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, many Saudis have started traveling regionally and not going on long-distance flights.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Pictures from Saudi Arabia
Monday, 12 March 2007
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
Picture 1: Hanadi is flying. She is enjoying the view of her beloved country from the sky. Flying is not new to Hanadi because she’s been doing it for so long. The only difference this time is that she’s sitting in the cockpit, flying the plane. Hanadi safely lands. She picks up her stuff and rushes to the airport gate. OOPS! She can’t drive home. Well, not a big issue. She calls her mother and asks for the driver. Another hour that she could have spent flying is wasted. Lucky her. At least she knows what freedom means.
• COMMENT: The women’s driving issue was closed in the Shoura Council even before it was discussed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Picture 2: Rania is hiding in a dark corner in an unknown place. She is neither a criminal nor a prisoner. She is simply hiding from her family. Suddenly, she forgets her pain as a smile spreads across her face. Her unborn baby of seven months is moving inside her womb. Dad is in prison.
She imagines a conversation with her unborn child:
Baby: Why is dad in prison? Is dad a criminal? Was that because he left you alone?
Rania: No baby. Your dad is a noble man. Actually he did nothing but marry me against your grandma’s will.
Baby: Will he be there when I come to life?
Rania: God knows.
• COMMENT: Rania is divorced against her will due to unequal tribal backgrounds.
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Picture 3: Eiman is a 36-year-old physician. She is packing her luggage in preparation for a work trip. She is invited to present a research paper at an international symposium. Her official papers are ready and, unlike others, she is guaranteed a visa. OOPS, she cannot go. Her father passed away last year and her 18-year-old brother is not will not let her travel simply because she dared make him drive the same car for a whole year.
• COMMENT: Saudi women need a male guardian’s permission to travel abroad no matter what she does for a living.
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Picture 4:Fatima is celebrating her fifth wedding anniversary. She looks happy as she sees her beloved husband and children around her. There is a knock on the door. It’s her half brothers.
Fatima: Wow, welcome brothers! I have been dreaming of this visit since I got married. Mansour, come and see who is visiting us.
Brothers: We are here to take you home.
Fatima: What are you saying? Stop joking and come and see my husband.
Brothers: You stop and come with us. This inferior man is not your husband anymore. We’ve got you divorced!
•COMMENT: Fatima’s is not the only case. There are more than 30 Saudi couples that are divorced because distant relatives objected to the marriage.
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Picture 5: Manal finishes her education with a degree in mathematics. Her professor tells her she has a great future ahead of her. Seven years pass and she is still waiting for that great future at the gates of the Civil Services bureau.
• COMMENT: Manal is one of thousands of unemployed Saudi women. The rate of unemployment among Saudi females is estimated at 16 percent. Welcome to the club, Manal, there is always space for newcomers.
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Picture 6: The minister of Labor announces the opening of new employment offices throughout the Kingdom in order to count the number of unemployed and find them suitable jobs based on their qualifications. Women are the first to wake up like early birds. But the offices are open only for male candidates. Women’s opportunities will come as a second step. Go home and enjoy the luxury of being taken care of. Women are created to be wives and mothers not to demand jobs, a labor office employee says.
• COMMENT: Women comprise only 16 percent of the labor force
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Picture 7: Amal wakes up at 4 in the morning. Carrying her preparation book, she throws a last look at her room, home and face in the mirror. She travels 300 kilometers outside her city to her job as a teacher in a rural area. Looking at the road behind, she wonders whether she’ll see the same mountains and trees again.
The phone rings.
Amal’s father: Assalamu Alaikum. Who’s this?
The caller: The police. I am sorry to tell you that your daughter has died in a car accident on her way to school. Would you please come and receive the body.
• COMMENT: The Ministry of Education has no comment while dozens of female teachers die each year in road accidents in rural areas.
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Picture 8: Amenah is happy to see her son Mohammad finally going to school. Twelve years pass. Now it’s time for university.
Employee: Today is allocated only for Saudi students.
Mohammad: I am Saudi.
Employee: You are not, your papers say so.
Mohammad: I am Saudi. I am no different than those around me. Look at me. I speak your dialect and wear your clothes.
Employee: Only your mother is Saudi. Stay away please and make way to those behind you.
• COMMENT: Children of Saudi women from a non-Saudi father do not get citizenship by birth.
NOTE: In October 2000, the Saudi government signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) with a reservation about clauses in conflict with Islamic law.
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
Picture 1: Hanadi is flying. She is enjoying the view of her beloved country from the sky. Flying is not new to Hanadi because she’s been doing it for so long. The only difference this time is that she’s sitting in the cockpit, flying the plane. Hanadi safely lands. She picks up her stuff and rushes to the airport gate. OOPS! She can’t drive home. Well, not a big issue. She calls her mother and asks for the driver. Another hour that she could have spent flying is wasted. Lucky her. At least she knows what freedom means.
