The muttawa are rearing their heads again according to this recent article which appeared in Arab news. However I am also going to share with you an incident that while not as recent also illustrates the importance of protecting yourself if there has been a disturbing incident with the muttawa.
An American friend of mine has been in the Kingdom for 17 years. She is married to an Arab (non-Saudi). She, her husband and son have had overall a very good life and experiences in Saudi Arabia. Although married to a muslim, she has chosen to remain a Christian and has also elected to not wear a head cover when out and about in most places within Saudi Arabia.
One time, as a family, she, her husband and their then seven year old son went to the local supermarket to do grocery shopping. She remembers that they were in the dairy section and she was selecting milk when she was prodded from behind by a muttawa who was accompanied by a policeman. He gestured for her to cover her head. While she understood his gesture she chose not to acknowledge him as she is a foreigner and does not speak Arabic. However he reached out to grab her. At that point her husband intervened and spoke to them in Arabic to stop disturbing his wife and to not attempt to touch her. The muttawa turned onto the husband and an Arabic dialogue ensued with the muttawa telling the husband to control his wife and make her cover. The husband initially was patient with the muttawa attempting as well to explain she did not have a head cover but again, the muttawa reached out to touch the wife. At that juncture the husband raised his voice in indignation and told the muttawa he was prepared to fight for his wife’s honor if the muttawa did not stop what he was doing. The muttawa then decided to try a different tactic and asked what was the relationship between the couple. Of course the husband said they were man and wife while at the same time their son is crying by then and saying “mama, why is this man being mean to you and daddy? Are they going to hurt my daddy?” The husband on request from the muttawa gives the muttawa his iqama. At that juncture the muttawa and policeman take off with the husband’s iqama in the muttawa’s hand. The wife asked her husband wasn’t he going to go and retrieve his iqama? The husband initially responded “no; I don’t care. Let them take it.” But of course that was also a lot of emotion talking and he soon realized that if they did take off with his iqama he better at least know their name. So he goes to the front of the store where the muttawa and policeman were by then and asked the muttawa for his name. The muttawa responded he not only was not going to provide his name but the husband had no right to know it. The muttawa and policeman proceeded out of the store. The husband hurried after them to their official muttawa vehicle. He again asked for their name. The muttawa and policeman brushed him off and got in their vehicle. The husband stood behind the vehicle shouting he would not move until he knew the name of the muttawa who was taking off with his iqama. By this time a crowd of about 150 bystanders had gathered. Interestingly the crowd was supporting the couple and encouraging the husband to not yield and demand his rights. The muttawa and policeman continued to ignore everybody and started up the engine of the vehicle and put in into reverse. Rather than move, the husband laid down on the parking lot saying they would have to run him over dead as he was not moving until knowing their name. At this point a very well dressed Saudi with the demeanor of someone important came to the husband and wife and asked what was going on. They explained what had transpired. The Saudi went to the muttawa and spoke to him for a few minutes. The Saudi then returned with the husband’s iqama in his hand. He gave it to the husband saying “Now just go. Do not stay and try to talk to these people.”
The husband and wife (and their by now hysterical traumatized child) left the parking. However rather than return to their residence, the wife had an intuitive feeling they should go directly to the United States embassy and report the incident. On arrival at the embassy and telling what happened, the embassy showed great concern and wanted all details of the entire incident. Not only was a report filed but the embassy official also took photos of the husband and wife to capture their appearance at the time. This was especially important since the muttawa were claiming the wife was improperly covered. The husband and wife both felt relieved and satisfied that they had gone to the embassy and reported the incident. They thought they could now put it behind them…..
