Saudi women asked nicely to be able to sell women’s lingerie, Arab News reports. That didn’t work as shop owners ignored them. So the women going to act more aggressively by boycotting lingerie shops that refuse their demand to hire women. Interestingly, the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry is backing the women on this issue. Good for the Chamber and good for the women!
Women’s campaign for right to sell lingerie fails
Najah Alosaimi | Arab NewsRIYADH: A campaign by Saudi women to win the right to sell lingerie has resulted in shop owners not taking notice and thus forcing women to begin a boycott later this month.
“We sent letters to leading lingerie shop owners stating the importance of complying with the Labor Ministry’s guidelines to employ saleswomen, along with the signatures we collected online over the last four months … But we haven’t received any response,” said Reem Asaad, head of the campaign “Ban Men from Selling Lingerie.”
The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) gave organizers of the campaign the green light to put pressure on shops to hire women.
…
Whatever the supposed virtues of Islamic banking, it does not appear to offer immunity to global financial illness. Saudi Gazette reports that Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has taken quite a hit in its profits.
RIYADH – Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic), the world’s largest petrochemicals firm by market value, on Tuesday brought the Saudi stock market down by posting a 95.5 percent fall in fourth-quarter profit because of the global slowdown.
The shocking performance sent the Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI), down 2.41 percent to close at 4,544.29. Sabic declined 9.79 percent to SR40.50 losing SR4.40.
“The petrochemicals industry is undergoing fluctuations in economic activity, from expansion in profits to a contraction,” said Muhammad Al-Madi, Deputy Chairman and CEO of Sabic, at a press conference here.
…
Meanwhile, The Wall St. Journal says that Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is having his own difficulties, reportedly taking $7.9 billion in losses at his Kingdom Holdings company. The article goes on to note that previous surpluses in the Gulf States will likely cushion the impact of the faltering economy, at least for a while.
Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding Reports Big Loss
CHIP CUMMINS and MARGARET COKERDUBAI — Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, seen just a few months ago as a bastion of Mideast support for banking giant Citigroup Inc., said Tuesday his Saudi Arabian conglomerate, Kingdom Holding Co., lost 29.7 billion Saudi riyals, or about $7.92 billion, in 2008.
The loss — about half of which Kingdom Holding blamed on impairments to its investment portfolio — coincided with the release of a survey in Dubai showing business confidence across the oil-rich Persian Gulf plummeted last quarter.
Just a few months ago, the region seemed relatively isolated from fallout from the global financial crisis convulsing much of the rest of the world. But amid tumbling oil prices, economists are revising downward oil-revenue forecasts and economic-growth estimates here.
…
The official Saudi Press Agency runs this story on Saudi humanitarian aid reaching Gaza. One advantage of donations in kind (i.e., actual physical goods, rather than fungible monetary donations) is that they are not readily diverted to improper uses, such as the purchase of arms. This is a point noted in comment to an earlier post.
But they are not immune to abuse, either. Strong-arm governments, as Hamas has shown itself to be, can take over the ‘rationing’ of such aid so that it either goes to favored clients or sell it on a semi-official black market. Cash from those sales, of course, is unregulated. Whether this happens will depend entirely on the distribution network established in Gaza and how well monitored it is.
Tons of Saudi aid enters Gaza Strip
RAFAH – A Saudi relief convoy comprising seven trucks loaded with 170 tons of medicines and medical supplies, blankets and children’s clothing, a generator as well as other quantities of food and baby milk reached Rafah Crossing on Tuesday to be distributed later to Palestinians in Gaza, Dr. Khalid Al-Hebshi, head of the Saudi medical relief team said. The convoy marked the start of the land-lift, which was launched by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to help the brothers in Gaza who are suffering from a severe lack of medicines, food and clothes. Al-Hebshi said the Saudi Red Crescent is playing a coordination role in facilitating the convoy’s entrance into the Gaza Strip as a part of its supervision of Saudi aid and assistance ordered by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. – SPA
Financial Times has a piece discussing how Arab donors themselves are conflicted about how aid should best be disbursed:
Saudi Gazette/Okaz reports on someone not taking intervention by the religious police well. The Commission member is reported to be out of the hospital and the miscreant behind bars. Whatever one’s feelings about the Commission, this response is decidedly excessive.
