Checkpoints are a common phenonoma throughout Saudi Arabia. They can be set up for various reasons such as traffic safety – ensuring that drivers are wearing seatbelts; for security – there may be a warning or alert of a security nature resulting in the police setting up checkpoints; for validation – such checkpoints will be in and around the holy cities of Makkah and Medina to ensure individuals entering these cities are eligible to do so. Validation checkpoints are especially predominant during HAJJ season as part of crowd control (and security) confirming that only those who are associated with an official Hajj agency are allowed entry.
Checkpoints are quite common in other places of the world as well but not as prevalent (yet?) in the United States for example. The closest one really encounters to a checkpoint in the United States is when police have decided to make a roadblock usually late on a weekend night and stops cars having drivers take a breathalizer test to ensure they are not driving under the influence of alcohol. I’ve yet to see a security checkpoint in the United States like I have seen and experienced in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.
Checkpoints are one of the few places I will willingly hurry up and cover! And by cover, I mean veil so my face is totally obscured. The reason I do this is simply to avoid unneccesary stops and questions while traveling. Okay…what do I mean by that statement? Usually when the police see a Saudi man with an uncovered western woman even if it is a safety checkpoint, validation checkpoint or a security checkpoint, they will typically stop the vehicle and ask that proof be shown of their relationship. However if I throw a veil over my face so my features are not seen, the majority of the time we are simply waived on through the checkpoint without any delay.
Filed under: abbya, culture, Dress, Freedoms, gender, relationships, safety, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, Saudi Living, terrorism, travel, Uncategorized, Women Issues Tagged: | abaya, culture, customs, gender, gender issues, KSA, Relationship, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, travel, women
its good to wear veil, to avoid unnecessary harrassment, but,
very sad to note that they cannot drive or get equated with local women – if this is the state of affairs, when will women get equated with men?
sorry to ask one fundamental question, whether saudy law makers or rulers believe in democracy?
at mumbai too, the police would be checking vehicles at quite frequent intervals and places – thats purely for security reason
am glad to get one topic a day for mind to grind
A very practical approach and one of the cultural adaptations I count as simple steps to reduce annoyance.
agh–email error resulted in unseemly avatar
Ya Carol, please read my comment on previous post as I would like to know about wordpress.
BTW, doesn’t Srinivas sound adorable?
Ok, now to the point…I find the whole veiling thing strange although I am a native, however, one would think in this day and age, no one would risk allowing veiled women to pass through. They could have female guards, which is what they do in airports. Obviously Hamas has taken note of the typical Middle Eastern attitude toward women to their great advantage and to the detriment of the victims. It’s sad how Islam is watered down by some people to a dress code…”oh, the hijabi must be pious, we won’t check her..” SHEESH (as the yanks say).
I don’t know if anyone is familiar with the British comedy “Absolutely Fabulous” but I would loooove to see a segment with Patsy, Edina, and Saffy going through a checkpoint and trying to find their veils ;D
Mariam – in all my travels overland in the Kingdom I’ve yet to see a checkpoint which also has female guards. You raise good points.
Susan – No; can’t say I have seen or heard of ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ but I’m sure it would be enjoyable.
Srinivas – I realize you are a newcomer to my blog but you may wish to do a search on the word ‘democracy’ for I have written earlier posts about Saudi Arabia and democracy.
I do the same thing! And if I happen to be sleeping while on a road trip, my husband will wake me up before we get to the check point so that I can cover my face again. Also I think they are less suspicious if you have kids in tow as well.
Oh yes…I’ve also had that “wake up and cover” too! (smile)
dont they have female officers at the womens passport check point on the bahrain causeway. whenever I go to bahrain with my family we drive by a trailer that I see a lot of fully abayad and veiled women going into to check to see if who they are matches up with their passport. they also have something similar at the train stations when you go through screening.
There are defenitely some perks to being fully veiled at times. And may I add you look absolutely scrumptious on that last portrait?
Susan: yeah! I would love to see that! Saffy wopuld have her’s all ready of course, and Patsy and Edwina would have theirs from Lacroix naturally!, and full of bling!
Carol: try to get some episodes of Absolutely Fabulous!
Just read where LA is picking up a pilot of Ab Fab – we’re placing bets to see even with Saunders help, they’ll manage to muck it up.
Could see Christina Applegate in it somehow, but she has that great show on now. It’s too funny.
You know in the checkpoint segment they would have to end up in jail somehow … having searched for the Lacroix veils and not found them – naturally – chaos ensuing in the search for them, and their final opting for something altogether inappropriate for a substitute thus landing them in the pokey. Both will no doubt flirt with the guards … or trying to sell Saffy again like they did in the Morocco episode.
Saffy … it would figure that somehow she’d end up having tea with the king and negotiating for them.
Tash ma Tash could do something like that … if not Ab Fab.
ahhh, the possibilities!
Great show! Can walk around the house doing housework or whatever, not think you heard a line until long after in the grocery checkout or on “public transport” it finds it’s way back to recall.
David, it certainly makes sense that security checkpoints at trainstations and borders have both male and female. Although I think it’s unlikely for female guards at the erratic checkpoints along general roadways.
I’ve noticed the same thing although i’m a male when ever there is a veiled lady the police wouldn’t check the car or even would stop it. in my point of view female security officers should be there. after all there have been cases, where men smuggled or crossed borders (into mecca during hajj) with veil just to pass without thasreeh.
thanks for info on democracy at saudi
at present the net is down at house – will read and comment there
Ok maybe it is because your in Riyadh, although I’ve been around them parts and passed through check points. But I’ve never veiled be it with my husband or not. Never been stoped, never been asked for proof of marriage we are just always waived through.
Hi all. It’s been a while. I thought I’d pop in and share what happened at work today. The usual dress code policy email was sent out recently, reitterating the official rules..probably because the hHealth ministry was here recently. Today we find out that “people” have complained and the prince of the region sent a more formally worded memo to our headquarters essentially saying follow ALL the rules or risk the facility losing it’s license.
This means all western women are now required to cover their hair while at work. If we don’t and are caught by muttawa we will be immediately take to see the prince. And our place of work will be entirely hands off and not represent us in any way. Also, if we chose not to follow the rule we will be give 1,2,3 (then you’re out) warning letters.
I understand that it’s important we don’t lose our license. And I will find a way to conform. But there is profanity just wishing it could come out verbally or here on paper..
sigh. What pointless rubbish.
So much for liberalization, at least in this setting.
A that’s really ridiculous!
Have you seen the hijab burning by Sara Rasmussen? Maybe this will cheer you up:
http://clouddragon.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/hijab-burning/
A – very sorry and also surprised by such a ruling!