Here’s something interesting from Arab News. Last Wednesday, National Day and the day upon which KAUST was inaugurated, saw exuberant crowds around the country. The roads in Jeddah were certainly packed with cars from which celebrants were hanging, waving Saudi flags, blowing horns, and generally having a good time.
In Al-Khobar, in the Eastern Province, though, things went a bit differently. There, according to the article, the crowds turned into mobs, trashing numerous businesses in protest against society’s lack of provision of any sort of entertainment for youths. While families are given a variety of entertainments, from circuses to family-friendly restaurants and clubs, young males are shunted to the streets, with nothing to do and no place to go.
I doubt, however, that destruction of property is going to catch government attention in the right way to effect change.
Rioters caused huge losses, Alkhobar businesses claim
DAMMAM: The rampage by a large group of Saudi teenagers in Alkhobar last Wednesday, destroying restaurants, showrooms and shops, caused losses worth millions of riyals, press reports said quoting owners of businesses.
Witnesses said the rioting during the National Day celebrations started after one youth pointed at a fast-food chain, saying, “It’s a supporter of Israel.”
The youths then broke the windows in the restaurant before ransacking nearby showrooms and shops.
Al-Watan Arabic daily said the youths targeted mostly shops of international brands.
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UPDATE: Through Chiara, a link to photos of the destruction:
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September:28:2009 - 00:12
A Saudi friend of mine (a young man) has been commenting on how many “chain” emails he’s been receiving recently encouraging action against businesses (particularly a well-known global coffeeshop) due to supposed Jewish ownership.
I agree that the cause of this type of hooliganism is underemployment and lack of other productive activity, but I think there’s a connection to those types of e-mails as well.
September:28:2009 - 00:42
There could be a connection, but I think instead that they’re both manifestations of the same frustrations.
September:28:2009 - 02:39
While the chain emails played part in focusing the riot to break into those stores. There is a lot more into play here, one instigator is enough to change a rowdy crowd into targeting those stores.
I think what needs to be addressed here is why did a celebration turned that way. For many years now I know many friends who live in Al Khobar area who are avoiding spending the Eid celebrations there because many of the other regions youth will be traveling to Al Khobar at that time and there are many problems and fights. I believe the main reason is all this suppressed youth.. Al Khobar is a more relaxed environment than most of the regions in SA and people there usually are more open to outdoor activities. But when you see the youth of other regions, they are mostly barred from any place with family activities.. Malls, parks.. etc. This put them in a mindset where they don’t have an understanding how to become a part of the celebrations or outdoor activity during this day. It will start with them dancing and playing loud music, then when more of them gather, someone of the big groups might try to harass bypassers and some other impressionable fellows will follow his example… things will start turning into a mob and it will escalate from there to destruction of property. You will notice that the ones who live in Al Khobar will not be associated with them and all of those will be mostly a composition of youth from other regions. The reason is Al Khobar young men usually spend their day going out and have a good time without harassment.
September:28:2009 - 04:39
I am not suprised this happened. I think youth frustration is growing..why wouldn’t it be? The emails provide one focus for it- but it can be many things. There is also a resurgence of fighting in schools- usually along tribal lines, and from what I understand it is quite easy to get something started. They are looking to vent.
It’s funny. My older boys are now old enough to go do their own cloths/school shopping etc. I still have to go because they can’t get in to half the stores without a woman. Ironically, if they go out with female friends it is easier for them to get into public places.
I once saw police chide some youth (High schoolers) who were celebrating the end of exams at the beach. The only other people on the beach were my friend and myself and our babies. They were not bothering us in the least- but they had to get in their cars and leave. Why? I guess they’d rather have them cruising around town than playing on the beach. Sad.
September:28:2009 - 17:55
John–Thanks for this post, and the link to NidalM’s photos from others at AlKhobar. The comments on that post are interesting too.
I think the anti-Israeli instigation is rather more of an excuse than a motivation, and the dearth of healthy places for a demographically large group of teens to safely channel their physical, intellectual and creative energies is more the root cause.
As DW says, ironically the place that is rather more tolerant becomes the place where excesses can be committed. If all places were more liberal the one place would be less likely to become a hotbed.
Sandy–your insights are always fascinating. If you don’t mind my asking, are you a longterm expat family, or are you a mixed Saudi family? Either way, you share your long experience in the KSA well.