Four months later the husband is notified that charges were brought against him for initiating an assault against the muttawa and the policemen. As evidence, the muttawa and policeman had a report from the police station and medical reports where they claimed to have been treated for injuries sustained. They claimed they were only doing their duty in wanting to separate an unrelated man and woman. Their report also claimed that the wife was provocative and acted in an inappropriate manner towards them. Because of the charges the husband (and wife) had to appear before the court. Before they did so they contacted the embassy and an embassy official accompanied them. Due to the report of the same incident which was filed by the couple at the embassy, the couple were “released.” However that did not mean the ordeal was finished. The embassy in turn wrote a pointed letter to Prince Salman, Governor of Riyadh, apprising him of the incident and requesting justice be carried out. Subsequently they learned that the muttawa had to sign a document in which he agreed to not act in a manner which was inappropriate or overly-aggressive to women. Basically, he got a “hand slap.”
This incident though would have had an entirely different conclusion if the couple had not taken the time and filed an incident report with the United States embassy. Otherwise they would have had no proof to dispute the charges of assault and aggression on the part of the husband. After all, the muttawa and police officer had falsified yet legitimate documents claiming a different series of events.
The couple’s son is now a young man in college but that incident left a permanent scar. He does not resent Saudi Arabia or the Saudi people, but he holds a deep seated hatred for the muttawa and all that they represent. He is also very protective of his mother.
Filed under: America, culture, gender, islam, politics, relationships, religion, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, Saudi education, travel, Uncategorized, Women Issues
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So sad that you have to learn how to protect yourself from the government of the country you are living in. It reminds me of Nazi’s, North Korea and Zimbabwe. Time and time again, muttawa incidents show how uncivilised the Saudi government really is.
This sounds like what happened to a black couple and the police in some place in America. Except the male lay on the ground not by choice, but unconcious after the police nearly beat him to death. He says drugs were planted on him while he was in that state–who to believe? The child sat in the back of the squad car with the mother before they were seperated and he was put into foster care while his mother was held without a court hearing for a few months. The charges on her were eventually dropped, but the son is still very distrusting of the police.
Great story.
Now if only citizens from less powerful countries could find that kind of care. Heck, if only Saudis had someone looking out for them that way.
I do believe that sometime in the future some Vice police members will go over their heads and something catastrophic will happen. They might instigate a situation with violent, oppressive tactics like these with the wrong person who would be armed or dangerous. It’s devastating to see how Saudis are torn between two extremes, some Saudis despise everything related to Mutawwa.. while some others consider them infallible to error.
The current authortive nature of the Vice police body is very dangerous and cripples the freedom of individuals in Saudi. To have someone judge another person by his own view of what is right and what is wrong is extremely wrong, giving said person government authority is devastating .
It is really sad when a blind eye from the usual government bodies is turned away when catastrophes happen to the citizens or residents of Saudi Arabia. Do someone have to kill some Mutawwas for them to see where this is heading? I do not wish that to ever come.. but I do have my concerns that the relation between angry citizens and the Vice police will explode eventually if such system is left unregulated and out of jurisdiction.
There have in fact been incidents in the past involving the Muttawa and the death of an individual. I do not have these at my fingertips but all one needs to do is search Arab News archives for example.
The couple in question were not dark or brown skinned but white. Both Americans – the wife born American and the husband a naturalized American.
This incident happened several years back but it still highlights the need to protect oneself. If you have an incident with the muttawa and your intuition tells you something about it doesn’t “feel right” then get it documented.
This story shocked me and brought to mind an incident that happened to my parents but with a way better outcome. I was the child (around 12 years old I think at that time). My mother always kept her abaya and head scarf in the car so that she can don it whenever they went outside the camp for shopping.
It was her habit to only wear it at the last moment while stepping out of the car. Well, a mutawwa saw her leave the car to head to the shop while my father was parking the car. He let her pass and did not impede her walking. The mutawwa patiently waited for my father to step out of the car, then asked him if he could speak to him for a moment. As his son, I was next to my father and privy to the dialagoue.
The mutawwa explained in a very proper and gentle way that it is part of the custom and religion for woman to cover themselves in public. My father acknowledged that and stated that he would relay it to his wife. Then we followed my mother into the shop where she had already donned her abaya and head scarf.
