It’s no surprise that bribery—bakshish—is the grease that eases all sorts of transactions in the Middle East. It’s a paltry substitute for wasta, but it works. But it also corrupts society and, depending on the issue, can be a major danger to citizens across the country. While it may be a time-honored tradition, times have changed and the cost to society now outweighs the benefits it provides to the few.
Arab News reports that government officials are facing a major bribery scandal in the city of Taif, with at least 24 municipal employees being charged with being on the take. The problem is so big that there is a need to assign additional judges to hear the cases.
More judges for Taif graft case
TAIF: An administrative court in Jeddah has assigned more judges to look into a graft case involving 24 Taif municipal employees and two others. The reason cited was the large number of individuals involved in the case, which is called the largest bribery case being heard by a Saudi court.
One of the suspects, a municipality employee, has reportedly confessed to taking SR180,000 in bribes for issuing a license to a building that had not fulfilled the stipulated conditions.
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January:31:2009 - 00:14
Out of subject.
bribery = rashwaa
tip = bakshish
January:31:2009 - 01:06
True. The problem is when a tip (bakshish) becomes such a normal thing that it turns into a bribe (rashwas). No ‘tip’, no service, therefore it’s a bribe.
January:31:2009 - 10:55
It never ceases to amaze me how Imams (Preachers) fail to preach against such practices, yet find it sensible to blast loudspeaker khutahs (sermons) that cause women (especially) pain. There are Imams who will preach/ encourage men to go take more wives to help the orphans in Palestine, yet fail to address in their sermons the real societal issues like how “bribes” can poison people literally and figuratively. Guidance is needed on real issues.
I respect many of the billboard campaigns like the ones encouraging good treatment of elderly and the anti-smoking campaigns. I would like to see anti bribery campaigns or billboards. (I wonder how that could be visually depicted….hmmm…I could think of a few funny pictures for that one.) That is to say where the clergy or Imamhood fails other venues can pick up.
If someone unfairly gains/ wins, someone else unfairly loses and that causes the need for retribution. Bribes must stop because it makes the entire society dysfunctional. It is a great evil that needs to be uprooted from society.