• COMMENT: The women’s driving issue was closed in the Shoura Council even before it was discussed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Picture 2: Rania is hiding in a dark corner in an unknown place. She is neither a criminal nor a prisoner. She is simply hiding from her family. Suddenly, she forgets her pain as a smile spreads across her face. Her unborn baby of seven months is moving inside her womb. Dad is in prison.
She imagines a conversation with her unborn child:
Baby: Why is dad in prison? Is dad a criminal? Was that because he left you alone?
Rania: No baby. Your dad is a noble man. Actually he did nothing but marry me against your grandma’s will.
Baby: Will he be there when I come to life?
Rania: God knows.
• COMMENT: Rania is divorced against her will due to unequal tribal backgrounds.
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Picture 3: Eiman is a 36-year-old physician. She is packing her luggage in preparation for a work trip. She is invited to present a research paper at an international symposium. Her official papers are ready and, unlike others, she is guaranteed a visa. OOPS, she cannot go. Her father passed away last year and her 18-year-old brother is not will not let her travel simply because she dared make him drive the same car for a whole year.
• COMMENT: Saudi women need a male guardian’s permission to travel abroad no matter what she does for a living.
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Picture 4:Fatima is celebrating her fifth wedding anniversary. She looks happy as she sees her beloved husband and children around her. There is a knock on the door. It’s her half brothers.
Fatima: Wow, welcome brothers! I have been dreaming of this visit since I got married. Mansour, come and see who is visiting us.
Brothers: We are here to take you home.
Fatima: What are you saying? Stop joking and come and see my husband.
Brothers: You stop and come with us. This inferior man is not your husband anymore. We’ve got you divorced!
•COMMENT: Fatima’s is not the only case. There are more than 30 Saudi couples that are divorced because distant relatives objected to the marriage.
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Picture 5: Manal finishes her education with a degree in mathematics. Her professor tells her she has a great future ahead of her. Seven years pass and she is still waiting for that great future at the gates of the Civil Services bureau.
• COMMENT: Manal is one of thousands of unemployed Saudi women. The rate of unemployment among Saudi females is estimated at 16 percent. Welcome to the club, Manal, there is always space for newcomers.
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Picture 6: The minister of Labor announces the opening of new employment offices throughout the Kingdom in order to count the number of unemployed and find them suitable jobs based on their qualifications. Women are the first to wake up like early birds. But the offices are open only for male candidates. Women’s opportunities will come as a second step. Go home and enjoy the luxury of being taken care of. Women are created to be wives and mothers not to demand jobs, a labor office employee says.
• COMMENT: Women comprise only 16 percent of the labor force
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Picture 7: Amal wakes up at 4 in the morning. Carrying her preparation book, she throws a last look at her room, home and face in the mirror. She travels 300 kilometers outside her city to her job as a teacher in a rural area. Looking at the road behind, she wonders whether she’ll see the same mountains and trees again.
The phone rings.
Amal’s father: Assalamu Alaikum. Who’s this?
The caller: The police. I am sorry to tell you that your daughter has died in a car accident on her way to school. Would you please come and receive the body.
• COMMENT: The Ministry of Education has no comment while dozens of female teachers die each year in road accidents in rural areas.
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Picture 8: Amenah is happy to see her son Mohammad finally going to school. Twelve years pass. Now it’s time for university.
Employee: Today is allocated only for Saudi students.
Mohammad: I am Saudi.
Employee: You are not, your papers say so.
Mohammad: I am Saudi. I am no different than those around me. Look at me. I speak your dialect and wear your clothes.
Employee: Only your mother is Saudi. Stay away please and make way to those behind you.
• COMMENT: Children of Saudi women from a non-Saudi father do not get citizenship by birth.
NOTE: In October 2000, the Saudi government signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) with a reservation about clauses in conflict with Islamic law.
Which Health Insurance do you have?
Monday, 05 March 2007
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
THIS was the first question the receptionist in a private hospital in Jeddah asked me when I brought my sick mother to his hospital. At that time, I could not figure out the reason behind his question. I thought he was assuming that all Saudis have health insurance. The receptionist showed respect and care. He also wore a wide smile that did not raise any suspicion in me. I thought he was being nice to us.
But after five days when my mother was about to leave the hospital I found out the reason behind the question and the nice, wide smile. I also found out that we were nothing but easy prey for those private hospitals.
Most Saudis don’t believe in health insurance. Some of them think that insurance is gambling and reject it from a religious point of view despite the fact the religious scholars have approved of it – but under certain conditions.
Others simply do not believe that sickness can hit without a warning. To tell you the truth, I was among those who have been rejecting the idea of paying up for insurance while I’m still young and healthy. But when I started working, I received health insurance from my company and that made me feel secure. Health insurance also encouraged me to see a doctor at every symptom, even if it was only a cold or flu.
The lack of fear of a big bill also made me encourage all my family members to go to a private hospital where they’d find better care than in a government one. This, however, did not last long when I received my mother’s bill: SR12,000 for five days of primarily health care!
I lost confidence in private hospitals.
