Archive: saudi arabia
30th March 2010
A Saudi prince was arrested for possession of cocaine last week during a "routine search" of passengers at Beirut airport. He was said to be carrying 16.3 grams of the drug, worth around $1,600.
The 51-year-old prince, who was identified only by his initials – YBAA – reportedly said the cocaine was… Read more
19th March 2010
I'm intrigued by a cryptic report in Arab News today which says "a number of people" are seeking to have an unnamed Saudi writer prosecuted for blasphemy.
The "offence" was apparently committed on the American-run al-Hurra TV channel, in a programme presented by Nadeen Al-Badr.
The male Saudi… Read more
11th March 2010
A 27-year-old Saudi man from Jeddah has been sentenced to 1,000 lashes, a year in jail and a fine of 5,000 riyals ($1,330) after appearing in an amateur gay video (above).
The film, which lasts 2 minutes and 46 seconds, shows him dressed in a police uniform asking to inspect someone's driving… Read more
7th March 2010
A rumour has been going round that the Saudi authorities are about the cut off the BlackBerry Messenger service (BBM) – much to the annoyance of its customers. According to versions the cut-off was due to happen last Saturday, though it hasn't materialised yet.
The story began when al-Watan… Read more
28th February 2010
A 30-year-old Nepalese maid was found dead in her room at Hafr al-Batin, Saudi Arabia, on Friday. The unnamed woman is reported to have hanged herself. She was said to be "suffering psychological duress and had recently refused to work".
Less than a week ago an Indonesian maid died after falling… Read more
24th February 2010
It happens all the time and no one seems to care. Yet another foreign domestic worker has plunged to her death from a building, this time in Saudi Arabia.
Arab News says the unnamed 25-year-old Indonesian woman fell from a two-storey building "while trying to run away from her sponsor" in Mecca.… Read more
21st February 2010
For the first time, Saudi Arabia is planning to let female lawyers argue certain types of cases in court. Justice minister Mohammed al-Issa said yesterday that a draft law to this effect will be issued shortly as part of King Abdullah’s “plan to develop the justice system”.
At present, women with… Read more
18th February 2010
A member of the Saudi religious police who was found to have six wives (two more than the legal maximum) has beensentenced to 120 lashes – which, as Arab News notes, works out at 20 lashes per wife.
Considering that the man was employed by the mutawa to enforce Islamic law (as interpreted by the… Read more
16th February 2010
The complexities of Saudi Arabia's gender apartheid are highlighted by the latest campaign against men selling underwear to women. Reem Asaad, a female economics professor in Jeddah, is urging a boycott of lingerie shops that don't employ saleswomen.
She argues that women can feel embarrassed … Read more
14th February 2010
The annual Valentine's Day ban in Saudi Arabia has prompted some discussion in the local media. Regardless of what Saudis actually think about it, the fact that this issue can now be discussed so openly is one reflection of the way the kingdom is changing.
Judging by comments from the anti-… 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
