Archive: saudi arabia
24th January 2012
There have been interesting developments in the Saudi religious police (the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice) following the appointment of Sheikh Abdullatif al-Sheikh as its chief earlier this month.
Al-Sheikh is a religious scholar who specialises in women's issues.… Read more
5th January 2012
On Thursday Saudi Arabia began gradual implementation of a law that says shops selling women's underwear must be staffed by women. The move – widely portrayed as a reform – has divided feminists, with some supporting it and others opposing it.
Reem Asaad (interviewed here on NPR) campaigned for… Read more
22nd December 2011
Six girls-only high schools in Jeddah are being investigated by the Saudi education ministry for holding a sports competition without the ministry's permission.
Two hundred girls took part in the event on December 8, which included basketball, badminton, athletics and swimming. But when pictures… Read more
30th November 2011
The Saudi press has been awash with praise for the "visionary" (but stupid) Prince Nayef who has just been named as crown prince - i.e. next in line to the throne. Indeed, if the Saudi reports are to be believed, world leaders are also overwhelmed with joy at the news of his appointment.
As John… Read more
22nd November 2011
It looks as if Saudi Arabia will avoid exclusion from the 2012 Olympics – by entering a token female presence in equestrian events.
Women's sporting activity in the kingdom is widely discouraged on religious grounds and the kingdom has previously sent all-male teams to the Olympics. But last… Read more
18th November 2011
Details are scarce, but the story sounds familiar. Sabq websitereports (in Arabic) that Saudi Arabia's religious police raided an "obscene" party in Riyadh early on Thursday. Shots are said to have been fired, though no one was injured.
About 60 youths were attending the party. Some were arrested… Read more
7th November 2011
In an outspoken column for Arab News, Saudi journalist Samar Fatany calls for a revival of ijtihad – the practice of independent interpretation of Islamic scripture. This may sound like ordinary common sense but in the Saudi context it's highly controversial and goes to the heart of the kingdom's… Read more
19th October 2011
Two Saudi men have been arrested in connection with a video about poverty in Riyadh (above) which was posted on YouTube. Feras Bughnah and Hosam al-Deraiwish were summoned for questioning on Sunday and were reported to be still in detention on Tuesday.
The Saudi Jeans blog, which has details of… Read more
5th October 2011
A fresh outbreak of trouble is reported in Qatif (eastern Saudi Arabia), which has a large Shia population. The interior ministry says 14 people were injured, 11 of them security personnel, in rioting on Monday and claims the disturbances were instigated by "a foreign power" – an apparent… Read more
22nd September 2011
More than 5,000 men have put themselves forward as candidates for next week's municipal elections in Saudi Arabia. This is only the second time in almost half a century that Saudis (or rather, Saudimen) have had an opportunity to vote.
In 2005, half the members of the relatively… Read more
ARAB ART ONLINE: Susan Hefuna: Al Sabr Gamil (Patience is Beautiful) 2007. Ink stained on wood 140 x 170 cm. More information | Click to enlarge