Similar incident; way different outcomes. The morale of this story is that Mutawwa need to abide by the Koran. Any person approaching a wrong deed from another in a gentle and non-threatening manner will be able to get them to rectify it. It is an appeal to our humanity and basic instinct of right and wrong that is more powerful than threats and fists. My mother always used to say: You do not need to raise your voice if you really have a point. Hope the Mutawwa will learn this basic lesson.
Bismillah! How can the mutawwa do such things? They talk about suffering in Hell for touching a female not related to them and there you go, happily touching a female they claimed to be inappropriately dressed. PRRFT.
It is right to report the particular incident to the US Embassy and that evidence were taken since the embassy could raise concerns an American faced. Since American embassies are far more proactive in protecting their citizens rights in foreign land, I admire that. If it were to happen to someone of a different citizenship, more likely they use protocol by “expressing their concerns” with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs before it goes anywhere else.
To be honest, I’m kinda peeved with the “hand slap” because he should be reprimanded with the appropriate punishment and not by signing a document promising not to act in a inappropriate manner. A hand slap is just not right. The same mutawwa might be harassing some other woman claiming that she’s not appropriately dressed.
I agree with DW’s concern that the relationship between angry Saudis and that of the mutawwas is waiting to explode into violence and the need to regulate the system a mutawwa can accuse one of committing ‘crimes/mistakes’ is urgently needed.
Speaking of justice, I wonder why is it they took 4 long months before charges were filed against the husband for “initiating assault” and I find it hypocritical to create false charges against someone else when they mouth off “Islamic justice”.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I hear rumours saying that some of the prowling mutawwas are “failed imams” who did not succeed in becoming imams or someone who can yield religious authority. Any truths to that?
Thanks Siwash for sharing the experience your family encountered.
Firdaus – What I have heard (and have no substance to back this up) is that some of the muttawas are “reformed prisoners” who on their release from prison became muttawas. Again, I have no facts to back up this statement and passing it along only as something I have heard. However at the same time I do know there are others who have willingly chosen to be part of the muttawa and take pride in that position and have not been imprisoned.
Firdaus Hashim, I think there is a huge failure in the recruitment scopre of Vice police instititute. I work in the recruitment field and some guy from 700 kilometers traveled to me by name after getting a call that a religous affairs section is opening in my hospital. The first thought I had.. this guy looks like a normal Muttawa.. but I really don’t care what he thinks is right or wrong would qualify him for such position. To my knowledge there is still no department for religous affairs in my area yet so I was not in a hurry, I just logged the guy and informed my superiors about his visit and voiced my concern that he didn’t complete his bachelor degree in Islamic studies. I have no objection to him as a person aside from finding the situation a bit unsettling with the phone call and non existing position while he was sent to me by name.
The problem that since Highschool students choose between choosing usualy between graduation in Literature and Sharia.. or in Science.. Many of the students who do well early in highschool choose science because it offers a better carrier and accepted widely. While Sharia and literature sciences are usually for people who are afraid.. or already failed science majors. You don’t usualy see the high achievers flocking Religous Academic institutes usualy.. they only head there when they find no other place.
For this year I think the number of people who died in detention or in pursuit approaches a dozen.. its really frightning to see people still believe that Hayáa shouldn’t be questioned about it. I wonder when the government will realise the value of it’s citizens lives.. even if there are some extremely traditionlist families who are angry at their daughters running out of home.. and demostic disputest.. I believe that stil for those families who care.. its a lot better to have their daughter back safe with her “shame” than dead and 6 feet under.
I posted some information a while back on the mutawwa and a woman’s rights. The dos and don’ts and what power mutawwa have and don’t have. It is interesting what rights we do have as the mutawwa tend to ignore it. And yes many of the mutawwa are ex cons, this has been established by research done by Turki bin Fasl Al Saud
what I wrote on this issue can be found at http://nzinghas.blogspot.com/2008/02/mutawwa-and-womans-rights.html
This is a very scary story. So…bascially, you have men, going around telling people what they should and should not do, wear, sit, etc., at the whim of their own prejudices and vices (and believe me all men have vices, even if it’s power tripping, which appears to be the case here).