I was shocked because I knew that what they offered my mother would never amount to so much. The guest dinner, breakfast and lunch that they insisted on sending to our room would not be so costly even in a five-star hotel. I quietly paid the bill but asked for a detailed one. The receptionist was a bit hesitant to give it to me but finally he came up with a general one that categorized the services as following: housing and accommodation, guest food, medical services, laboratory services, and senior medical consultation.
The bill did not make sense to me. So I asked for another detailed one. I found out that even tissues, gloves and alcohol swabs were included. Fair enough, but to pay half a riyal for each swab while you can get 100 for 5 riyals was an exaggeration and simply nonsensical.
But worse, they duplicated every single procedure they had done for my mother. For instance, they registered two X-rays, though she had only one. When I raised it with the medical director, he said that maybe the first one was not good and so they had to repeat it. Well, why should the poor patients pay for staff incompetence? And if they have to, why pay the entire amount again? As if SR80 was not enough for one X-ray.
Up until that point, I was nice and polite with the director but when I found out that they also doubled the complete blood chemistry test, when both samples – according to the bill – were taken at the same time, I questioned such procedure.
At that time I felt sad for my country and my people who have become easy prey for any swindler who knows how to take advantage of them. As if the stock market has left them something to eat. Now they have to worry not only about their safety at government hospitals but also their own living at private ones.
My advice to you is to get health insurance or at least double check your bill before paying.
For those jobless but educated, you can seize the chance and start your own ‘checking medical bill’ office. You will make more than you did in the stock market. At least no “Hamoors” to be worried about.
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
THIS was the first question the receptionist in a private hospital in Jeddah asked me when I brought my sick mother to his hospital. At that time, I could not figure out the reason behind his question. I thought he was assuming that all Saudis have health insurance. The receptionist showed respect and care. He also wore a wide smile that did not raise any suspicion in me. I thought he was being nice to us.
But after five days when my mother was about to leave the hospital I found out the reason behind the question and the nice, wide smile. I also found out that we were nothing but easy prey for those private hospitals.
Most Saudis don’t believe in health insurance. Some of them think that insurance is gambling and reject it from a religious point of view despite the fact the religious scholars have approved of it – but under certain conditions.
Others simply do not believe that sickness can hit without a warning. To tell you the truth, I was among those who have been rejecting the idea of paying up for insurance while I’m still young and healthy. But when I started working, I received health insurance from my company and that made me feel secure. Health insurance also encouraged me to see a doctor at every symptom, even if it was only a cold or flu.
The lack of fear of a big bill also made me encourage all my family members to go to a private hospital where they’d find better care than in a government one. This, however, did not last long when I received my mother’s bill: SR12,000 for five days of primarily health care!
I lost confidence in private hospitals.
I was shocked because I knew that what they offered my mother would never amount to so much. The guest dinner, breakfast and lunch that they insisted on sending to our room would not be so costly even in a five-star hotel. I quietly paid the bill but asked for a detailed one. The receptionist was a bit hesitant to give it to me but finally he came up with a general one that categorized the services as following: housing and accommodation, guest food, medical services, laboratory services, and senior medical consultation.
The bill did not make sense to me. So I asked for another detailed one. I found out that even tissues, gloves and alcohol swabs were included. Fair enough, but to pay half a riyal for each swab while you can get 100 for 5 riyals was an exaggeration and simply nonsensical.
But worse, they duplicated every single procedure they had done for my mother. For instance, they registered two X-rays, though she had only one. When I raised it with the medical director, he said that maybe the first one was not good and so they had to repeat it. Well, why should the poor patients pay for staff incompetence? And if they have to, why pay the entire amount again? As if SR80 was not enough for one X-ray.
Up until that point, I was nice and polite with the director but when I found out that they also doubled the complete blood chemistry test, when both samples – according to the bill – were taken at the same time, I questioned such procedure.
At that time I felt sad for my country and my people who have become easy prey for any swindler who knows how to take advantage of them. As if the stock market has left them something to eat. Now they have to worry not only about their safety at government hospitals but also their own living at private ones.
My advice to you is to get health insurance or at least double check your bill before paying.
For those jobless but educated, you can seize the chance and start your own ‘checking medical bill’ office. You will make more than you did in the stock market. At least no “Hamoors” to be worried about.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Forced Divorce Now a Forum Issue
Tuesday, 27 February 2007
By Sabria S. Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH
THE issue of forced divorce, an unlikely topic to be discussed at the Jeddah Economic Forum, became an unexpected hot-button topic during a panel session Monday that erupted into a brief confrontation between some audience members and Riyadh’s human rights representative.
During a question-and-answer period in the afternoon session on the role of law in economic reform attended by former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Human Rights representative Abdullah Aziz Mohammed Hinaidi, the audience peppered Hinaidi with questions about his views of forced divorces.
The issue of forced divorce has become one of the hottest debates in Saudi Arabia after several cases have surfaced in recent months. The most controversial case involves Fatima Al-Timani, 34, and her husband Mansour Al-Timani, 37, who were divorced in absentia and against their will. In another case Rania Al-Bouenin and Saud Al-Khaledi also were forced to get divorced on a petition filed in Al-Khobar court by her father.