Commission staffer survives stabbing attack
Al-Hasan Aal SayyidKHAMIS MUSHAYT – The staffer of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice who was stabbed by a youth was discharged from Khamis Mushayt Civil Hospital Tuesday. The young man stabbed the Commission officer when he tried to arrest him after finding him in a compromising position with a woman in Al-Khaldia District here. The young man first tried to crash his car into the Commission vehicle in a bid to cripple their chance to chase him. But it did not work. Then the man climbed into the Commission vehicle and stabbed the Commission staffer with a knife and sped away in his wrecked car. But soon he was arrested. The woman was reportedly under watch for suspicions of engaging in illegal activities. – Okaz/SG
Not everyone was able to (or had the interest to) watch President Obama’s Inauguration. Below is the text of his inaugural speech, as prepared for delivery and published in the International Herald Tribune.
There were several things about the Inauguration ceremony that I thought noteworthy.
First was during the Invocation, by Rev. Rick Warren, a conservative, nay ‘fundamentalist’ preacher chosen by Obama to begin the ceremony. In it, Warren addressed God as ‘You, the merciful, You the compassionate.’ That was no mistake or happenstance, but rather a statement of inclusion.
Second, in his speech, Obama stated: ‘To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.’ I think this is a fair sign that he seeks improved relations. He went on, directly, addressing ‘global leaders’, warning them that they would be judged by what they build, not what they destroy. He also warned those who maintain power by ‘silencing dissent’ that they are on the wrong side of history. He also had very strong words concerning those who seek power through terrorism. It seems that ‘democratization’ will remain an interest and theme of the US government.
Ingrid Mattson, head of the Islamic Society of North America was asked to say a prayer at the National Cathedral which will conclude the multi-day Inauguration ceremonies tomorrow. Also invited are several rabbis, a gay Episcopalian minister, and a Catholic archbishop.
President Barack Obama’s inaugural address
Text of President Barack Obama’s inaugural address on Tuesday, as prepared for delivery and released by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
OBAMA: My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
It’s not widely known, but all US Ambassadors, career or politically appointed, must offer their resignations from their assignments upon the inauguration of a new President. The decision retain them or accept the resignation is held by the White House as ambassadors serve as the personal representative of the President, not just the government.
Thus, US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ford Fraker, has tendered his resignation. As he does so, he offered a summary of his term of duty to an audience to the American Business Group in Riyadh. John Duke Anthony, head of the National Council on US-Arab Relations (NCUSAR), reports:
Looking back on his tenure as American Ambassador in Riyadh, Ambassador Ford Fraker called attention to the following accomplishments:
Since the second official visit of President Bush to Riyadh in May 2008, six ground-breaking bilateral agreements have been signed and entered into between Saudi Arabia and the United States. These are an agreement whereby American and Saudi Arabian students, business representatives, and tourists can obtain five-year multiple re-entry visas; the Joint Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism Agreement; the Anti-Proliferation Initiative in which the two sides pledged to work to strengthen the existing Non-Proliferation Treaty; an Agreement for Joint Critical Infrastructure Cooperation; a Technical Cooperation Agreement for the Civil Uses of Nuclear Energy; and a Science and Technology Agreement between the United States Department of State and the King Abdalaziz Center for Science and Technology.
In addition, the United States has purchased land in Jeddah upon which to build a new American consulate; signed a new ten-year lease on the U.S. Consulate premises in Dhahran, where a new consulate is to be built; and agreed to construct a new American Embassy in Riyadh. Each of these substantial commitments for the future, the Ambassador noted, illustrates the long-term U.S. commitment to maintaining the strongest possible relationship between the two countries’ governments and peoples.
In early 2008, the Embassy hosted U.S. Department of Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff. This was the first-ever visit to Riyadh by a senior DHS official. During his stay in the country, Mr. Chertoff met with King Abdallah, Minister of Interior Nayef bin Abdalaziz, and Deputy Minister of Interior Muhammad bin Nayef, among others. The visit was a direct result of an earlier one by President Bush who was apprised of the necessity to reform and streamline the American visa process for Saudi Arabians traveling to the United States.
While Arab anger over the plight of Gaza can easily be understood, it should not excuse excursions into inducing panic through unreasoned fear. That, alas, is what’s happening with stories as this one from Arab News concerning depleted uranium tank rounds allegedly used by the Israelis in Gaza. Never mind that there’s no actual proof provided that such rounds are being used, there is misinformation being disseminated about a danger that does not actually exist whether or not those rounds are being used.
‘Israel used ammo containing depleted uranium in Gaza’
Hisham Abu Taha I Arab NewsGAZA CITY: Arab states accused Israel yesterday of using ammunition containing depleted uranium in its 22-day war on Gaza as Tel Aviv said it would withdraw all its troops from the coastal strip by the time Barack Obama is inaugurated as president of the United States today.
