Archive: saudi arabia

24th July 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
I’m in two minds about Mazen Abdul Jawad, the 32-year-old Saudi who has been arrested after bragging on TV about his sexual conquests. He does come across as appallingly sexist. On the other hand, that’s no reason for the religious police to swing into action and have him flogged. Abdul Jawad, a… Read more
20th July 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
Contrary to popular belief, women are not banned from driving in Saudi Arabia. There’s no law that says they can’t drive. It’s just that, er … they have a lot of trouble getting a licence. The same can be said of the Jeddah Film Festival: not banned exactly, but stopped. The five-day event was due… Read more
13th July 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
Don’t pretend you’ve never wanted to know. The American Bedu blog has the answers to two vital questions: what Saudi men wear under their thobe and what women wear under the abaya. Posted by Brian Whitaker, 13 July 2009
12th July 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
Action by the Saudi religious police is being blamed for a double “honour” killing in the kingdom. Two sisters, identified as Reem, 21, and Nouf, 19, were arrested by the mutawwa on July 2 after being caught “in suspicious circumstances with two unrelated men”. They were detained in a “social… Read more