A squabble erupted when Dr. Ameera Kashgari, an English language professor and columnist, asked Hinaidi how forced divorces affect the development of emerging countries and whether it violates the human rights treaties signed by the Kingdom.
Moderator Alistar Stewart quickly cut her off. Hinaidi, however, attempted to answer the question by noting that Saudi Arabia “is committed to the treaties” it signed and that the government is doing a good job on the issue of human rights.
When pressed to give his own opinions abut such divorce cases, Hinaidi did not answer.
A man in the audience jumped up and asked the same question, noting his concern over the increasing number of forced divorce cases in the judicial system and the consequences of such cases if a divorce is granted.
Hinaidi replied that such cases were not good for society. He also said that the Human Rights Commission was cooperating with the government on the issue and that concerns have been “transferred to the Ministry of Justice.” He did not elaborate on how the Ministry of Justice was going to address the issue.
Hinaidi then told a story of a Saudi woman who fell in love with her driver and fled to the driver’s own country to marry him and to live there without her father’s permission. The father’s only recourse, he said, was to stop financial aid to his daughter and to block her private bank account. The woman has been married for several years and now has three children.
Several audience members complained the woman’s story was not relevant to the issue of forced divorce. Another female audience member accused Hinaidi of not directly answering the questions from the audience, but again Stewart cut off the question.
The session, several members of the audience filed out of the hall complaining that their opportunity to get answers about the issue was foiled by Stewart and Hinaidi’s reluctance to be forthright about his own views as a human rights representative.
By Sabria S. Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH
THE issue of forced divorce, an unlikely topic to be discussed at the Jeddah Economic Forum, became an unexpected hot-button topic during a panel session Monday that erupted into a brief confrontation between some audience members and Riyadh’s human rights representative.
During a question-and-answer period in the afternoon session on the role of law in economic reform attended by former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Human Rights representative Abdullah Aziz Mohammed Hinaidi, the audience peppered Hinaidi with questions about his views of forced divorces.
The issue of forced divorce has become one of the hottest debates in Saudi Arabia after several cases have surfaced in recent months. The most controversial case involves Fatima Al-Timani, 34, and her husband Mansour Al-Timani, 37, who were divorced in absentia and against their will. In another case Rania Al-Bouenin and Saud Al-Khaledi also were forced to get divorced on a petition filed in Al-Khobar court by her father.
A squabble erupted when Dr. Ameera Kashgari, an English language professor and columnist, asked Hinaidi how forced divorces affect the development of emerging countries and whether it violates the human rights treaties signed by the Kingdom.
Moderator Alistar Stewart quickly cut her off. Hinaidi, however, attempted to answer the question by noting that Saudi Arabia “is committed to the treaties” it signed and that the government is doing a good job on the issue of human rights.
When pressed to give his own opinions abut such divorce cases, Hinaidi did not answer.
A man in the audience jumped up and asked the same question, noting his concern over the increasing number of forced divorce cases in the judicial system and the consequences of such cases if a divorce is granted.
Hinaidi replied that such cases were not good for society. He also said that the Human Rights Commission was cooperating with the government on the issue and that concerns have been “transferred to the Ministry of Justice.” He did not elaborate on how the Ministry of Justice was going to address the issue.
Hinaidi then told a story of a Saudi woman who fell in love with her driver and fled to the driver’s own country to marry him and to live there without her father’s permission. The father’s only recourse, he said, was to stop financial aid to his daughter and to block her private bank account. The woman has been married for several years and now has three children.
Several audience members complained the woman’s story was not relevant to the issue of forced divorce. Another female audience member accused Hinaidi of not directly answering the questions from the audience, but again Stewart cut off the question.
The session, several members of the audience filed out of the hall complaining that their opportunity to get answers about the issue was foiled by Stewart and Hinaidi’s reluctance to be forthright about his own views as a human rights representative.
Al-Qaeda Methods Seen in Attack
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
Shooting of French Nationals could Affect Tourism
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH
THE slaying of four French nationals near Madina shared similar characteristics of an Al-Qaeda attack, a security source said Tuesday.
But Ministry of Interior officials said it’s too early to determine whether the attacks were terror-related.
“I noticed Al-Qaeda-covered style in this operation,” said a Saudi security official, who asked not to identified.
He said that people must keep in mind that there are still sleeper cells waiting for a signal to start operations. He said, “what is better than a quiet and isolated place like that near Madina to hide and hunt down foreigners,” he added.
Saudi officials have always maintained that terrorism has not been completely defeated in the Kingdom. Yet, unlike the neighboring countries, the security situation is still under control.
“We have security all over the country and our work is still going on whether there are threats or not,” said the security official.
Abdullah Al-Sultan, a political analyst, did not comment on whether the attack has Al-Qaeda characteristics, but he also did not rule out the possibility of sleeper cells. He said terrorists usually change their tactics to make it more difficult for law authorities to foil their attacks.
