Stories about Saudi Arabia from March, 2009
Saudi Arabia: Censoring Skin
From Saudi Arabia, Susie describes the ‘trouble’ censors go through to ‘cover up’ women's skin: “Certainly seeing all that tempting erotic skin, and coloring in all those feminine body parts...
Saudi Arabia: What books won't tell you about twins
Expecting twins? Nzingha, who is married to a Saudi, tells us in this post what “the books won't tell you.”
Saudi Arabia: Ordeals Facing Single Mothers
From Saudi Arabia, Rasha writes about the ordeals divorced mothers face in her country.
Saudi Arabia: A Well-Documented Sandstorm
Armed with their cameras and video cameras, bloggers in Saudi Arabia documented a massive sandstorm which covered the capital Riyadh, bringing visibility to only a few metres and life to a standstill.
Saudi Arabia: Forty Lashes for a 75-year-old Woman for ‘Mingling’ with Men
A 75-year-old Syrian woman was sentenced to 40 lashes, four months imprisonment and deportation from Saudi Arabia, for having two unrelated men in her house. The two men were also charged with ‘mingling' with an unrelated woman and sentenced to prison and lashes, sparking criticism for the country's judiciary and the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. Saudi Arabia's bloggers speak up.
Arab World: Culture, Culture Everywhere
Across the Gulf various cultural festivals and literary events have been taking place in recent weeks, and in this post we hear from some of the region's bloggers who have attended them. However culture is not a politics-free zone; even a book fair or a cultural festival can be a source of tension...
Egypt: Disaster Ferry Owner Finally Guilty!
The life of each one of the 1,000 plus Egyptians killed when the Salam 89 ferry sank in 2006 is worth about 11 hours in prison for ferry owner, former lawmaker and business tycoon Mamdouh Ismail, who has been sentenced in absentia to seven years in jail for “involuntary slaughter,” say Egyptian bloggers.
Egypt: Dalia Ziada urges Saudi Arabia to end discrimination against Muslim women
On the occasion of Prophet Mohamed's birthday, Egyptian blogger Dalia Ziada launches a campaign asking Saudi Arabia to end their discrimination against young Muslim women worldwide! Marwa Rakha reports on the initiative.
Middle East: Women Looking for a Cause to Celebrate
Female bloggers from across the Middle East joined hands in marking the International Women's Day with posts reflecting on the occasion and celebrating the lives and achievements of women who...
Saudi Arabia: Women can ride horses
Susie, an American married to a Saudi and living in Jeddah, takes her son to a riding school and notes: “Although there are many things that women cannot do here...
Israel: Saudi Woman Driver Arrested
Aussie Dave from Israel reports that a woman in Saudi Arabia has been arrested for .. driving a car. “I will resist making any women driver jokes since I don’t...