Change, unfortunately, comes slowly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It’s been at least 10 years since women have been academically qualified to serve as lawyers in the country, but the best the Minister of Justice can promise, according to this Arab News piece, is that they will ‘eventually’ be able to practice law.
There’s really no reason, beyond social inertia, that this cannot happen now. Nor is it unreasonable to expect Saudi women to act as judges. The problem comes when Saudi men have to deal with the psychological issue of giving women more power and more authority than they now have. All sorts of excuses—mostly coming down to ‘We’ve never done it this way before’—are offered up. None of them hold water.
Women to practice as lawyers
Ghazanfar Ali Khan | Arab NewsRIYADH: Justice Minister Muhammad Al-Eisa said on Thursday the Kingdom’s efforts to revamp the judicial system were well under way and that women would eventually be allowed to practice as lawyers representing women clients.
Speaking at a meeting of heads of notaries in Riyadh, the minister said the judicial reforms will not only modernize the system but also reduce the backlog of cases by adding more basic infrastructure, like more courthouses.
“The judicial plan developed in cooperation with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals will help decrease the number of cases in the Kingdom’s courts,” Al-Eisa added.
He said he would support more interaction among the different departments of the judiciary and the government to ensure closer coordination in applying a reformed justice system that adheres to Shariah.
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Here’s a puzzle…
Back in October, the Saudi media reported that the Ministry of Islamic Affairs had banned the issuing of fatawa by any other than the Senior Board of Ulema.
Today, the same media report that numerous preachers are being forbidden to issue fatawa.
Some preachers barred from issuing fatwas during Haj
Na’eem Tamim Al-HakimJEDDAH – An undisclosed number of religious preachers have been barred from issuing fatwas during this year’s Haj due to the “extremist” nature of their rulings and “violations committed during last year’s Haj.”
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance, Tawfiq Al-Sudairi, said the ministry monitored the “performance of those working in the field of religious call and guidance and issuing edicts during the Haj seasons” through supervisors who produce opinion polls and reports.
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Clearly, there’s something off in the translations. Is this new piece about the banning of aperson like a khateeb from issuing a fatwa? If so, isn’t that already exceeding the khateeb‘s authority? Or perhaps this is about trying to control fatawa issued by foreigners during Haj?
I certainly understand why the Saudi government would want to retain some control over fatawa, but just what’s going on here?
It’s good to see the US Embassy taking a proactive role on the confusing issues of going to school in America. Rather than a single set of rules and regulations, the US has 51 (or possibly more) state-level governments with their own Departments of Education. Each has its own ideas about how things should be done. On top of that, every private school, from pre-school to university, will have its own variation. It’s confusing enough for Americans and American educators, so it’s profoundly more confusing for foreign students and their parents. Saudi Gazette reports that the Educational Advisor from the Embassy will be taking calls on Riyadh Radio to address the questions.
US study opportunities on Riyadh Radio
Shahid Ali KhanRIYADH – Riyadh Radio will host a one-hour live program with a representative from the United States (US) Embassy in Riyadh on study opportunities for Saudis.
Karen Bauer, Education Advisor at the US Embassy in Riyadh and Roxanne Nuhaily, Director of International Students, University of California, San Diego, will be the guest speakers at 8.30 P.M. Saturday.
The guests will speak about education opportunities for Saudis and other international students who want to pursue higher studies in the United States, said Khaled Alolaiwi, anchor of the program.
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Nathan Ball, an American student at KAUST, has a blog, Saudi Aggie. There, he writes about his experiences and perceptions at the university—and his side trips outside during breaks.
In addition to just being an interesting read, Nathan’s posts are thoughtful. I’d like to particularly point out his most recent:
Is KAUST radical? Women with hijab, women without hijab, men with thobe and shimal and men in jeans and a shirt keeping their culture and religion while learning and researching together at KAUST.
It is easy to slander and to destroy, but building and creating something new takes time, patience, and commitment. God is the great creator, Satan is the great destroyer.