“The more progress security men achieve, the more new tactics those groups (terrorists) come up with,” Al-Sultan said.
On Monday, four Frenchmen were fatally shot near the historic site of Madain Saleh in the northwest region of the Kingdom.
The men were resting on the side of a road about 10 miles north of Madina when gunmen fired at their car, instantly killing two of them. The other two men died later after they were rushed to a hospital. Women and children also were with the group but they were unhurt.
A Ministry of Interior source said that the group was 17 kilometers from the main road when the men were shot. He said that the victims decided to take that road by themselves, but it is not clear whether they were going for Umrah or simply traveling to another ancient site.
The ministry source did not comment on whether the incident would affect tourism that has been recently opened to non-Muslims. He said that 48 hours is not enough to judge, especially when there is no clear connection to terrorism.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” the source said, “Anything that we might say now is only a speculation.”
But Al-Sultan said that tourism is not yet a business in Saudi Arabia so he ruled out any possibility of targeting it by itself. He said if it is proved to be a terrorist attack, then the sent message is that “Al-Qaeda does exist and their attacks can be effective.”
The security official said the attack should be seen as a wake-up call for paying more attention to the tourist sites.
“If we want to promote tourism as a business we have to follow the international standards of taking care of them,” he said.” Tourist places should be guarded and checkpoints should be placed on the roads that take to them.”
Mohammad Al-Jehani, a resident of Madina, expressed concern over the business of tourism, adding that people of Al-Ola, where most of the historic sites are open for tourists, were expecting a good market in the near future.
“This attack might bring us back to the time when we used not to see a single tourist for weeks,” he said.
The Supreme Commission of Tourism refused to comment on the possible effect of such an attack of their recently introduced project to promote tourism.
Al-Sultan urged Westerners not to help terrorists to achieve their goals by leaving their jobs in the Kingdom or become intimidated by such incidents.
“Help us to fight them and put down their plans by integrating and being part of this welcoming society,” he said.
Saudi Arabia has recently started a project to promote tourism to Saudis, Arab visitors and special niche markets that are looking at the cultural heritage aspect of Saudi Arabia. Following Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, many Saudis have started traveling regionally and not going on long-distance flights.
Shooting of French Nationals could Affect Tourism
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH
THE slaying of four French nationals near Madina shared similar characteristics of an Al-Qaeda attack, a security source said Tuesday.
But Ministry of Interior officials said it’s too early to determine whether the attacks were terror-related.
“I noticed Al-Qaeda-covered style in this operation,” said a Saudi security official, who asked not to identified.
He said that people must keep in mind that there are still sleeper cells waiting for a signal to start operations. He said, “what is better than a quiet and isolated place like that near Madina to hide and hunt down foreigners,” he added.
Saudi officials have always maintained that terrorism has not been completely defeated in the Kingdom. Yet, unlike the neighboring countries, the security situation is still under control.
“We have security all over the country and our work is still going on whether there are threats or not,” said the security official.
Abdullah Al-Sultan, a political analyst, did not comment on whether the attack has Al-Qaeda characteristics, but he also did not rule out the possibility of sleeper cells. He said terrorists usually change their tactics to make it more difficult for law authorities to foil their attacks.
“The more progress security men achieve, the more new tactics those groups (terrorists) come up with,” Al-Sultan said.
On Monday, four Frenchmen were fatally shot near the historic site of Madain Saleh in the northwest region of the Kingdom.
The men were resting on the side of a road about 10 miles north of Madina when gunmen fired at their car, instantly killing two of them. The other two men died later after they were rushed to a hospital. Women and children also were with the group but they were unhurt.
A Ministry of Interior source said that the group was 17 kilometers from the main road when the men were shot. He said that the victims decided to take that road by themselves, but it is not clear whether they were going for Umrah or simply traveling to another ancient site.
The ministry source did not comment on whether the incident would affect tourism that has been recently opened to non-Muslims. He said that 48 hours is not enough to judge, especially when there is no clear connection to terrorism.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” the source said, “Anything that we might say now is only a speculation.”
But Al-Sultan said that tourism is not yet a business in Saudi Arabia so he ruled out any possibility of targeting it by itself. He said if it is proved to be a terrorist attack, then the sent message is that “Al-Qaeda does exist and their attacks can be effective.”
The security official said the attack should be seen as a wake-up call for paying more attention to the tourist sites.
“If we want to promote tourism as a business we have to follow the international standards of taking care of them,” he said.” Tourist places should be guarded and checkpoints should be placed on the roads that take to them.”
Mohammad Al-Jehani, a resident of Madina, expressed concern over the business of tourism, adding that people of Al-Ola, where most of the historic sites are open for tourists, were expecting a good market in the near future.
“This attack might bring us back to the time when we used not to see a single tourist for weeks,” he said.
The Supreme Commission of Tourism refused to comment on the possible effect of such an attack of their recently introduced project to promote tourism.
