A cultural intolerance to culture
Saudi Arabia is not known as a cultural place – partly because there are no real cultural events other than those put on, arranged and sanctioned by the government – and even those are heavily censored. It’s not like in the States – or nearly anywhere else in the world – where kids start garage bands and play at house parties, or actors take to the stage with improve. Authors and poets routinely move outside the Kingdom or write under pen names in order to express themselves freely. There are no real movie theatres here, despite a budding – if underground – film industry and as far as live theatre or performances – nope, not here, tho they are widely available in other GCC countries.
A few months ago, the proof of just how much government opposition there is to cultural events took place on the Al Yamamah College campus in Riyadh. The college was sponsoring a Culture Week, and among the events was a performance of a Saudi-written play titled “Moderates Without Moderation”.
“The play portrayed Saudi society as being both hijacked by religious extremists -- fanatics who advocate violence, terrorism, and fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan -- and liberals who ape everything the West has to offer, good or bad. The play’s theme went on to contend that extremism on both the left and the right has left Saudi moderates with a lack of identity and direction.”
With the play barely underway, a group of morality police broke in, stormed the stage and arrested most of the cast members as well as others in attendance. This clip is more effective than anything I could possible say about the situation.
Later, the Mutawa announced that they had prevented the play from being shown because it was “against Islam”.
Mmm isn’t violence against Islam? How about intolerance? People are always telling me that Islam is a religion of peace, and I'd like to believe that, but then you get these guys who - by definition - are supposed to represent the "real" Islam in Saudi Arabia doing things like this...I can only imagine how frustrating and painful incidents like this must be for true believers.
14 comments:
First of all, remember that Saudi is the land of hypocrites. Do as I say not as I do!
Secondly, Islam is a matter of interpretation. Saudis in particular have been spoon-fed a particular ideology of what Islam is that is perverted and in my opinion not even remotely indicative of the true teachings of the religion.
It is very saddening for those who truly know the values of Islam and are continuously watching their faith be degenerated by the very own people who claim to be holier than thou.
The other sad thing is that 100 years ago, what is now Saudi Arabia, was politically more sophisticated and culturally thriving while maintaining the traditional Islamic values.
Unfortunately, the current regime feels that suppression through religion is the key to their continued success.
Sara
Sara - thanks for the perspective. I've been doing some reading on what this place was - and was not - before it was Saudi Arabia, and it seems you're right.
Makes me think that someone, who may not have even known what the play was really about, narced on them blowing things out of proportion in their descriptions. It also makes me think that their may be a lot more to the story than what we were told. Having said that, this kind of smack-down isn't at all necessary.
Explains why the government bans camera phones. Its harder to pretend this crap doesnt happen when there's video documentation. Maybe if everone started filming all the crap that goes on there the government would be forced to change.
I've adopted a rule in understanding Islam and Muslims, do the exact opposite of what Saudis do and you will understand Islam.
SSW - Of course there is always more to the story, and we'll probably never know the rest, however the fact remains that a college-supported and sanctioned event was broken up by the mutawa because they didn't like what the event had to say - or probably more likely what people might learn from the event. Oddly, the play probably questioned the authority of the very same incident it inspired.
I'm trying to get a copy of the play to read it myself...any help is appreciated!
Anonymous (1) - You hit it on the head! Clips like this makes the intolerance painfully obvious. Personally I agree, everyone with a camera phone should become a documentarian.
Anonymous (2) lol I know you are being sarcastic, but there's a kernel of truth in it!
Thanks to both of you for commenting and adding to the discussion.
Hey, i lived in Saudi for about 10 years. And i know there were moments of frustration. Some of the laws might be just beyond you and me, but no one is forcing you to stay there. It is their country and all they're trying to do is to protect it from "going astray" and becoming another US of A. where franky speaking, the number of frustrated people must be just as many as the number in saudi. I dont support the principles or the kind of laws in Saudi but like i said -- its not my country.
Marina - You are right and I tell myself daily that this is NOT my country. That doesn't mean that I shouldn't care about the people here.
By the same token, we should just leave places like Darfur alone, right? Why bother thinking about the people there and what they go through since - hey - it's not our country (translate problem.)
Frustration is one thing. What goes on here - and there - is a lot more than just frustration and, if you lived here, you know that as well as I do.
Hey, but thanks for adding your two cents to the discussion!
It saddens me to see violence like this. There are other ways to deal with problems like these.
This is not exemplary of how Islam is practiced, at least not by everyone.
I repeat - I feel sad that violence is used rather than teaching, communication - or at least, try those methods first. Arab tempers being what they are, and being that I live here too (well, next door - hi from Kuwait) and am a bit familiar with how things go in Saudi (my husband's tribe is half here, half in KSA) and that I'm a muslim as well, I find it just sad that this movie is being shown in this way as well.
Sometimes things don't need to be in the media, they just need to be corrected. It's hardly realistic or reasonable that westeners would judge muslims based on their own criteria..and for me, it becomes just an excersize in frustration when I see people comparing apples to oranges. You cannot take your own culture and transplant it here. You just can't.
having said that, I wish the muttawa would have acted differently - there are many good muttawa too, why don't we read of them in the media?
Huda - I'm on the other side of the fence from you on this issue, believing that clips like this NEED to be seen and acknowledged. Pretending something doesn't exist doesn't make it go away, rather it allows it to continue unchecked. Cancer doesn't go away just because you pretend it isn't there, after all. It kills you.
As far as apples to oranges - if something is wrong - and you already admitted you believe this behavior IS wrong, then it is wrong whether it takes place here or anywhere else. Wrong is wrong - right?
I suppose I'll be called a "moral imperialist" for that comment (again!), but I truly do believe that there are basic human rights that everyone is born with - regardless of where they are born or what creed they subscribe to.
When those rights are taken away, I believe people need to ask why, by whom and what can we collectively do to get those rights back?
I am not at all denying that stuff like what happened in the clip happen but I do think that the Muttawa {Saudi religious police} have gotten a bad rap.
I asked my hubby about them as he works for the government and he says he has never heard of some of the things that people claim happen in regards to the muttawa. Again… not denying…just wondering if some of the stories that I've heard are factual.
I myself have never had any problems with them or seen anything. But I live in a small village [it really can't be called a city...lol} and wear the Abaya so that isn't saying much.
Some one said that mobile phones with cameras are banned here and that is not true....camera phones are every where and it's actually hard to find a phone with out one.
Desert Flower - Thanks for the comment. Oddly enough, just today a report was published saying that complaints and even violence against the mutawa are up, seemingly an indication of growing disrespect for the group and their methods. I'm glad your experiences have not been negative.
Several years ago, I witnessed their brutality myself while shopping, and have to say I had nightmares for days afterward. A young guy was chased down and beaten so hard his sandals flew off before he was thrown in a vehicle.
As far as the phone ban, like satellite recievers, camera/video phones were banned in Kingdom, however that ban was lifted once it was obvious there was no way to keep them out of the marketplace. Now, of course, they have also rebanned public photography - tho like the phones themselves, I can't imagine how the ban can be enforced.
I just spent a year living in Jordan teaching. First I want to say thanks for this blog! It is amazing how much of my own experience and observations are reflected almost word for word.
As for this post- I taught with a woman from Saudi who told me that much of the extremist policy is not the opinion of the royal family/ government, as much as a result of their fear of extremists. She told me about how Saudi was moving in a more liberal direction in the 70s, and tensions exploded when extremists took Mekah hostage during the haj, demanding that the government return to more conservative laws. I have not researched this myself, but I would trust this woman, considering that she is a middle eastern history teacher :) Just thought I would share.
Post a Comment