For weeks, KAUST has been criticized for its mixed men and women classes. KAUST’s detractors are mostly anonymous and are using internet tools like YouTube, Facebook, and e-mail to spread images, half-truths, and lies about social life at KAUST. Whether their reasons are political, religious, or personal jealousy, this small minority is trying though any means necessary to illigitimize KAUST. Their attacks are very misleading.
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Here’s an interesting policy paper from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom taking to task the OIC’s effort to create international laws that punish ‘blasphemy’. The paper (an 8-page PDF web document) notes that criminalizing blasphemy does violence to generally understood protections to individual freedom of thought and expression. It points out as well that the only religion being protected by the OIC is Islam, with nary a word said about other religions. While some countries might wish to see repressive laws internationalized, other international entities are not so thrilled. Even the Holy See finds the effort repugnant, as do the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).
The paper also expresses concern over new legislation arising in Europe that seems over-protective of religious sensibilities while denigrating basic human rights.
I recommend reading the entire paper, short as it is.
The Dangerous Idea of Protecting Religions from “Defamation”:
A Threat to Universal Human Rights StandardsExecutive Summary
Over the past decade, countries from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) have been working through the United Nations system to advance the problematic idea that there should be laws against the so-called “defamation of religions.” Although touted as a solution to the very real problems of religious persecution and discrimination, the OIC-sponsored UN resolutions on this issue instead provide justification for governments to restrict religious freedom and free expression. They also provide international legitimacy for existing national laws that punish blasphemy or otherwise ban criticism of a religion, which often have resulted in gross human rights violations. These resolutions deviate sharply from universal human rights standards by seeking to protect religious institutions and interpretations, rather than individuals, and could help create a new international anti-blasphemy norm.
In addition to seeking a new norm through these resolutions, OIC countries have argued in various UN contexts that existing international standards prohibiting advocacy of hatred and incitement already outlaw “defamation of religions.” However, the provisions on which they rely—Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)—provide only limited exceptions to the fundamental freedoms of expression and religion. These provisions were intended to protect individuals from violence or discrimination, not to protect religious institutions or ideas from criticism, and they should not be expanded to cover allegedly religiously defamatory speech. Such an expansion, which unfortunately may have been lent support by new language on negative religious stereotyping and incitement in a recent UN Human Rights Council freedom of expression resolution, would undermine international human rights guarantees, including the freedom of religion. It also would undermine the institutions that protect universal human rights worldwide.
… Although these resolutions purport to seek protection for religions in general, the only religion and religious adherents that are specifically mentioned are Islam and Muslims. Aside from Islam, the resolutions do not specify which religions are deserving of protection, or explain how or by whom this would be determined. The resolutions also do not define what would make a statement defamatory to religions or explain who decides this question. For its part, the OIC appears to consider any speech that the organization, or even a cleric or individual, deems critical of or offensive to Islam or Muslims to automatically constitute religiously defamatory speech. This view goes far beyond the existing domestic legal concept of defamation, which protects individuals against false statements of fact that damage their reputation and livelihood. Implementing this approach would violate provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and various human rights treaties that protect, with only narrow exceptions, every individual’s right to receive and impart information and speak out.
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[HT Religion Clause blog, which looks at the intersection of law and religions]
One or the other of the reporters for Arab News and Agence France Presse didn’t take good notes during a public health briefing on swine flu and Haj, apparently, as their respective stories are similar but conflict on the numbers.
Arab News reports that nine pilgrims were checked out for high fevers, but only two of them were confirmed to have swine flu. AFP, in a story run in Saudi Gazette, reports that nine were diagnosed with swine flu, but only two were hospitalized. The truth is somewhere in there…
The Saudi Gazette‘s AFP story notes that to date, 70 people have died of swine flu in the Kingdom, out of around 7,000 confirmed cases.
Haj is not scheduled to begin for another two weeks. Tens of thousands are already arriving in Saudi Arabia, however.
Asharq Alawsat runs two opinion pieces today that point to Iran as the force behind the recent (and perhaps on-going) clashes on the Saudi-Yemen border. Hussein Shobokshi provides a riff on the 1959 comedy film “The Mouse That Roared” as Iran’s motivation. Instigating the Houthis, however, was criminal, he says.