Al-Sultan urged Westerners not to help terrorists to achieve their goals by leaving their jobs in the Kingdom or become intimidated by such incidents.
“Help us to fight them and put down their plans by integrating and being part of this welcoming society,” he said.
Saudi Arabia has recently started a project to promote tourism to Saudis, Arab visitors and special niche markets that are looking at the cultural heritage aspect of Saudi Arabia. Following Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, many Saudis have started traveling regionally and not going on long-distance flights.
Businesses Skirt Social Obligations
Tuesday, 27 February 2007
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
MONDAY, the second day of the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF), witnessed a quite good number of attendees, though humble compared to the first day where some were forced to stand at the back of the hall to follow the sessions.
Both the organizers and attendees seemed to be less confused and more relaxed than on the opening day. The reasons, however, were not clear to me. A sort of negative attitude was in evidence towards the media representatives that criticized the organization of the forum. Nothing new, Saudis lack the spirit for criticism.
However, the early session that covered Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) received a noticeable attention for several reasons, among them the fact that among the speakers was Asya Al-Ashaikh, a Saudi businesswoman and researcher in the field of CSR.
When Al-Ashaikh took the stage, it was obvious that she learned the lesson from those women who were criticized three years ago for appearing in what was characterized by extremists as immodest clothing.
Her hair was fully covered and her abaya was completely closed. I cannot help but express my admiration not only for the way Asya appeared and presented herself, but also for the way she was speaking and conducting herself.
She was a good example of the Saudi businesswoman that we are all looking for. By appearing the way she did, Asya closed the doors to those who oppose the progress of Saudi women under the garb of religion. The message that Asya was indirectly conveying was that Saudi women can succeed in all fields and keep their customs and religious values intact.
She talked about the concept of CSR that states that organizations, especially commercial businesses, have a duty to care for all of their stakeholders in all aspects of their operations. This duty goes beyond their statutory obligation to comply with legislation.
CSR is closely linked to the principles of Sustainable Development, which argues that enterprises should be required to make decisions based not only on financial and economic factors but also on both the immediate and long-term social and environmental consequences of their activities.
Asya emphasized the importance of linking CSR to our strategic goals and systemizing it, especially since the economic and political atmosphere in Saudi Arabia is encouraging. The economic reform that the country is witnessing is a great boost for the implementation of such an idea, she added.
She noted a complete absence of the required consumers’ and media pressure for enforcing CSR in the Saudi private sector. We are not living in a developed society, she said, where there are clear-cut rules for the government and business sectors and where the government lays down regulations and the business sector implements them. We don’t even know that there is a third party that should be taken into consideration.
To her, the term CSR has become a catchword that many unfortunately do not understand. I do agree with Asya, as I remember that last year I was at a press conference in one of the leading banks in Saudi Arabia and when I asked officials what they had done in the field of CSR, I received a long list of charity work that clearly reflected a sort of confusion even at the highest level. It seems that many believe that it is merely donating funds to a charity of one’s choice. On the contrary, it is truly about building a long-term and sustainable platform for various programs that address the needs of the society where companies operate.
Waleed Fitaihi, a speaker and chairman of the board of directors of the International Medical Center in Jeddah, said there is a complete absence of the concept of social responsibility from the dictionary of the local banks, where billions of riyals go to only investors.
He said this money should be redirected to the community not the investors. And just where do the billions of Saudi riyals go? What is the role of local banks when it comes to corporate social responsibility? Is the government going to take a step to encourage more CSR? According to Asya, the government comes as a second step. But I disagree. As in a non-developed community, the government should take initiatives and this is what people are used to.
For instance, the government may offer more facilities, incentives and advantages for those corporations that pay enough attention to CSR. They may also announce the names of those who are active in CSR, which will open the door for competition among those establishments. The public can also play a great role if they are told what benefits they will get from the incorporation of such concepts as CSR. The more they know about those who care for and serve them, the more they will support them.
Since we are gathering to discuss and promote CSR, it is the best time to also reconsider the way we use the charity money, especially for Zakat. The way Zakat money is spent should be reviewed and redirected to more sustainable projects.
By Sabria S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
MONDAY, the second day of the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF), witnessed a quite good number of attendees, though humble compared to the first day where some were forced to stand at the back of the hall to follow the sessions.
Both the organizers and attendees seemed to be less confused and more relaxed than on the opening day. The reasons, however, were not clear to me. A sort of negative attitude was in evidence towards the media representatives that criticized the organization of the forum. Nothing new, Saudis lack the spirit for criticism.
However, the early session that covered Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) received a noticeable attention for several reasons, among them the fact that among the speakers was Asya Al-Ashaikh, a Saudi businesswoman and researcher in the field of CSR.
When Al-Ashaikh took the stage, it was obvious that she learned the lesson from those women who were criticized three years ago for appearing in what was characterized by extremists as immodest clothing.
Her hair was fully covered and her abaya was completely closed. I cannot help but express my admiration not only for the way Asya appeared and presented herself, but also for the way she was speaking and conducting herself.
