There's great excitement in Saudi Arabia. The whole kingdom is rejoicing. Everyone is thrilled, delighted, jubilant, esctatic and absolutely over the moon – at least, if you believe the Saudi Gazette:

There was universal acclaim for King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, after Unesco awarded him with its gold medal, the organisation’s highest honour. A number of Saudi officials and businessmen hailed the award as the world’s recognition of the King’s efforts to encourage interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

Yes, indeed. Look how he encourages peaceful coexistence between Sunni and Shia Muslims by sending troops into Bahrain, or attacking protesters in his own Eastern Province.

Then there's the benign-sounding "interfaith dialogue" which, as far as Saudi Arabia is concerned, usually means joining forces with those from other religions who share a Wahhabist mentality in order to promote their reactionary social agendas together.

And while we're about it, don't any of those usually-vociferous Saudi clerics have something to say on the question of gold medals? Are none of them willing to stand up and point out that such baubles are a sign of immodesty in men – and therefore haraaaaaaam? Apparently not.

Abdul Rahman Al-Attayshan, Chairman of the Saudi-Qatari Business Council, said Unesco’s actions reflect the love and affection of the international community for the King. He said King Abdullah was following in the footsteps of his father to ensure that the country remains the leading decision-maker in the region, local media said.

Yousuf Al-Dowsary, head of the National Commercial Committee at the Saudi Council of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said: “King Abdullah has earned the respect of the world for the great role he has played in tackling Arab, Islamic and international issues.” 

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Jairani, a judge at the Inheritance Circuit in Qatif, said the award is not surprising due to King Abdullah’s economic and political role in the region and the world. 

At least Sheikh Jairani is partly right: the award is no surprise. In 2006, Unesco also gave a gold medal to President Karimov, the tyrant of Uzbekistan.

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 29 April 2012.