This Week’s Saudi Blog Roundup · Global Voices
Global Voices MENA

The Human Rights Watch visit to Saudi Arabia is still making headlines, 80 rats were found on a Saudi Airlines plane, a Bible was denied entry into Saudi, the Quran is now recognized as the second-most wanted Christmas gift in Denmark, and Sheikh Dot is back. Now, for the roundup…
According to Rasheed's post, “Human Rights Watch issued a press statement yesterday [December 19th] about how their delegation that was here in the Kingdom last week were denied access to many detention facilities that they had wanted to visit here [in Saudi Arabia].” Crossroads Arabia, however, sheds some light on other claims regarding the visit; according to an article on the Saudi Gazette, HRW “was able to visit prisons.” Aya thinks that they were -genuinely- denied access to prisons and detention facilities. “I don't think that HRW actually expected to be granted full access to the country, for God's sake, even its ‘contact us’ page is blocked in the kingdom,” she says.
Ahmed said he couldn't believe his eyes when he read in the newspaper that “80 RATS were found on a Saudi airline plane going from Riyadh to Tabuk! Apparently they were in one of the passengers BAGS!!!” He exclaims: “I mean HOW ON EARTH did that bag pass in the first place?!” In another topic, according to Crossroads Arabia and the article they posted, illegal immigration is currently growing to be a major issue in Saudi Arabia.
Rasheed posted about how the British press reported “about a British Midlands International (BMI) flight attendant who is taking the airline to an employment tribunal after the airline allegedly banned her from carrying a Bible into Saudi Arabia.” Still relating to holy books, Amer has posted about a very interesting new trend in Denmark, “Kristeligt Dagblad reported that the holy Quran is currently the 2nd most wanted Christmas present this year.”
Now, to wrap up…
Both Khloud and Mohammed (Arabic) were intrigued by Time Magazine's choice for Person of the Year; “You.” Sheikh Dot is back with a Christmas special. JeddahFood.com has emerged as “a major point of call for all those wishing to find out about the latest restaurants and hot spots in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.” Margrave has posted about the city of Riyadh's new Tom and Jerry fixation. And, lastly, Abu Anas shares some statistics (in Arabic) that might suggest the near demise of the blogging fad; he thinks the number of blog authors and contributors in the world will settle on 30 million, and will only see minuscule fluctuations.