Runaway Rent

There have been many articles and reports about the cost of living spiraling out of control in the Kigndom and making life extremely difficult for low-income people. But we have seen no sign of any inclination on the part of the authorities to confront the problem. Can we call on the municipal administration of Jubail to do something about the skyrocketing rents? Another round of rental increase has been communicated to many occupants of flats and rooms, effective from Jan. 1. My friend is renting a room that is barely big enough for a cabinet and a bed for SR550 a month. And next year, he’s going to pay another SR650 every month. The room is probably six square meters. Don’t you think the building owners here are taking advantage of runaway prices?

Victor Cruz, Jubail published 20 November 2007

Poor Saudia Services

After making an Internet booking for a Dammam-Bombay round trip by Saudi Airlines, I arrived in Mumbai on my outward trip as scheduled on Oct. 7 and confirmed the Bombay-Dammam return booking for SV 743 on Nov. 7. I reconfirmed the booking one week before travel. On Nov.7, I reached the airport and got boarding passes for my family and me. At 7.45 p.m., just 15 minutes before the take-off time, the Saudi Airline supervisor at Bombay airport sent a message to the flight crew asking them to stop us from boarding the flight. They told me that they had a message from the Jeddah office that my e-ticket was not valid for traveling on that flight. I did not understand what was going on. The ticket was issued by Saudi Airlines; it was confirmed by their Bombay staff twice and I was issued boarding passes by their airport staff. After all this, how could they tell me that we could not travel? I told them that if it was a question of fare difference I was ready to pay it. But they didn’t listen to me. At last, I told them that I would not go out. Finally, I had to buy new tickets for my return trip — paying for the one-way ticket the same fare I had paid for the return ticket. I don’t know what the story is going to be when I apply for the refund for my unused e-ticket. Such treatment of customers by Saudia is deplorable.

Parkar Sayeed Ahmed, Alkhobar published 20 November 2007

Prophet’s Mosque

This refers to Fatima Sidiya’s report “More Space for Women at Prophet’s Mosque” (Nov. 17). It is good to have more space, but that still leaves them discriminated against. Why is that they have only three specified periods of two hours each while men can enter the mosque any time? Why can’t they allow the same period for woman too? Women cannot go alone to the Prophet’s mosque. They have to be accompanied by their husbands or family members. Allowing women the same time would eliminate men crowding the areas.

Shabbir Motorwala, Riyadh published 20 November 2007

Poor Law Enforcement

The report “Criminals Exploit Expat’s Fear of Authority” (Nov. 17) is a poor reflection on the quality of the law-enforcement agencies in the Kingdom. If the police were honest and sincere, such crimes would not take place. It is unfortunate that the Saudi police are performing far below the minimum. There is no dress code, no discipline, no manners and no humane feelings in the uniformed men. With these men in charge of security, how can you expect to attract foreign investment which Dabbagh is trying his best to? He will retire but will not succeed in his mission as long as the police force cannot instill confidence in its ability to protect expatriates.

Nauna, Jeddah published 20 November 2007

Enemy Propaganda

Iman Kurdi’s article “Somalia: What the News Has Failed to Report” (Nov. 14) was another example of Arab indifference to the Somali tragedy and Arab ignorance of the real situation. Where is the Arab media when the “poor” Ethiopian troops are eating the flesh of those young Somalis and destroying their Muslim leaders? Most Arab countries, if not all, supported the occupation of Somalia by the Ethiopians. Somalis will, sooner or later, defeat the invaders. However, I wish the Arab media, with all their ignorance about the real situation in our country, would not publish enemy propaganda. Those who do not know facts should not pass judgment.

Faysal Nur, Somalia published 20 November 2007

Musharraf’s Democracy

This refers to Zafar Raja’s letter “Myanmar and Pakistan” (Nov.17). Living under uniformed generals is nothing new for Pakistan. The experience dates back to Ayub Khan, continued through Yahya Khan and Zia ul-Haq and now under Pervez Musharraf.

If the emergency has been declared to control terrorism, why has not a single terrorist been arrested so far? All those thrown in jail are judges, lawyers and politicians. What kind of media freedom is Musharraf boasting about after banning three popular news channels — GEO, ARY and AAJ — and expelling two BBC reporters who were impartially frank about what was going on? Now the sale of satellite dishes is totally banned. Is that more evidence of press freedom?

Arresting a national hero such as Imran Khan for taking part in a student protest meeting and locking him up in a notorious jail with dangerous criminals is deplored by all Pakistanis. His former wife Jemima, along with hundreds of others, protested the atrocious treatment that Imran’s family members received, with all freedom, in the city, London, where Zafar Raja lives now. In contrast, when Imran’s sister did the same in Pakistan, she was manhandled by the security forces and pushed into a van like a piece of baggage.

Musharraf’s assurance to the US that as long as he is in power, the nuclear facilities will be safe and secure is an outright insult to Pakistan’s sovereignty. The US has started to treat Pakistan as it does Iraq, a country under occupation.

S.H. Moulana, Riyadh published 20 November 2007

Last Mogul

William Dalrymple is justified in what he says in his response “Charge of Slander” (Nov. 11), but he also needs to remember that history books do not tell the whole story. There has been a very active campaign through the centuries to belittle Muslim achievements and although there are many pieces of evidence of the decadence that had set in by the end of the 17th century, I personally take in a lot of “information” with a grain of salt.

As for Irfan Barabankwi who accused Darlymple of deliberately insulting Muslims, he needs to be reminded that Muslim or not, the Moguls were first humans and they had human failings. Prostitution was a way of life and remained so for a very long time. If anything, I personally admire the women for their courage, intelligence and presence of mind in the face of adversity. Prostitution was not so much out of choice as out of necessity.

Ozma Siddiqui, Jeddah published 20 November 2007

Last Mogul [2]

What William Dalrymple refers to as the British Army was, in 1857, the equivalent of Blackwater, a mercenary army paid for by the British East India Company which, in its turn, was the equivalent of today’s Halliburtons, Brown & Root oil and defense conglomerates. Nothing has changed. The “white man” is still a “burden” on the backs of nonwhites. It is high time this burden is thrown off. To this end, the brave Iraqis have contributed substantially, as have the Palestinians and the Lebanese.

S.M., Jeddah published 20 November 2007

Last Mogul [3]

It is only natural for any other to feel hurt by unfair criticism of his work. William Dalrymple was justified in getting upset by Irfan Barabankwi’s comments. He would have conveyed that message with dignity had he not went on to add the remark “before rushing in to make an idiot of himself.” Now it is anyone’s guess who is an idiot.

M.A. Saleem, Riyadh published 20 November 2007