by Natasha Tynes | Dec 17, 2004 | Tidbits
This one is from the Guardian
Oh what a lovely jail
Al-Qaida supporters detained in Saudi Arabia have appeared in a television documentary about al-Haer jail, 25 miles south of the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and delivered rave reviews of life inside.
"I swear to God, they [the jailers] are nicer than our parents," said Othman al-Amri, once No 21 on the kingdom’s list of most-wanted terror suspects.
The programme, broadcast on Saudi television late on Monday, included brief footage from inside the jail, showing clean facilities and beds lined next to one another.
It signalled a new effort by the authorities to encourage militants to give themselves up and to allay suspicions that they would be ill treated if they did so. But persuading them to opt for al-Haer may prove difficult.
I am sure that after airing this program the militants are lining up around the block to turn themselves in. Well, you know, clean sheets can be tempting!
by Natasha Tynes | Dec 17, 2004 | Tidbits
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I just read that Bahrain has unfurled the world’s largest flag (below), measuring 169.5 metere, beating Pakistan’s record.
A year and a half or so ago, Jordan put up the world’s tallest flag pole.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but is there a flag competition I’m unaware of going on nowadays?
I still like Jordan’s flag display more. Yes, I’m biased.
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by Natasha Tynes | Dec 17, 2004 | Tidbits
John from Crossroads Arabia alerteted me to this. Thanks John!
Saudi Arabia to Overturn Ban on Camera Phones
Saudi Arabia will overturn a ban on the import and sale of mobile camera phones in the Kingdom, press reports said yesterday.
Although widely used across the country, camera phones are illegal in the Kingdom. In many cases the phones have been used to invade privacy, particularly of women, prompting fights at markets, wedding halls, schools and other public places as well as triggering family disputes.
Local papers quoted unnamed sources as saying the authorities had asked the Ministry of Interior to put in place regulations to prevent the negative use of the camera equipment in the phone.
Body search is a common practice in universities for all female students to ensure they don’t carry camera phones. Girls, however, find ways to hide the devices and bring them to lecture rooms. In wedding halls, some operators have resorted to hiring special search squads to check every invitee to ensure they leave their camera phones out of the hall.
Source: [Arab News ]
by Natasha Tynes | Dec 4, 2004 | Tidbits
Lately I have been very harsh on the Saudis. Now it is time for some good news.
Fist Saudi woman on bank board
RIYADH: Saudi businesswoman Lubna Olayan has become the first female board member of a Saudi listed firm, bankers said yesterday. Saudi Hollandi Bank said Olayan was elected to a three-year term on the bank’s board by shareholders at a meeting late on Tuesday."She is the first woman on the board of a Saudi joint stock company," a bank spokesman said.
Olayan delivered a passionate plea for equality for Saudi women when she opened a high-profile economic forum in Jeddah attended by former US President Bill Clinton in January.
"My vision is of a country … in which any Saudi citizen, irrespective of gender, who is serious about finding employment, can find a job in the field for which he or she is best qualified," Olayan told the conference.
This week Saudi women voted directly for the first time in elections for the board of Riyadh’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry. They were not able to stand as candidates.
Source: [Gulf Daily News]
by Natasha Tynes | Dec 4, 2004 | Tidbits
There is an interesting debate currently taking place on this blog regarding the Persian Gulf vs Arabian Gulf dilemma. I thought I would draw attention to it because it really is an eye-opener. It’s very refreshing to hear both sides of the story.
On a different note, I updated the opinion poll (upper left corner). The new question: "If you were a registered Palestinian voter, who would you vote for?" I can’t wait to see the results of this poll? Is it Barghuti or Abbas?
And a quick question for the Jordanian bloggers meeting in Amman in December: Where would you like to meet? Now there are seven of us. I’m open for suggestions. Hit me.
by Natasha Tynes | Dec 3, 2004 | Shutterbug, Tidbits
This one is from John:
Female college students carrying mobile phones with cameras on campus in any college in the Kingdom could face a SR500 fine and 3-year suspension under recent regulations issued by the Ministry of Education.
“What about the faculty and administration members?” questioned college student Huda Abdulghani. “Are they allowed to carry mobiles with cameras on campus? How come they’re to be trusted and we’re not?”
“So my mobile phone has a camera,” said Umm Leila, a college student, married and mother of 3 children. “It’s a gift from my husband and it’s one of the recent models that are installed with cameras. I don’t even use the camera but I’ve got to use the mobile during my day at college. As a respectable wife and mother I can understand authorities’ concern. These regulations are insulting for the rest of us.”
According to Al-Eqtisadiah, an Arab News sister publication, the Education Ministry’s regulations say that if a student is caught carrying a mobile with a camera phone on campus without even using it, the gadget would be confiscated there and then until the end of term.
Source: [Arab News ] Via: [Crossroads Arabia]
