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Two More Steps Back

Posted by Susie of Arabia at 4:36 AM 24 comments: Links to this post 


Blogging Community in Mourning 

Posted by Susie of Arabia at 3:28 AM 30 comments: Links to this post 


Update on Carol/American Bedu

Carol Fleming/American Bedu's condition is rapidly deteriorating.

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she leaves this world to join her beloved Abdullah.
Posted by Susie of Arabia at 5:20 PM 4 comments: Links to this post 


Update on American Bedu

I've written about my friend and fellow blogger, Carol Fleming Al-Ajroush, "American Bedu," many times.    American Bedu is the most widely read blog about Saudi Arabia, with her daily posts providing invaluable information, interviews, and advice about the country, the culture, and its people. Carol worked for the US government in a highly classified capacity, under the guise of being an American diplomat, when in actuality, she worked for the CIA as an American spy.  But when cupid's arrow struck her in the heart, she chucked her intelligence career to be with the love of her life, a Saudi career diplomat, Abdullah Al-Ajroush.  Carol moved to Abdullah's native Saudi Arabia with him to live happily ever after.  She began writing her renowned blog American Bedu and settled into wedded bliss in this rugged land rich in history and mystery. Her unique story is being revealed in a soon-to-be-released documentary about her life.

But their fairy tale ending was short-lived.  After just a few short years, both Carol and Abdullah were diagnosed with cancer in 2008 - she with breast cancer and he with a very rare and aggressive form of acute leukemia.  They both fought their diseases valiantly, but Abdullah lost his battle in February of 2010.  Carol picked up the pieces of her shattered life and has pressed on, but I am very sad to report that right now it appears as though her breast cancer is winning. Carol's prognosis is dismal.  She does not have much time left here on this earth and requires round the clock care.  AND THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN.  You can help.  You can help by contributing to a fund set up for Carol to provide this costly care for her in her final days.  Please donate if you can.  She has given so much of herself and never faltered in her mission to bridge the gap in understanding the Muslim world and Saudi Arabia.  Please show her how much she has been appreciated by all of us by making a donation.  Thank you.


You might enjoy reading ...

My interview on American Bedu

My son Adam's interview on American Bedu

Posted by Susie of Arabia at 1:47 PM 4 comments: Links to this post Labels: American Bedu, blog, breast cancer, healthcare, help, hero, women


Saudi Women Victims of "Restriction for Protection"

The following opinion piece was written by Dr. Badria al-Bishr, a Saudi lecturer, novelist, and columnist.  It was first published in Al Hayat on April 25, 2013, and was reprinted in English in Al-Arabiya on April 26, 2013.

Saudi women victims of ‘restriction for protection’
By Dr. Badria Al-Bishr

This is of course was not the first time I saw a female taxi driver, however, I was surprised because I had just arrived from Riyadh where I had just read a statement from a sheikh confirming that prohibiting women from driving in Saudi Arabia aims to “preserve their chastity, morals and safety.” The statement added that they –women – are more likely to make mistakes and violations while driving the car, but most of all, the Sheikh said that “men verbally harass women on the streets and markets, even when they are accompanied by guardians.” He then asked: “What will happen once they drive a car?”

I thought to myself, if the Sheikh could see us now, all the three of us in the taxi, on our way home, which is located half an hour from the airport, without any car bothering us or a reckless man blocking the road; we were truly safe. I have lived these peaceful moments during my stay in Dubai, and I saw women around me driving their cars -- among them unveiled foreign women, veiled Gulf women, women who cover their entire face with a black veil -- and no one dares to mistreat them or assault them. People behave on the streets by virtue of an Islamic law that forbids any assault on men or women. So how can women be safe even in the late hours of the night in Dubai, while women in Saudi Arabia are not safe, even when they are accompanied by their guardian?

Keeping out of harm’s way?

How can Muslims defend this logic? How could women go out, 1,400 years ago, five times a day to the mosque to pray with men without barriers or dividers, only protected by the saying of the prophet: “Do not stop Allah's [Islam’s] women from going to Allah's mosques.” Today, women do not go to mosques, but are rather warned by sheikhs that that they might be harassed even if they are accompanied by their guardians. So the solution is to prohibit them from going out in order to protect them and preserve their chastity according to a logic that is closer to the logic of the desert rather than the country, civil society and religion’s logic.

Posted by Susie of Arabia at 1:52 AM 13 comments: Links to this post Labels: culture, Islam, moslem, mosque, muslim, religion, Saudi Arabia, women, women's issues, women's rights


Jeddah Art Restoration Project Video

I've published many photos of Jeddah's amazing sculptures and lamented about their deteriorating condition due to the harsh elements here in Jeddah.  Previously I reported that the Jeddah Restoration Project was underway and now it is nearing its completion.  It has been an extensive undertaking which was done in phases.  The project has been mainly funded by charitable donations under the leadership of the Abdul Lateef Jameel Community Initiatives organization. The above video provides an update on the progress of the Restoration Project and shows some of Jeddah's unique sculptures.

I also wrote THIS ARTICLE about Jeddah's sculptures for Selamta Magazine, Ethiopian Airlines in flight magazine in the September-October 2012 issue.

Arab News article:  Restoration of Jeddah's public art to transform city into open-air museum
Posted by Susie of Arabia at 10:18 PM 1 comment: Links to this post Labels: art, Jeddah, landmarks, monument, restoration, Saudi Arabia, sculptures


Saudi Arabia: Janadriyah Cultural Festival 2013

Janadriyah is the name of the yearly festival held in Saudi Arabia's capital city of Riyadh celebrating Saudi Arabia's heritage and culture.  This year the festival attracted a record high six million visitors during the month of April - and I was one of them!  Originally starting out as a camel race many years ago, the festival has grown in its 26th year to include a variety of attractions that focus on entertainment, education, history, and culture.  Many of Saudi's provinces and ministries of the kingdom are represented in the two week long celebration, as well as some other Middle Eastern countries, plus an invited guest country.  Artisans give demonstrations of their traditional crafts, like basket weaving and woodworking, and festival attendees can enjoy traditional dancing and singing too.

What I enjoyed most about Janadriyah was seeing so many thousands of Saudi families relaxed and having a good time.  The women were especially in a joyous mood and many of them wore floral headbands or festive gold coin face veils.  One women even wore a bright multi-colored mohawk wig that she made.

I'd like to extend my special thanks to Laylah, my fellow blogger and friend, and her husband ,who took me along with them to Janadriyah this year.  Laylah writes an amazing blog called Blue Abaya and I hope you'll check it out.

I hope you enjoy this slideshow of photos from JANADRIYAH 2013 ...

Janadriyah 2013 from Susie Khalil

Here are some other articles and photos about the Janadriyah Festival:

Blue Abaya: Expats Guide to Janadriyah

Blue Abaya: Why I love Janadriyah

Blue Abaya: Top Ten Things to do at Janadriyah

Arab News: A Record 6 Million Visit Janadriyah Festival

Splendid Arabia: Janadriyah and the Festival of Heritage

Arab News:  Traditional handmade headbands set trend at Janadriyah Festival
Posted by Susie of Arabia at 4:18 PM 4 comments: Links to this post Labels: activities, architecture, art, celebration, culture, customs, dance, entertainment, family, history, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia