But would you want to?

[Oso]

Saudi is the one place in the world I refuse to work. My decision has been continuously validated for the last 30 years.


Tribal Custom Means a Husband Never Sees His Wife’s Face
Raid Qusti, Riyadh Bureau Chief

RIYADH, 4 September 2003 — One of the most remarkable among the many and varied tribal customs that survive in Saudi Arabia is one that forbids anyone at all seeing a woman’s face. In parts of the Al-Kharj region, not even a woman’s husband and children are permitted to see her face uncovered.

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=31374&d=4&m=9&y=2003

It should be funny, but it's not.



edited to try and fix lnk... got it.

[LuxFerum]

I wonder how many of then really folow that.:D

[Crossbow]

I would not mind working in Saudi Arabia for I hear the pay is very, very, very good. Also, most of the professional foreign workers stay in a compound area where they are not subject to Muslim law (so women can wear shorts, men and women can eat together, etc.).

But as to the article you refer to, if you look at the last paragraphs you will see that the practice that is giving you consternation is a tradition practiced among very few tribes and it is not Muslim law.

...

A woman in her sixties explained that this tradition, like many others, is disappearing fast. “We have inherited these customs from time immemorial, and they are normal to us,” she said. “But of course our children don’t believe in these traditions any more.” The imam of a mosque in the region, Ayid Al-Dosari, said there was no sin in a woman unveiling her face to her husband or children and the phenomenon had to be attributed to tribal customs rather than religion.

“This has nothing to do with Islam,” he said. “It’s simply one of the traditions that some tribes follow.

...

[Frostbite]

Originally posted by Oso
It should be funny, but it's not.

Why not? I happen to find self-inflicted misery quite hilarious.

[Oso]

Originally posted by Crossbow
I would not mind working in Saudi Arabia for I hear the pay is very, very, very good. Also, most of the professional foreign workers stay in a compound area where they are not subject to Muslim law (so women can wear shorts, men and women can eat together, etc.).

But as to the article you refer to, if you look at the last paragraphs you will see that the practice that is giving you consternation is a tradition practiced among very few tribes and it is not Muslim law.

...
“This has nothing to do with Islam,” he said. “It’s simply one of the traditions that some tribes follow.
...

Actually this is exactly why I find it so sad. This is the level to which the Saudi interpretation of Islam has to be taken for a Saudi imam to think it extreme.

As you point out the $ is good, of course the recent compound bombing doesn't say much for the security, but I regularly travel to and work in Nigeria, Angola, Algeria and other locations all of which have higher risk premiums than Saudi, and I visit many other countries that all work is done inside a compound.

Here's the point, Saudi Arabia is not only the source of Wahhabism/Salafism, it's the state religion. I refuse to do anything that is directly beneficial to the Saudis (well actually my reasons extend to a much more personal level but I'll not go into that).

Did you know that it was also reported in ArabNews that Muammar Qaddafi blamed Saudi Arabia for the rise of Al-Qaeda, stating further that the kingdom is based on fundamentalism and extremist ideology.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=30048&d=9&m=8&y=2003

I'm not the only person that thinks these guys are dangerous.

[Mr Manifesto]

I like the title of your thread. Another racist, redneck Texan makes an "Ugly Saudi" joke.

BTW... I found a picture of you enjoying the sights of Algeria. In traditional Texan fashion, it's from your hotel room with a fist full of potato chips.

http://www.rowett.ac.uk/divisions/appetite/metamed/obesity/fat%20man.jpg

Remember to go easy on the deep-fried cheeseburgers. You're only a couple more away from your last heart attack, and the Texan oil drills haven't finished digging your grave yet.

[Oso]

Originally posted by Mr Manifesto
[B]I like the title of your thread. Another racist, redneck Texan makes an "Ugly Saudi" joke.

BTW... I found a picture of you enjoying the sights of Algeria. In traditional Texan fashion, it's from your hotel room with a fist full of potato chips.
...Man, I hate that picture. They told me they'd checked the room, next time I'm in Melbourne I'm staying at Batman's.

Oh, and that picture wasn't taken in Hassi, but you know that.

Do you know anything about Salafism?

[Mr Manifesto]

Do you know anything about Salafism?

Yes. Do you?

[Oso]

Originally posted by Mr Manifesto


Yes. Do you? I'll accept that you do, but I'm disappointed that you did not ask why I associated wahhabism with salafism.