Stories about Saudi Arabia from August, 2008
Saudi Arabia: Independent women
While there are no doubt restrictions for women living in Saudi Arabia, they do not necessarily match the oppressive image that many foreigners have of the country. In this post we have advice for women wanting to visit Jeddah alone, a review of a women-only hotel in Riyadh, and a plea to those foreigners who feel they want to speak on behalf of oppressed Saudi women.
Saudi Arabia: Growing fewer dates
Saudi Jeans tells us about date-growing in Saudi Arabia: “Growing dates has become a dying profession.”
Saudi Arabia: The history of salons
Saudiwoman explains how many tailors’ shops turned into beauty salons in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia: Criticism for the sake of it
At a social gathering, Saudi blogger Broken Wing meets an annoying woman who is full of criticism of Saudi Arabia: ‘I am not a fan of what Saudi offers to its citizens, but I don’t find sitting around in a place full of people from other countries and start criticizing...
Saudi Arabia: Off the road
Desert Flower, an American Muslim living in Saudi Arabia, is tired of not being permitted to drive: ‘…it gets down right stupid when you have to schedule an appointment to go grocery shopping or to get to the pharmacy or the doctor for that matter.’
Bahrain: Grand Auto Theft Raid
“Around an hour ago, at 2 PM today, two inspectors from the Ministry of Information raided a “Euphoria” shop in Seef Mall and confiscated all Grand Theft Auto IV titles, Both PS3 & Xbox 360,” reports Redbelt from Bahrain. The game is also reportedly banned in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia: Where are the women sport heroes?
Saudi girls deserve sport heroes too, says Jillian, at a post on women in the Olympics at Kabobfest. “Little girls in Saudi Arabia (which I will use as an example from now on, given that Qatar's population equals that of Boston) deserve to have strong heroes too,” she notes.
MENA: Veiled Athletes in Beijing
Despite the Saudi Arabia's decision to ban Saudi women from taking part in the Olympics this year, Blogger Dilshad D. Ali writes about the emergence of hijab (veil) at the Beijing Olympics. Blogger Jana, also lists the 12 veiled Muslim athletes who competed this year in Beijing.
Arabeyes: The Olympics, Pride, Equality and Hope
Millions around the world were glued to their television screens watching their favourite athletes at this year's Beijing Olympics, which just closed. What did Arab bloggers have to say about the world's premier sporting event and their country teams? Following are a few reactions.
Saudi Arabia: Can non-Muslims practise their faith here?
American Bedu, who lives in Saudi Arabia, asks the question: “I’m not Muslim. Can I practice my faith in Saudi Arabia?”
Saudi Arabia: Unhappy in Riyadh
After three years in the USA, Saudi blogger Aysha Alkusayer is having trouble readjusting to life in Riyadh, especially when she is not busy with work. She says: “To console myself tonight I am promising the following: I will not age in this city nor will I die in it.”
Saudi Arabia: It's all in the name
It is common practice for converts to Islam to adopt Muslim names. But is it necessary - and what kind of name is appropriate? One Saudi blogger ponders the question, while some others are thinking about the use of aliases in the blogosphere - and yet another encourages the government to 'name names'.
Saudi Arabia: Review of Saudi blogs
American Bedu, an American living in Saudi Arabia, reviews some Saudi blogs written in English in this post.
Saudi Arabia: Is a housemaid necessary?
For many who live in the Gulf, employing a housemaid is a normal part of life. One Saudi blogger who prefers not to has been facing much criticism.
Saudi Arabia: Whither Saudi blogging?
Saudi Arabia has a large and active blogosphere, in which all kinds of voices and opinions can be heard, including opinions that cannot be expressed in the country's media. But can blogging play a bigger role in changing Saudi society? One blogger poses the question.
Saudi Arabia: Slavery in the Gulf
Two weeks ago there were strikes and violent demonstrations by Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait, protesting low pay and poor working conditions. Following the demonstrations, more than two hundred workers were deported. In this post, two Saudi bloggers tell us what they think of modern-day ‘slavery’ in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf.
Saudi Arabia Bans Women from Olympics
Egyptian bloggers Mona Eltahawy and CP wrote about Saudi activist Wajeha Al Huwaider, who is protesting against her country's decision to ban Saudi women from taking part in the Olympics.
Arabeyes: Female, single, and away from home?
For many single Arab women, to live and work or study away from their family is not a choice made easily, because of fear of 'what people will say'. A number of bloggers from around the Arab world have voiced their frustration recently at the obstacles single women face.
Saudi Arabia: A ban on cats and dogs
Earlier this week in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, a ban was announced on selling cats and dogs as pets, or walking them in public, because of men apparently using them to make passes at women. Bloggers both inside and outside the kingdom have responded with disbelief.
Saudi Arabia: The religious police within
Naeem, an American Muslim living in Saudi Arabia, describes the mutawwa (religious police) he believes most Muslims have within them, focusing on external piety instead of true internal reform.
Saud Arabia: Windows or Satellite Dishes?
Saudi blogger Aysha Alkusayer is shocked at the number of satellite dishes, popping out of the windows of residential towers in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