In a letter on behalf of Arab ambassadors accredited in Austria, Prince Mansour Al-Saud, the Saudi ambassador, expressed “our deep concern regarding the information … that traces of depleted uranium have been found in Palestinian victims.” The letter requested the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed El-Baradei, to urgently “carry out a radiological and physical assessment in order to verify the presence of depleted uranium in the weaponry used by Israel … in the Gaza Strip.”
…
Raising the issue of the depleted uranium is intended to scare people based on their visceral—though unfounded—fear of radiation. It completely ignores the meaning of the word ‘depleted’. Nor does it take into account international studies on the effects and side-effects of the material.
Here’s a story (through a USG source) on the issue: Depleted Uranium Myths Examined by “Reason” Science Writer
This entry from Wikipedia states that the use of depleted uranium is not prohibited by any current international law: Legal status in weapons. The article also notes that ordinary, civilian airplanes like the 747 contain between 400kg and 1,500kg of depleted uranium used as trim weights, a suggestion indeed, that the material’s intrinsic danger is low.
Finally, here’s a fact sheet from the International Atomic Energy Agency (note, not an American source) on depleted uranium. Among its conclusions:
Is DU a Health Hazard?
* Based on credible scientific evidence, there is no proven link between DU exposure and increases in human cancers or other significant health or environmental impacts.
* The most definitive study of DU exposure is of Gulf War veterans who have embedded DU shrapnel in their bodies that cannot be removed. To date none has developed any health abnormalities due to uranium chemical toxicity or radio toxicity.
* It is a common misconception that radioactivity is the main health hazard of DU rather than chemical toxicity. Like other heavy metals, DU is potentially poisonous. In sufficient amounts, if DU is ingested or inhaled it can be harmful because of its chemical toxicity. High concentration could cause kidney damage.
* According to the World Health Organization (WHO), very large amounts of DU dust would have to be inhaled to cause lung cancer from radio toxicity. Risks of other radiation-induced cancers, including leukemia, are considered to be very much lower still.
I think the emotional impact of the Gaza crisis is sufficiently high that it does not need mis- or disinformation to ratchet it even higher. Playing with emotions, on the personal or international level, is always a dangerous thing.
Commenter ‘Andrew’ calls my attention to the fact that I’ve not written on the story of Saudi Arabia’s donation of $1 billion to support Gazans. As reported here in the Chinese news agency Xinhua, that is indeed the case. As much as Saudi Arabia loathes Hamas, the government and the King feel deeply for the suffering of the average Gazan. The King’s sympathy for the Palestinians is long standing.
Saudi king announces donation to Gaza, calls for Arab unity
KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) — Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz on Monday announced his country’s contribution of 1 billion U.S. dollars to Gaza reconstruction and called on Arab countries to heal internal division in face of Israeli aggression.
Speaking at the inauguration of the first Arab economic summit, the Saudi king announced the donation in response to an initiative launched by Arab leaders during the summit, which is scheduled to tackle the Gaza crisis in addition to the impact of global financial crisis and inter-Arab developmental issues.
He denounced the bloodshed in Gaza Strip which has been under intensive Israeli offensive for three weeks and witnessed over 1,400 deaths of Palestinians.
“Israel must realize that choice between peace and war will not always be open to it, and the Arab peace initiative will not always remain on the table,” he said.
…
Support for the Palestinians, however, is not to be confused with support for the political entities that act in their name. This is an issue that has confounded (intentionally or not) those who would conflate support for the Palestinians with support for terrorism. To make the distinction clear this time around, the Arab governments providing this support have spelled out that their relief will not go to the politicians:
Gaza Aid Must Not Go Directly to the PA or Hamas – Arab Sources
Salman DossariKuwait, Asharq Al-Awsat- Informed Arab diplomatic sources confirmed to Asharq al-Awsat that there is an Arab consensus among the donor countries that the World Bank must have a “pivotal role” in the reconstruction efforts in Gaza “so that the reconstruction will take place according to international standards, which guarantee fast and efficient results that are necessary because of the catastrophe that befell the strip”.
The sources announced that the Kuwait Economic Summit will consider the mechanism through which the reconstruction will take place “so that the aid and the projects will be carried out directly for the sake of the needy and under the direct supervision of the World Bank”.