September:29:2009 - 01:17
I am sorry to say this but you guys are all wrong. You think it is mere frustration and lack of jobs? I have been accosted by Saudi when I merely honked my horn when they were driving dangerously in front of me. They chased me down until they were able to throw a water bottle at my head, which hit me, and landed me in the hospital. Did unemployment cause this? From the point of view of the victims, do we really care?
Why not look at it from the point of view of the victims. Is that possible for you all? I have seen some of these kids harass women, married women. When their husbands or other near relatives spoke up, the only response they got was “uskut”. They were dancing on cars. They were eating food from other peoples plates, and then adding insult to injury, they handed the plates back to their hapless victims. For you guys that means that they have no jobs.
I live, no sorry I work, in Saudi Arabia. I am over 35, and I have lost count of the number of times I have seen the Saudis totally disrespect us zero ajnabis, whether it is the snapping the fingers to the waiters in the shop, to the beating up of laborers waiting to get their fingerprints, to throwing a shoe at my car because the kid was “just having fun”, to having my mobile phone snatched from my hands, to me being called stupid, in front of my wife, by a youth because I wasn’t driving fast enough (breaking the law). Or because when I was asked to show my Iqama (because the cop felt like it), and I did, he laughed at me because I didn’t “look” American.
This is not a case of lack of jobs, it is a case of complete disrespect for others. Why do you think there are tribal fights in schools? Is it a lack of jobs and opportunities. No… HELL NO. It is because these kids are taught JAHIL values by their parents that a Qahtani is better than a Dossary, and a Dossary is better than a Zahrani, and a Tamimi is better than a Qahtani, round and round, and all of the above are better than us zero Ajamis. Tell me what do that and the teenagers can’t get into youth centers have to do with each other?
Tell me what does lack of opportunities have to do with my coworker being insulted when a Saudi kid says, “I want to marry your sister”, and the coworker responds, “sure no problem, let’s make it the same”, and a near fight breaks out.
The kids are taught they are the kings of the world, and that no one else deserves any respect whatsoever. They are taught this because their parents themselves think they are the kings of the world. You aren’t going to fix this problem by giving the kids jobs.
Now that I am an adult I understand why my parents would beat the living daylights out of me, my brother, and even my sister if we went out of line. I would rather cut my legs off than ever be like these kids I see here, and Allah help any kids I might ever have if they ever behaved like these.
September:29:2009 - 04:34
Oh, we’re not saying that what these guys are doing is excusable… they’re mostly behaving as criminal punks.
Rather, we’re saying that their behavior is explicable, one can understand why they behave as they do. We here also tend to have some ideas about what changes are necessary to allow young Saudis to grow up.
We do welcome your input, so please feel free to comment as you wish.
September:29:2009 - 04:56
There is only one way for young Saudis, any young group, to grow up. Islam says adulthood begins at puberty. Make them responsible for their actions. Right now Saudis are a bunch of coddle brats even into their mid 20′s, and there is no excuse for that. I didn’t know if I would ever say this, but these guys need to convert to Islam. You might not know what I mean, or maybe you do?
September:29:2009 - 09:45
That ties up with what I was telling a French collegue of mine yesterday before I read those articles: KSA like other Middle Eastern countries will definitely face serious issues with their youth in the years to come !!!
I’m not saying France (or the West) won’t have that type of problems even if for different reasons;
at the end of the day one question comes: which future do we prepare for them ?
September:29:2009 - 10:15
There’s an English language saying, “Idle minds/hands are the devil’s workshop/tools”. If there’s nothing to do, youth will find things to do, legal or otherwise.
September:29:2009 - 13:10
Chiara- thank you. I am an American married to a Saudi.
ZT- what your saying is certainly an issue. I think both things are true. Overindulged untrained (I call them the “unraised”) youth- and bordem frustration etc. They are not mutually exclusive.
September:29:2009 - 13:57
Sandy–thanks for your reply. In that case would you be interested in sharing your experience as a post for Tara Umm Omar’s blog “Future Husbands and Wives of Saudis: Helping you make an informed decision about marrying a Saudi”? As a regular contributor, I would be happy to help you with it, or Tara (American married to a Saudi) would. My email is chiaraazlinquestion AT yahoo.com and Tara’s is taraummomar AT gmail.com. We guarantee confidentiality and you could be anonymous if you wish.
I agree that poor parental supervision and insufficient structured healthy fun activities both contribute to these problems.
I think that whether in KSA or elsewhere the majority of youth are pleasant and responsible–and then there are the others. Fortunately 1500 young civic minded people organized personal apologies oral and written delivered with candy to the victims of the violence. Youth at its best!