She was a good example of the Saudi businesswoman that we are all looking for. By appearing the way she did, Asya closed the doors to those who oppose the progress of Saudi women under the garb of religion. The message that Asya was indirectly conveying was that Saudi women can succeed in all fields and keep their customs and religious values intact.
She talked about the concept of CSR that states that organizations, especially commercial businesses, have a duty to care for all of their stakeholders in all aspects of their operations. This duty goes beyond their statutory obligation to comply with legislation.
CSR is closely linked to the principles of Sustainable Development, which argues that enterprises should be required to make decisions based not only on financial and economic factors but also on both the immediate and long-term social and environmental consequences of their activities.
Asya emphasized the importance of linking CSR to our strategic goals and systemizing it, especially since the economic and political atmosphere in Saudi Arabia is encouraging. The economic reform that the country is witnessing is a great boost for the implementation of such an idea, she added.
She noted a complete absence of the required consumers’ and media pressure for enforcing CSR in the Saudi private sector. We are not living in a developed society, she said, where there are clear-cut rules for the government and business sectors and where the government lays down regulations and the business sector implements them. We don’t even know that there is a third party that should be taken into consideration.
To her, the term CSR has become a catchword that many unfortunately do not understand. I do agree with Asya, as I remember that last year I was at a press conference in one of the leading banks in Saudi Arabia and when I asked officials what they had done in the field of CSR, I received a long list of charity work that clearly reflected a sort of confusion even at the highest level. It seems that many believe that it is merely donating funds to a charity of one’s choice. On the contrary, it is truly about building a long-term and sustainable platform for various programs that address the needs of the society where companies operate.
Waleed Fitaihi, a speaker and chairman of the board of directors of the International Medical Center in Jeddah, said there is a complete absence of the concept of social responsibility from the dictionary of the local banks, where billions of riyals go to only investors.
He said this money should be redirected to the community not the investors. And just where do the billions of Saudi riyals go? What is the role of local banks when it comes to corporate social responsibility? Is the government going to take a step to encourage more CSR? According to Asya, the government comes as a second step. But I disagree. As in a non-developed community, the government should take initiatives and this is what people are used to.
For instance, the government may offer more facilities, incentives and advantages for those corporations that pay enough attention to CSR. They may also announce the names of those who are active in CSR, which will open the door for competition among those establishments. The public can also play a great role if they are told what benefits they will get from the incorporation of such concepts as CSR. The more they know about those who care for and serve them, the more they will support them.
Since we are gathering to discuss and promote CSR, it is the best time to also reconsider the way we use the charity money, especially for Zakat. The way Zakat money is spent should be reviewed and redirected to more sustainable projects.
Has JEF Achieved its Goal?
Monday, 26 February 2007
By Sabri S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
Sunday’s Jeddah Economic Forum probably saw the largest number of participants and guests since its founding eight years ago. The international community’s greatest minds meet here to discuss the economic future of the Middle East.
But to what end? Do we accomplish the present goals of such a great event? Some how, I’m not so sure.
After eight years, one might ask what will the Jeddah Economic Forum add to our multi-cultural Red Sea port city, Saudi Arabia as a country and the region in general? Will it be a real think tank where the increasing concerns of the region, including the economy, are to be discussed? Or will it remain a VIP club where people gather and show off? In other words, we have high-profile economists and social experts flying to Jeddah to immediately leave after their scheduled sessions. They can hardly say hello in the corridors. Sometimes they only know about each other by reading the next day’s newspaper. I have doubts the forum can be effective with so little time spent on critical issues that affect the region’s politics and economy.
The Davos forums register success one year after another. What make those forums special are the coincidental conversations and random contacts that take place between sessions. Most of the time it leads to generating great ideas as people put their guards down and are more relaxed.
The speech by Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, for instance, serves as a prime example of the way we fail to follow up. In an emotional speech in the jam-packed main hall at the Jeddah Hilton, she wondered what legacy we will leave our children and grandchildren. She wondered where the moderate Muslims are. She said there is a divide between the East and West, and the West can hardly be blamed for viewing the Middle East as a source of terrorism because pretenders have hijacked Islam and committed violence in the name of religion.
The moderate Muslim, Queen Rania said, can help the West understand the Middle East and recognize that we have much to offer to the international community. The West thinks we don’t understand their policies. They are wrong, she said, we do understand - we just don’t agree with those policies. The communication gap between the two worlds must be bridged and we need people who can do it. There needs to be a Queen Rania in every school, in every district, in every city and in every country which can put a moderate face on Islam and the Arab community in general. But the shortcomings of the Jeddah Economic Forum, such as those seen in Sunday’s sessions, is the fact the Queen Ranias of the Arab community can bring us to our feet with hearty applause and even get us a little misty-eyed, but we do not fulfill our obligations to the international community. Certainly there is room in our world for more Queen Ranias. Yet we leave the hall and don’t think about her words but about lunch or some such distraction.