Huthists: Pawns in a Persian Game
Hussein ShobokshiThere is a amusing story about a state that failed to achieve its development plans. This state was unable to fulfill its promises to the people, in terms of offering them prosperity, unique education, fascinating cities, and other shiny slogans. As a result, the leadership of this state held an extremely urgent meeting to discuss the repercussions of the situation. The president asked for his ministers’ opinion and advice in addressing this crisis. The defense minister responded by saying: “Let us declare war against the West and attack them. The West will retaliate, and, of course, destroy us. Accordingly, they will feel very guilty and announce a reform plan to fix the situation. This plan will be similar to the Marshall Plan implemented in Germany after its defeat in World War II. As a result, giant projects will be launched and major banks will set up operations. The country will prosper and the people will feel satisfied and happy, thus making us heroes and saviors in the people’s eyes.” After a few moments of silence, the minister of agriculture gave a deep sigh and said: “But what if we win the war and defeat the West?”
I remembered this amusing story as I followed the repercussions of the criminal attack that the Huthists carried out on the Saudi border. These people killed a Saudi soldier in cold blood and injured others, in a new criminal operation that has been added to their black record.
The Huthists have transformed into a lowly puppet in the hands of the Iranian intelligence service and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. They have become a mere tool for exerting pressure.
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Hamad Al-Majid believes that Iran has shown its hand and as a result the Arab world must now unify in opposing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Whatever legitimate complaints the Houthis may have, he suggests, have now been subordinated by factors that threaten all of Yemen, not just the government.
Huthiran
Hamad Al-MajidThere is no smoke without Iranian fire, but now Saudi Arabia has dispelled the smoke that was surrounding the Jabal Dokhan [Smoke Mountain] region from the fire which was originally ignited by Iran. However the Iranian fire continues to emit thick clouds of smoke which plague Iraq’s valleys, as well as the hilltops of southern Lebanon, these toxic fumes originate at the Qom [nuclear] facility, that as of now does not actually possess nuclear capabilities, but which has raised sectarian tensions [in the region]. As for the Arab and Islamic region, Iran’s mullahs are lying in wait for the opportunity to stoke their fires and plow the region into turmoil, as was seen by the [Huthi] attack on Saada, as well as the smoke emitted from the fire of [the Huthi attack on] Jabal Dokhan.
There is controversy surrounding the Huthi insurgency in Yemen, but there is national unity and fierce anger towards the Huthi aggression against Saudi Arabia and the attack on Jabal Dokhan which is located along the southern Saudi Arabian border. This is because when a foreign hand invades a free and honourable country there is no choice but to cut it off. For although the Saudis hate resorting to military solutions, perhaps they dislike something that is in fact good for them. Everybody is convinced that Iran’s claws must now be removed from Yemen following this threat to regional peace and after the Huthis sought to rip apart Yemeni unity which had made long strides away from sectarian strife. In fact the Huthis sought to fan these [Iranian] flames to engulf a country that is important to all Muslims across the world.
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Arab News reports on different facets of the border conflict:
Saudi Gazette/Okaz run several pieces reporting on infiltrators hiding among refugees fleeing or displaced from the border region. The stories note efforts to differentiate infiltrators from illegal, but not treacherous Yemenis involved in cross-border smuggling.
Infiltrators disguised as displaced
Camp in Asir, infiltrators hide among displaced
‘Precautionary’ camp for 3,000 displaced in Asir
Saudi Gazette also reports that some 2,900-3,000 villagers have been relocated on an emergency basis. They were told to leave their homes on short notice and left behind their belongings and flocks.
Saudi Gazette/Okaz run a piece on the continuing reform of the Saudi legal system. The Saudi Minister of Justice said that hiring more judges isn’t the solution to case backlogs. Instead, he suggests that their be a lower level of administrative consultants empowered to deal with issues before they become court cases. By resolving issues—or throwing them out as frivolous—case loads in the courts could be reduced.
This is, in fact, a rather common practice internationally. All the necessary caveats to prevent abuse, however, have to be implemented. Transparency in their operations is likely the best guarantee that the role of favoritism and wasta play no role.
That is why court cases are delayed
Hazem Al-MuteiriRIYADH – Hiring more judges will not decrease the number of delayed cases with courts across the Kingdom, said Minister of Justice Muhammad Al-Eisa, Tuesday.