Thanks for the story. If I’m ever confronted by these horrible, holier than though so-called men, I’m headed to the embassy…every single time. Even the travel books on the KSA state, you have no chance of ever winning, without proof, if a Saudi wants to make false claim against you. How can a foreigner ever really relax and trust the people? That’s sad.
This story reminds me of an incident that happened to me, an incident so unpleasant that I have avoided writing about it. I, too, was saved from harm by someone who informed the muttawa that I was American, and would complain to the Embassy.
Because they left me alone after learning my nationality, I did not complain, but I should have done so. I was simply too scared.
I really don’t know what the heck is going on inside those religious-to-be-people!!
They just think that whoever couple they see, it’s a love relationship!!
We all should respect others religions no matter what!! If Saudi opened the dorr to multiple ethnics then what’s all the fuss about!!
I am glad they filed a case though it took them to the court when they are innocent!!
I am going to be unpopular, however…
does not today entry go against everything your blog stands for .. “when in saudi do as the saudi’s do…”
It is easy for me to say, I guess, I am a male, however, this woman broke the cultural law in saudi therefore she had to accept the consequences.
too many westerners expect other cultures to do as we do … when in fact, when in saudi we must do as the saudi’s do.
John- yes she should have covered her hair if she was in Riyadh as it is expected. However that isn’t the case say in Khobar where I live not all cover their hair and it is normal for women to choose not to. HOWEVER… having said that the mutawwa had no right what so ever to touch her. He also could have chosen to do things in a better way.. understood she isn’t a Muslim said “next time please take care to cover” and left it at that. Some Mutawwa choose to do just that when dealing with non muslims.
There are certain rights that women should know as to what is a do and what is a don’t when it comes to the mutawwa who have seriously had their options limited over the years as well. I wrote on this issue several months ago some may find interesting. http://nzinghas.blogspot.com/2008/02/mutawwa-and-womans-rights.html
also Bedu your right, according to studies done within the Kingdom majority of Mutawwa are ex cons their only training is memorizing the Qur’an.
Actually I only cover my head maybe 10 per cent of the time when I am out and about and I DO live in Riyadh. One DOES NOT have to mandatory cover just because one is in Riyadh. It remains a matter of choice although there is a risk that at some point a muttawa may take objection and request a woman to cover. Hence the advise that a woman never go out without a scarf.
If my husband is wearing traditional Saudi dress I will usually “loosely” cover my head because otherwise we would be more likely to be stopped and challenged on our relationship or given a hard time as in “what is a western woman doing out and about uncovered with a Saudi.” Westerners out with westerners are majority of times left alone. But if a woman appears arab in origin by her features and uncovered, whether alone or with her husband or perhaps with other friends, there is a higher chance that a muttawa may ask her to cover.
@ John.. Where in the description does it state that the woman is breaking cultural law? The covering of hair, so I’m told by all the female saudi’s I work with, is religious. The covering of face – traditional. Therefore since this woman is not muslim she’s under no expectation to cover her hair, and since she’s not saudi she doesn’t have to cover her face. Nor is she in any way required to accept abuse (there’s no other word for it) from anyone, in any country.
Waw! scary story! Good they had their story documented, and good they were American citizens I suppose, I have little trust in the Dutch embassy standing up for Dutch citizens.
John, happy to oblige. As far as I understand, officially, foreign women dont even have to wear the abaya, (but that seems to be forgotten by now), and certainly not a headscarf. John Burgess told he actually advised foreign women not to wear a headscarf, because if they got accosted they could easily put one on, because if you already wear a headscarf, they will find something else to pick on.