Do we as Arabs and Muslims have the conviction to follow through? I’m not convinced, because it takes a special kind of person, a leader, if you will, to make sure that Queen Rania’s messages are carried to our Arab neighbors as well as to the West.
There must be a review of her words and the words of the wise men and women who have come to Saudi Arabia to offer their thoughts. It’s one thing to call the forum a “think tank” but it’s another to actually implement the words we say.
The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce is solely responsible for this forum. If the forum is to achieve future success and draw the kinds of minds we need to implement solutions to the region’s problems, then we must invite the Ministry of Finance and the Saudi Arabia General Commission for Investment. We must work to put together an effective agenda and then ensure that we follow through with it. We should also consider categorizing participants in their areas of expertise to maximize the sessions’ results. We can do this without diminishing the importance of participants networking on the side to achieve their own goals. Would I be going too far to suggest there be a place where businessmen and women meet to discuss their investment interests away from security guards who play the part of the morality police?
The Supreme Commission of Tourism should also be a main participant in the forum to promote Saudi Arabia and show the best sides of this vast country, especially since attendees are high-profile businessmen and women who can invest and spend in tourism. The commission, however, fails to see the big picture by investing funds in projects that only focus on Arab and Muslim tourists. I would even go so far as to suggest we move the forum from West-friendly Jeddah to our potential tourist destinations such as Abha or Taif, to promote the uniqueness Saudi Arabia has to offer.
By Sabri S Jawhar
The Saudi Gazette
Sunday’s Jeddah Economic Forum probably saw the largest number of participants and guests since its founding eight years ago. The international community’s greatest minds meet here to discuss the economic future of the Middle East.
But to what end? Do we accomplish the present goals of such a great event? Some how, I’m not so sure.
After eight years, one might ask what will the Jeddah Economic Forum add to our multi-cultural Red Sea port city, Saudi Arabia as a country and the region in general? Will it be a real think tank where the increasing concerns of the region, including the economy, are to be discussed? Or will it remain a VIP club where people gather and show off? In other words, we have high-profile economists and social experts flying to Jeddah to immediately leave after their scheduled sessions. They can hardly say hello in the corridors. Sometimes they only know about each other by reading the next day’s newspaper. I have doubts the forum can be effective with so little time spent on critical issues that affect the region’s politics and economy.
The Davos forums register success one year after another. What make those forums special are the coincidental conversations and random contacts that take place between sessions. Most of the time it leads to generating great ideas as people put their guards down and are more relaxed.
The speech by Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, for instance, serves as a prime example of the way we fail to follow up. In an emotional speech in the jam-packed main hall at the Jeddah Hilton, she wondered what legacy we will leave our children and grandchildren. She wondered where the moderate Muslims are. She said there is a divide between the East and West, and the West can hardly be blamed for viewing the Middle East as a source of terrorism because pretenders have hijacked Islam and committed violence in the name of religion.
The moderate Muslim, Queen Rania said, can help the West understand the Middle East and recognize that we have much to offer to the international community. The West thinks we don’t understand their policies. They are wrong, she said, we do understand - we just don’t agree with those policies. The communication gap between the two worlds must be bridged and we need people who can do it. There needs to be a Queen Rania in every school, in every district, in every city and in every country which can put a moderate face on Islam and the Arab community in general. But the shortcomings of the Jeddah Economic Forum, such as those seen in Sunday’s sessions, is the fact the Queen Ranias of the Arab community can bring us to our feet with hearty applause and even get us a little misty-eyed, but we do not fulfill our obligations to the international community. Certainly there is room in our world for more Queen Ranias. Yet we leave the hall and don’t think about her words but about lunch or some such distraction.
Do we as Arabs and Muslims have the conviction to follow through? I’m not convinced, because it takes a special kind of person, a leader, if you will, to make sure that Queen Rania’s messages are carried to our Arab neighbors as well as to the West.
There must be a review of her words and the words of the wise men and women who have come to Saudi Arabia to offer their thoughts. It’s one thing to call the forum a “think tank” but it’s another to actually implement the words we say.
The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce is solely responsible for this forum. If the forum is to achieve future success and draw the kinds of minds we need to implement solutions to the region’s problems, then we must invite the Ministry of Finance and the Saudi Arabia General Commission for Investment. We must work to put together an effective agenda and then ensure that we follow through with it. We should also consider categorizing participants in their areas of expertise to maximize the sessions’ results. We can do this without diminishing the importance of participants networking on the side to achieve their own goals. Would I be going too far to suggest there be a place where businessmen and women meet to discuss their investment interests away from security guards who play the part of the morality police?
The Supreme Commission of Tourism should also be a main participant in the forum to promote Saudi Arabia and show the best sides of this vast country, especially since attendees are high-profile businessmen and women who can invest and spend in tourism. The commission, however, fails to see the big picture by investing funds in projects that only focus on Arab and Muslim tourists. I would even go so far as to suggest we move the forum from West-friendly Jeddah to our potential tourist destinations such as Abha or Taif, to promote the uniqueness Saudi Arabia has to offer.
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