Hiring one judge is as expensive as hiring four consultants who would be able to eradicate the root causes of the case even before it exists, the minister said during the 3rd meeting of the development strategic plan of the Ministry of Justice in Riyadh.
Employment of more judges will not simply solve the problem of delayed cases, he said.
Al-Eisa cited the lack of public legal awareness, absence of court verdicts for legal fees, centrality of legal presentation to law offices, and the rise of false cases as the reasons for more cases sitting on court tables unattended.
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The anniversary slipped by largely unnoticed, but the commercial exploitation of petroleum began 150 years ago last August. The first producing well, in Titusville, Pennsylvania, was opened by Edwin Drake, an American entrepreneur. He first started the economically profitable business of refining crude petroleum into kerosene (‘paraffin’ in much of the world). Once it was seen that there was money to be made and a useful product, the oil business—with rushes and busts—was on.
Christian Science Monitor reviews a book, Crude World, which gives a history of petroleum exploitation, though from a ‘peak oil’ perspective it seems. Not only that, but the author, Peter Maass, seems to be saying that petroleum has brought no blessings, to anyone: it has only brought misery. I doubt that I’ll be reading the book.
The Washington Post runs this Associated Press story about a Saudi naval blockade of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, part of the Kingdom’s response to recent border clashes. The intent of the blockade is to search inbound ships for weapons and money coming from Iran. The AP reports that some see this as an escalation in Saudi-Iranian tensions.
Saudi Arabia enforces blockade near Yemen
Salah NasrawiCAIRO — Saudi Arabia on Tuesday imposed a naval blockade on the Red Sea coast of northern Yemen to combat Shiite rebels along its border, an adviser to the government said, in the latest escalation of fighting in the southern Arabian Peninsula.
The Saudi move comes as Iran, which is the region’s dominant Shiite power and is accused by the Arabs of backing the rebels, warned neighboring countries not to interfere in Yemen’s internal affairs.
The Saudi offensive has raised concerns of a proxy war in the Middle East between Iran and Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally. Shiite Iran is thought to favor the rebels in Yemen, while Saudi Arabia, which is Sunni, is Iran’s fiercest regional rival.
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The Italian news agency AKI reports on the UN High Commission for Refugees is concerned about the state of refugees in Yemen. While the concern is broader than that of the recent border conflicts, they do play a role in the issue.
Yemen: UN demands refugee protection
Geneva, 11 Nov. (AKI) – The United Nations refugee agency has expressed concern about the recent escalation of conflict between security forces and rebels in northern Yemen.
“We again appeal for the protection of civilians an secure and unhindered access by humanitarian workers to deliver much needed assistanct,” Andrej Mahecic, spokesperson of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in Geneva.
UNHCR estimates that some 175,000 people have been affected by the conflict with Houthi rebels since 2004 and was particularly concerned about those displaced by the latest fighting which began in August.
… Saudi authorities have told the agency’s office in Riyadh that the situation at the Alp border is stable, allowing UNHCR to continue its cross-border aid activities.
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Directly related to the case of Maj. Hasan, The Washington Post runs this piece in its ‘On Religion’ online section. The piece offers a brief survey of the experiences and attitudes of a few Muslim soldiers in the US military. Most, it appears, don’t have the sort of problems that Maj. Hasan found.
This piece might offer some counterpoint to those who find a fifth column in the military, secretive soldiers of Allah just waiting to thrust their daggers in the backs of their peers.
Muslims in military seek a bridge between worlds
Michelle BoorsteinU.S. Muslim service members say they stand out in both their worlds.
Among fellow troops, that can mean facing ethnic taunts, awkward questions about spiritual practices and a structure that is not set up to accommodate their worship. Among Muslims, the questions can be more profound: How can a Muslim participate in killing other Muslims in such places as Iraq and Afghanistan?
Just 3,557 members of the 1.4 million-member U.S. armed forces describe themselves as Muslim, and followers of Islam said the military is just starting to accommodate them by recruiting Muslim chaplains, creating Muslim prayer spaces and educating other troops about Islam.
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