“The sources announced that Saudi Arabia will present the largest share of aid for the reconstruction work ($1 billion) “and it will announce this as soon as an agreement is reached on the mechanism to be used”. The sources pointed out that Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates will also present aid alongside Saudi Arabia. The sources clarified that the current discussions focus on “three mechanisms” for reconstructing Gaza: setting up a fund dedicated to this purpose, using one of the specialized funds already in existence as there are a number of funds subordinated to the Arab League for supporting Palestine and the Palestinian Authority, along with the “Al-Quds Fund”, which was set up by Saudi Arabia in the Cairo summit in 1996. The third mechanism is the use of a “donor conference”, which will be held in the coming few weeks.
…
I don’t know whether this is a matter of bad headline writing or bad lawyering, but Asharq Alawsat and Saudi Gazette report that Saudi businessman Yasin Al-Qadi is intending to sue President (for a few more hours) George Bush. Al-Qadi had his assets frozen in the wake of 9/11 after being identified by the USG as a funder of terrorism, an allegation he has adamantly denied. European courts have found in Al-Qadi’s favor, but he remains on the US blacklist.
The problem is that Bush, acting as president, has sovereign immunity from suits such as this. Al-Qadi might find a court in some country to take his case, but not in Europe or the US. If, however, this is just sloppy headline writing, then Al-Qadi might have a case against the US government as a whole. Unless he can demonstrate that the government acted with malice against him, or with utter negligence, though, he’ll have an extremely difficult case to make. The matter will revolve not around the question of whether the decision to identify him as a financial sponsor of terrorism, but rather whether it was a rational decision on the part of the government to see him as such.
I’m not the first, however, to point out that the US government, particularly in the early days following 9/11, did not do the most precise job in identification of individuals or organizations. A lot of the identifications were based on incomplete, contradictory, or simply confusing information, exacerbated by the problems of transliteration. The government apparently took an attitude of ‘better safe than sorry’ and cast a very wide net indeed.
As recent court cases have shown, though, this net was indeed too wide. Many cases have been lost by the government or thrown out by US courts as having insufficient evidence to proceed.
Al-Qadi may have a very good case, but it’s against the US government, not the President as head of that government.
Saudi Businessman to Sue President Bush
Ali SharayahJeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat- Saudi Businessman Yasin Al-Qadi began filing a lawsuit in Washington earlier this month (16 January 2008) against US President George Bush. Yasin Al-Qadi’s assets were frozen for 7 years and he was banned from doing business with American citizens after he was, he claims, wrongfully accused of financing terrorism on the basis of false information on 12 October 2001 by the Bush administration. Al-Qadi’s assets were unfrozen by the European Court of Justice in September 2008, clearing him of these charges, however Al-Qadi has yet to be acquitted by the US government.
Al-Qadi revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat via telephone that the case deals with “the clear injustice and the great suspicion that I endure at the places that I visit, these have greatly affected my reputation in doing business with foreign companies and are based on false accusations.”
…
Saudi Gazette:
The Saudi coastal city of Jeddah is noted for its street art. Along the Corniche and dotted among various traffic circles (roundabouts), you can find amazing works of art by international artists like Joan Miro and Henry Moore. They all add substantially to the quality of life in the city.
Except when they don’t.
Saudi Gazette reports that while the artworks themselves may be priceless, their mounting in traffic circles is exacting a price on Jedawis and others who must navigate the city’s crowded streets. The plots of lands on which they are sited are sometimes an obstacle to the smooth flow of traffic, particularly when the ‘circles’ are actually more like triangles. It is estimated that each circle requires the presence of four traffic policemen to aid the movement of traffic. The circles, while attractive, are also dangerous, causing accidents through their poor design.
There is an effort to move some of the art out of the streets in order to improve road efficiency and safety. Not everyone agrees, however, that reducing the artistic quality of life to enhance the commuter’s quality of life is a good trade-off.
Al-Darraja (The Bicycle) photo: S & J Pint
Monument(al) mistake?
Eid Al-HarthiJEDDAH – For over a quarter of a century, Jeddah has been known for its 70 squares and roundabouts with beautiful monuments and artworks decorating its various intersections. The monuments were designed by a host of prominent artists and sculptors, such as, Mahmood Banat, Al-Mahdi Waleed and others during the time when Dr. Mohammad Saeed Al-Farsi was the mayor of Jeddah.
The monuments include Ad-Darrajah (The Bicycle), As-Sofon (The Ship), At-Tayyarah (The Airplane), Al-Falak (The Orbit), and Al-Jawad Al-Abyad (The White Horse).
Al-Handasa Square, one of the distinguished landmarks in Jeddah is one of the largest road junctions. In the middle of this square there are giant geometrical tools like a compass, a protractor, a triangle and a ruler. These are among the largest geometrical tools in the world.
