Recently the President of the United States has been visiting Saudi Arabia, in his speech during the US-Saudi investment Forum, Trump asked the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud an interesting question, calling him by his first name, he asked : Mohammed do you sleep at night ? how do you sleep?
Trump then replied to his own question by saying : “He tosses and turns and think how I can do it better?” This remark was quite adequate about a young leader to a country that has taken so many great steps in the past three decades that one cannot even imagine.
Indeed, Saudi Arabia’s advancement was not done as a toddler learning how to walk, rather like a youth sprinting and jumping hurdles. I did spend the first few years of my marriage in Saudi Arabia before moving to Europe for reasons beyond our control.
During those years (early 1980s), as women we were not allowed to drive and covering body and hair with a cloth was a must.
I also remember that there was a committee of some men clergy who would walk in public places reminding people how to dress, especially women, if the hair was out or the cloth didn’t cover the feet, one of them would have a stick in hand and a whipping by the stick was to follow, one of those days, although I was wearing trousers, a part of my feet wear showing when the wind was blowing, I saw the stick wielding man approaching me, but I was faster and sprang into the next shop, if it happened, I can say that it would have been quite humiliating! Fast forward to today, Prince Mohammed has given clear and strict instructions that such clergy men are no longer allowed to walk around and harass people. Not only women were given the freedom of clothing, of course in a decent way, and in June 2018 women were granted the right to drive.
Through my friends who live there, I know how this newly granted freedom has opened doors for women to be self-reliant. In the past, the richer families always depended on drivers, while other women had to deal with taxis or just wait for their spouses to take them around even for basic needs such as going to the supermarket or going for a medical appointment. I have also to emphasise that public transport in these countries are mainly for the labour market, and there is certainly no place for women.
The American President’s question in my view, also has another angle to it, one to do with the huge responsibilities that a leader has on his or her shoulders, it is never easy. Prince Mohammed also faced a lot of challenges, some saw his moves as too fast and too progressive for a conservative society that represents the heart of Islam, but with his wisdom and steadfastness he managed to hold his ground and move forward.
We know that petrol is the biggest source of income in Saudi Arabia, but we also know that petrol is not forever. So, here is a leader who is trying to find his country other resources before it is too late. Being at the age of 40, this young and visionary leader will live to see his dreams come true.
Nafha Maani
Tales
