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Dispatches: Secrets of
the Saudi State
'Sensationalist'? Let us know what you think
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Alan Hill
6th Mar 02
I found last nights programme Secrets of the Saudi State
a very poor representation of the country. I have lived in Saudi Arabia
and since being back in London for the past four years I have visited
on about 15 seperate occasions. Firstly the people practising Christian
services were breaking the law and would have been advised in advance
of the strict rules and punishments in place. The man who worked in
an illicit bar was also breaking the law. Again there are strict penalties.
No one going to any country should go with a view to breaking the
laws of their host. I agree that a lot of the punishment is barbaric
but I believe that if you live in such a place you have to be vigilent
at all times and practice a certain degree of caution. The bombings
last year were in my view caused by the importers/distributers of
alcohol not the end users where there is no rivalry. This is a very
lucrative business and naturally there will be violence between rivals
as there was during prohibition in the U.S. The woman who presented
the programme made no effort to present a balanced view and just dug
up what she could find. It is relatively easy to obtain a visa to
visit the Kingdom but they are very strict about who they let in.
There is a great deal of hypocrisy from the top down but that applies
all over the Muslim world in todays modern society especially across
the Gulf. I agree there need to be changes in Saudi Arabia and that
unemployment, The role of the Royal Family and social reform need
to be addressed. But sensationalising the judicial and internment
issues will simply harden the governments position.
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