…
Asharq Alawsat runs an interesting interview with Dr. Saleh Bin Zaben al Marzouki, Secretary General of the Islamic Fiqh Academy. In it, he explains why it was important to call this conference on the matter of the issuance of fatawa and what it seeks to accomplish.
In general, the conference seeks to devise a central authority to address issues that affect the Islamic world at large, the big picture. It does not seek to intervene in limited, personal fatawa that affect individuals and which might rightly be offered by imams in remote areas. These imams cannot properly issue a fatwa on global politics, though, and their attempts to do so not only confuse the umma, but can lead to extremism.
I think guidelines, or at least guidance, should be offered these imams, even for small matters of life. It is the individual fatwa that affects the lives of people in particular regions, after all. If an erroneous fatwa is issued on, say, the matter of a child marriage, then its effects will be felt directly by those involved and indirectly by those who cite it and apply it in the future.
The interview is worth reading.
Interview with the Islamic Fiqh Academy’s SecGen,
Dr. Saleh Bin Zaben al Marzouki
Sultan Al-ObathaniMecca, Asharq Al-Awsat – Sheikh Dr. Saleh Bin Zaben al Marzouki is the Secretary-General of the Islamic Fiqh Academy, a subsidiary of the Muslim World League.
In this interview, Sheikh al Marzouki speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat about the five-day Fatwa and its Regulation conference that is currently taking place in Mecca, Saudi Arabia under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz. The conference will aim to provide guidelines for issuing fatwas, Islamic legal rulings, in light of recent controversies on this issue.
Q) The fatwa issue has been raised during a number of Muslim World League (MWL) conferences, including those on dialogue. Why has the Fatwa and its Regulation conference been organised?
A) I would like to clarify that the MWL cares about all Islamic issues, some of which are related to one another and others which are not. Interfaith dialogue is under the patronage of the [Saudi] Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques [King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz], whilst other Islamic issues are under the patronage of [Saudi] Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz.
The fatwa issue differs to that of dialogue. The latter is based on religious figures meeting with one other or with figures from non-Islamic countries to discuss common issues without going against the principles of Islamic Sharia.
Dialogue is extremely important for removing barriers between nations so that we may share common grounds and each party will listen to- and benefit from- the other. As a result, Islam’s true image can be conveyed.
The fatwa issue is important in the Islamic world, as Muslims are in crucial need for fatwas and muftis [who issue fatwas]. The fatwa issue is an old one, but at the same time it needs to be addressed and revised in some cases so as to cope with new problems that require solutions.
In light of the importance of the fatwa issue in the Islamic world, and even though there are religious figures that are providing a great service and will be highly rewarded by God, there are some unqualified people who, as a result of social or political pressure, may issue inaccurate fatwas. This is especially the case in the media, which has paved the way for both qualified and unqualified figures, causing an increase in fatwas that contradict Islamic Sharia. This has a negative impact on the mufti, the person seeking the fatwa and upon the Islamic Ummah. Therefore, as head of the MWL’s Islamic Fiqh Academy, I decided to put this topic forward to be discussed by muftis, Islamic scholars and researchers so that they may give their opinions and set guidelines for issuing fatwas.
…
Reportedly, the Arabic internet is abuzz with reports of a UFO landing in Saudi Arabia, as the overheated article from All News Web suggests. To me, it looks like a fairly ordinary meteor of the fireball type. As for ‘shooting out green lasers’… well, you be the judge: There’s a brief video at this link.
Millions see UFO crash in Saudi Arabia
Michael CohenAstonishing events are occuring around the world and not as much as a word about them is being written or said in the West. In Saudi Arabia last week what might well have be a UFO, possibly crashing into earth, was witnessed by literally millions of people in the vicinity. Multiple photos and videos of the object have come to light.
Arabic language forums are abuzz with Saudi citizens claiming to have witnessed what is even being described by some in the normally conservative Saudi Arabian press as a possible UFO either crashing to earth or simply executing manoeuvres designed to scare humans. Others are claiming the object was an Asteroid or a Satellite.
Witnesses are reported to be waiting for an explanation from local meteorological bureau’s but have received no answers yet.
ON Wednesday 7th of January after evening prayers a large noise was heard in sky followed by the sighting of an intense large light heading from the west above the Al-Qasim region east of Saudi Arabia’s capital city Riyadh. Many locals had seen meteors prior to this but claimed this one did not fit the typical description at all: it was a blue green colour and was shooting out green lasers.
…