And a man can néver éver touch a woman!!!! let alone grasp them!
(I thought that’s why they carried canes? so they can slap women about without actually touching them?)
Perhaps the muttawa have memorised the quran parrot-style, but they certainly don’t seem to have grasped it’s meaning.
Bedu- I was under the impression Riyadh was more strict in regards to women covering their heads. One thing many of the gals complained about after moving to Khobar from Riyadh was that our area is a bit more relaxed. There is a large percentage of women, even some Saudi women, who do not cover their heads in khobar and wouldn’t bring a scarf because it tends to be a non issue. There are even women who don’t wear the abya although I’m totally against doing that as the mutawwa will chase you down for that in Khobar if they catch you. In Jeddah however I’ve seen many women walking about with no abya giving preference to other culture dress, we don’t find that in khobar much. I’ve been in areas of Saudi and have been harassed for not veiling, so I do think it is a regional thing.
Being in riyadh as you mentioned women are told to bring a scarf and cover if asked to. So shouldn’t the woman have done just that? Ignoring the mutawwa (who was with a cop) simply because she didn’t want to acknowledge them speaking in the language of the country is not that way to go in my view.
However, again the mutawwa had no right to grab for her and all involved could have made that particular situation easier in my view.
There’s nothing worse than the treatment of US law enforcement bodies in dealing with ethnic minorities and foreigners (e.g. see Brooke’s comment). So there’s no space for claiming who’s more civilized.
The Muttawa’s scant mistakes are no where near as serious as regular police in the US and in Europe (e.g. the shooting of Charles Demenezes in the London underground).
Despite their known shortcomings, the Muttawa are still popular with in Saudi Arabia. Unlike regular police, Religious police get almost no training on how to deal with the public. That is being rectified. With a measurable change in their behavior.
You don’t usually hear about the good things that they do. Yes believe it or not there are plenty! For example, hundreds of Saudi and non-Saudi men have been caught blackmailing their non-marital girlfriends using nude photos the ladies entrusted them with.
The public criticism of Muttawa is mainly aimed at improving their attitudes towards the public. You would rarely see a Saudi calling for them to abolished. So you won’t see the Muttawa body being decommissioned any time soon, I assure you. In fact there are calls for such bodies to be established in the other countries. e.g. Kuwait, Malaysia.
Qur’an thumping ex cons with immunity; chilling thought…
My thoughts exactly INAL. My plan is to always carry a scarf because I don’t want any mess with these people (the Muttawa). This must really be a way to employ ex-cons, as their role, in my not-so-humble opinion, is completely unnecessary and not needed. It would appear as if the Saudi citizens don’t even want to deal with these guys.
@ John…
It is Not the law or required for women of other nationalities to cover. I fact the US embassy and consulates used to give women a letter, in Arabic, to present to Mutawa stating as much. They don’t bother anymore because most Mutawa can’t even read or write Arabic, forget English.
I worked in a large institution in the EP where I was the only non-Saudi, non-Muslim woman. I wore an abaya and headscarf – which I don’t usually but was being cautious when the position was new. They shouted for me to cover my face so as an experiment I did. Then it was for me to wear gloves, then tights. When there was nothing left they’d go after my driver, shouting at him for driving an infidel until he stopped coming for me and I was forced to catch taxies from the street… it’s not about us showing respect, it’s about their power trip.
The Vice squad exists to enforce Islam for Muslims, anything else is harassment. But seriously, does anyone need to be told? We all know the rules. The reality is they’re cheap labour, a way to maintain public order in the absence of an effective police force.
Theres a rumor going around that the Saudi Government has stopped paying the Muttawa. Oh by the way Ms Carol I belive you are mentioned in a recent Arab News article. Heres the link http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=116209&d=11&m=11&y=2008
Èverybody reads American Bedu.
Has Fleming red the article? Does Fleming like to written up like that?
Has the journalist asked Fleming if they can quote Fleming? Did they at least tell Fleming they were using her writing for their own article?
