The Real Face of Saudia Arabia

I am originally from Saudi Arabia and was introduced to this web site by my Pakistani brother-in-law Waseem Saulat who thinks my message should be heard by all South Asians. Since this is my first venture, please excuse my lack of writing skills.

I want to tell all my brothers and sisters that Saudi Arabia represents the most gruesome challenge to humanity since the African massacre in Rwanda. The diabolical scale of Saudia oppression goes unreported only because of this country's financial clout. I am not going to waste the readers time in debating the justification of shariat enforced punishments, although I believe that Islam preaches forgiveness and reform of spirit ... harsh punishments are only a last resort.

In this article I am going to tell my readers what goes on behind the cloak of Saudia righteousness.

I start with the news that a British firm is supplying instruments of torture to be used against people who are fighting for their rights. This includes electric batons and other instruments of electrical shocks. People are being detained on mere suspicion and then brutally tortured and left to languish in jails without any trial. There is no form of legal assistance and mechanism for protest - except to remain silent in the face of torture.

In fact a person was executed in 1996, when he would not confess to conspiring against the monarchy, on charges of practicing witchcraft. Needless to say the state has become the judge, the jury and the executioner, all rolled into one.

We all know that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely; what we don't know is how much cruel can people become.

I am not out of senses ... I only want to present the facts as I know them. I know I risk being termed an agent of vested interests, bringing a bad name to our religion but believe me, religion has nothing to do with it; its all a manifestation of tribal culture.

Saudi Arabia is not a signatory to the human rights as envisioned by United Nations. What it means is that there are no civil liberties, no freedom of press, restricted contact with the outside world and if you are unfortunate to be even remotely suspected of any crime it becomes their word against yours.

The torture is not restricted to males, it is equally applied to women, in that respect our Saudi brothers believe in complete womens liberation. Jehan Ara an Indian muslim lady went out to shop alone, in Jeddah. She was arrested and made to stand on one leg for four hours before she finally aborted her pregnancy.

Philipino maids are routinely harassed; sexually and physically. Sentencing females to one hundred lashes for minor offences is common. And last but not the least genital mutilation of young girls is still widely practised although the world media thinks its only prevalent in Sudan.

Rich Arabs with the right connections, kidnap children during Hajj to steal body organs for transplants. And dont forget many children are still used in camel races. All of them are from your countries.

I implore my brothers and sisters not to joke on my writing. Critisize me, if you dont like what I have to say. But remember you have a great country. You are talented people, good workers, loving teachers, best doctors. Don't throw every thing away, trying to copy us and Iran. You have your own culture. Believe me, you will miss it once your country is hijacked by Islamic fundamentalists.

Your sincere sister,

Sadia Saulat