Some very interesting comments and more thoughts to ponder for discussion….
Nzingha – yes, Riyadh is more conservative than the EP or Jeddah but perhaps not quite as conservative as folks want one to think! In fact although I live in a regular Saudi neighborhood, each day to/from work I do not even take an abaya but instead just wear my lab coat. Sometimes on the way home I’ve had to run a few errands and have never been stopped or challenged as an uncovered woman wearing a lab coat and not an abaya.
For those who have remarked that the woman cited in the post should have covered due to the culture and customs, that is a matter of opinion. I’m only relating the incident as it was told to me.
Sprinkle’s experience is a real eye-opener in it seems that in her case there simply was no pleasing the muttawa… first as a woman who did not cover and then it seemed when they went against the driver it became even a more racial/ethnic attack.
Howdy Saudi – I actually wrote an earlier article on the muttawa asking about good and positive muttawa stories. I’ll try and pull up the link as fyi. I realize there are some who endorse and promote their presence. But I’ve a feeling that ultimately the majority would like to see them vanquished.
Aafke you are right – abuse needs to be stopped wherever it occurs!
And yes, it does happen not only in KSA with the muttawa but elsewhere in the world with law enforcement too. But my blog is about Saudi Arabia so someone else can take on what is going on outside of the Kingdom.
I was aware that an article would be published. Some of the quotes are a little bit out of context but I think the key points of the article were made.
I’ve written multiple posts about the muttawa but this link is the one where I challenged readers to provide positive muttawa stories:
http://americanbedu.com/2008/08/31/what-do-the-muttawa-think-about/
There is no law in Saudi that says a woman can not drive. But do you see us women out there testing it? Just because there is not written law that says a woman must wear an abya or scarf doesn’t mean that she won’t be arressted by the mutawwa for not wearing it.
Bedu- I’ve seen ladies out in lab coats by the hospital and in local super markets running errands and no one says a thing. I guess cause its long
guess I should add the good about mutawwa is their catching prostitutes and men who use them, the crack down on illegal alcohol and drugs and catching a few perverts.. one less on the street to bother me is a good thing
Nzingha, my lab coat comes just above the knees.
But should it be the muttawa apprehending protestutes and drug/alcohol dealers? Should’nt that fall under the role of the police?
Quite a scary story, American Bedu. I wonder what the reaction would have been, had the couple not been American and from some other third world country!
You might find a story of the “religious police” in Malaysia, banging on an american tourists door one midnight on Langkawi island about 3 years ago, because they thought he was hanging out with a muslim Malay woman. It was his American wife. She wore a sarong so they thought she was muslim. They were angry and demanding to see their proof of marriage, harassing them and threatening them until they showed it. He was so outraged he went to the papers and complained about the whole thing.
The “religious police” gestapo do exist in Malaysia but the government have stated they do not have powers of arrest or detainment. They are simply there to spy on Muslims private lives.
So as you should well know, as a Muslim you do not have a private life nor do you have some basic human rights if you live in a Muslim country. Now be grateful for this all you muslims! lol
Bedu- Lab coats cover the bum.. which tends to be the main issue for people. How saudi decides to divide the legal issues in its country in its own choice. As an American of course I would say this is a police matter, but in Saudi it tends to fall under the mutawwa as well as other issues, who would coordinate with the police.
Interesting Ryan…I had only thought KSA and Afghanistan had its various versions of the muttawa.
Nzingha – it raises the old question of whether the muttawa should be taking on what are basically police roles. Or rather it raises the question if the muttawa role should be continued or not?
Howdy Saudi, Actually I think the Saudi muttawa actually dó exceed the US law-enforcement in the art of mistreating people and chasing, or beating them to death.
Bedu, Israel has the ”modesty police” who harrass women (of course, it’s always women who have to bear the main burden of bigotted assoults) for shocking mmisdemeanors like wearing red blouses.
Breaking into a woman’s appartment and beating her up because she alledgedly ”consorted with a man”
Torching a store for selling MP-4 players (which could maybe be used for downloading porn)
Forcing gender separation in busses, women of course have to sit in the back. A 50 year old canadian woman was kicked, slapped, pushed to the floor and spat upon by men for refusing to move to the back of the bus.
The dancers hired to embellish the opening of the Chords Bridge were forced to shorten their danceroutine and change their outfits to long flowing robes and headcovers, by the ultra orthodox nutters.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/oct/04/jewish-modesty-patrols-sow-fear-in-israel/
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1032853.html
http://israeluncovered.blogspot.com/2008/06/modesty-police-patrols-bridge-ceremony.html
Bedu the history is really scary, but luckily they coped and there are people like you to report this kind of matters.
Expatguru, I don’t know where do you come from, but I come from a country that you would call “third world country” and I am sure if I was in this kind of situation my country would have done the same for me. That is why the Embassys are there: to help their citzens when they need independent from where they come from.
Hello Everyone,
I have to make a point to “Howdy Saudi”. The police in the states are no where near what you’re talking about…yes…you do have instances of police brutality. But…one thing you forget to mention is that there is some semblance of recourse. Which, I don’t think the average Saudi has. Also, the police tend to operate based on “laws passed” not the opinion or whim of a reform ex-con.
BTW: I’m a Black female; I have cursed the police, out loud, for a BS stop. Yes, I got the ticket, and I paid the fine, but I wasn’t beat up, I wasn’t touched. On the other hand, I’ve met some really cool cops who have given me a break. Yea…I used to get stopped a lot because I’m a fast driving, sports car driver.
In the states…or when I’m in England…I’m not afraid of the police. However, these unregulated Muttawa, scare the “you know what” out of me. As mentioned, I will carry the scarf, just in case.
Enjoyed all the recent comments. BCIS – I like what you have said and believe you raise some good valid points, particularly that police in the USA do indeed work under ‘laws passed’ viced the gray areas of the muttawa which do at times seem whims or opinions.
I think the difference is the US has a thought out system, whilst places like Saudi don’t seem to have anything… apart from wasta.
Wasta/corruption i meant to say
thanks for your view, Ryan.
In my own opinion I feel that KSA has the potential, the resources, the money but in general when it comes to projects and activities has weaknesses yet in the area of strategic planning. Improvements in this regard are coming slowly.
Reuters picked up this post:
http://www.reuters.com/article/blogBurst/entertainment?bbPostId=B6kcqoGH9Pf8Bzn7nRZ5sNNoB4f5tSmwg6pZCz8nw9BZDJZbO
I had an encounter with (what I thought then) was muttawa, but in reality it was some perverted arab, who just wanted to talk to me… It makes them somehow happy too to come up to you and pose as the Vice police, so they can see you closely and such. I am not, what you can say “astonishing beauty”, but men and women are stering at me endlessly, In the shopping mall he somehow came up to me, clearly seeng that i was not alone there,(my husband and my 7 year old son), but he chose a moment, while me and my son were in Samsonite store and my husband was in the next door watch and jewelry store.
He entered the Samsonite store with the mall security guard and in English asked me to cover my face… I was shoked and did not find anything better than say: Am I so scary and you are affraid of me?” on what he did not say anything, but turned around and went away with perverted kind of smile. When I told my husband, he said it was not muttawa, since they cannot order foreigners, but since he referred to me in English, then he knew, that I am not arabic woman. In cases like this and when there is real muttawwa – call american embassy right away. That is what my friends, why were born and raised in Riyadh suggested. An american or whichever other embassy is very proactive on this kind of matters.
So, being physically attractive – is a sin, and you have to cover the face…. What a joke…
[...] anyone having such an experience, in addition to filing a statement at the police, be sure to also notify your local embassy or consulate, especially if you are required to sign any documents which are in Arabic. You might be signing [...]