by Jean Sasson
“Fatima, how lovely to see you. What are you doing in Riyadh?”
“Princess, I had an important medical appointment today that could not be missed, so the driver was kind enough to travel with us. I wished to see you while I was here so that I could tell you that I thought of you many times since I heard about the loss of your father.”
I thanked Fatima for her kindness. I was very happy that she was so efficient that none had to organize her life. With the driver from Taif accompanying her, she was free to travel all over the country without a problem, for Kareem had provided her with a letter granting travel permission so she had no need to ask for special authorization each time. In Saudi Arabia, a single woman must have such a paper. Since we are members of the royal family, Fatima never had any difficulties with officials once she had disclosed to them Kareem’s seal and signature.
“Are you unwell, Fatima?” I asked with true concern. When Fatima came to us, she was very sickly, and due to beatings at the hand of her husband she had extensive dental and facial work that was necessary.
“No, Princess. I am not moving to death, as far as I know. I only had some pain in my teeth, and there needs to be more work done so that I can eat properly. I hope it is not too expensive for you, Princess.”
“Fatima, we told you. Have your dental and medical work and do not think about the expense. Your health expenses are fully paid for in this family.”
Fatima smiled broadly. “You are too good to me, Princess. Too good.”
“You are a treasure, Fatima.”
“Thank you, Princess.”
“Fatima, Amani is here, as is Little Sultana. Come with me, so they can see you and your girls. Little Sultana will be very happy to see them.”
And so only a week after the sad time of family death, the evening unfolded in a beautiful way. Little Sultana insisted that Fatima’s daughters go with her to the children’s room. I looked in to see the three of them looking very serious, with Little Sultana telling the twins that when she became old enough that she was going to help women all over the world. And most fun of all, Afaf and Abir could assist her in doing this good work.
“Little Sultana,” I intervened, “why don’t you play with your new dolls? Afaf and Abir might like some of them to take to Taif.”
Little Sultana smiled at me, then turned back to the girls. “Let us play. Grandmother says that I must play until I am older.” With a big squeal, she and the twins rushed to gather the dolls and started play-acting, the way little girls are supposed to play.
I was satisfied, and happy that those coming after us were already thinking of the good they might do for others.
Fatima was visiting with some of the employees in our home, joking that she had the best job of all because she was living in the cool of Taif, whereas they were coping with a hot desert city. She felt badly for them all, she said, with a big laugh. Fatima had become a normal working single mother, knowing that she could care for her twins by her own labor and that she had no worries ever again of being beaten, or of having her daughters forcibly taken from her. She was secure and happy.
Abdullah, Maha, and Amani were sitting together at a table by the pool. All three of my children were smiling, joking and enjoying each one another’s company as I have never seen before. It was as though each had discovered goodness in the others and they were pleased to be siblings. This was a scene I had never expected to see even if I lived a hundred years.
That was when Kareem came home and found me standing quietly, watching my children.
“Sultana, darling,” he whispered in my ear. “Are you spying on your children?”
“No, Husband, but I am enjoying their joy at being together without discord. When have we ever seen these three sitting happily and relishing the others’ company?”
“I would say . . . never,” Kareem said with a satisfied laugh.
“What do you think caused this marvelous change?” I pondered.
“They were bound to find the good in each one another,” Kareem said. “You have been a mother like no other. You feel with your heart. You react with your heart. After living with you, I know that the best things in the world are often overlooked. You have always been here for me, and for our children. But when someone is there all the time, she oftentimes becomes invisible. We took you for granted, Sultana. When you were so distraught after the incident with Maha, your extreme distress brought about a fear in all of their hearts that one day you would no longer be around. That fear opened a door for them to see how fortunate they all are to have a mother like you, Sultana. This appreciation has brought them to a new place of love and care for their family.”
“Really? Is that what you think, Husband?”
“It is what I know, Sultana.”
I did not know how to respond, for Kareem is not a man who easily gives compliments. His words so warmed my heart that I was silent, but when I looked up and into his eyes I gasped. The love in my husband’s eyes was overwhelming. I knew at that moment and Kareem and I would never again consider divorce. I knew at that moment that one day, one of us would close the eyes of the other in a final act of love. At that moment, I wanted to be the one to go first, because I knew that I would be forever sad and lost without my husband by my side.
I have been guilty of taking my husband for granted, for seeing him each day and knowing that he is there for me made him invisible, too.
But from this day forward, he will always be visible to me.
At that moment, I felt myself the luckiest wife, mother, and grandmother in the world.
Despite the loss of my mother, father, sisters Nura and Reema, I know this truth: God is good.
Appendixes
Facts about Saudi Arabia
Head of State: His Majesty King Salman ibn Abdul Aziz al-Saud
Official Title: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
Main Cities
Riyadh: capital
Jidda: port city
Mecca: holiest city of Islam, the birthplace of Muhammad and Islam, toward which Muslims pray
Medina: burial place of the Prophet Muhammad
Taif: summer capital and summer resort area
Ad Dammam: port city and commercial center
Dhahran: oil industry center
Al Khobar: commercial center
Yanbu: natural gas shipping terminal
Ha’il: trading center
Jubail—industrial city
Ra’s at Tannurah—refinery center
Al Hufuf—principal city of the Al-Hasa Oasis
Religion
Islam: It is a crime to practice other religions in Saudi Arabia.
Public Holidays
Eid al-Fitr: celebrates the conclusion of the dawn-to-sunset fasting during the month of Ramadan
Eid al-Adha: commemorates the trials and triumphs of the Prophet Abraham
Short History
Saudi Arabia is a nation of tribes who can trace their roots back to the earliest civilizations of the Arabian Peninsula. The ancestors of modern-day Saudis lived on ancient and important trade routes, and much of their income was realized by raiding parties. Divided into regions and ruled by independent tribal chiefs, the various warring tribes were unified under one religion, Islam, led by the Prophet Muhammad, in the seventh century A.D. Before the Prophet died, aged sixty-three, most of Arabia was Muslim.
The ancestors of the present rulers of Saudi Arabia reigned over much of Arabia during the nineteenth century. After losing most of Saudi territory to the Turks, they were driven from Riyadh and sought refuge in Kuwait. King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, father of the present-day king, returned to Riyadh and fought to regain the country. He succeeded and founded modern Saudi Arabia in 1932. Oil was discovered in 1938, and Saudi Arabia rapidly became one of the world’s wealthiest and most influential nations.
Geography
Saudi Arabia, with an area of 864,866 square miles, is one-third the size of the United States and is the same size as Wester
n Europe. The country lies at the crossroads of three continents: Africa, Asia, and Europe. Extending from the Red Sea on the west to the Persian Gulf in the east, it borders Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait to the north, and Yemen and Oman to the south. The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain lie to the east.
A harsh desert land, with no rivers and few permanent streams, Saudi Arabia is home to the Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter), which is the largest sand desert in the world. The mountain ranges of Asir Province rise to more than 9,000 feet in the southwest.
Calendar
Saudi Arabia uses the Islamic calendar, which is based on a lunar year, rather than the Gregorian calendar, which is based on a solar year. A lunar month is the time between two successive new moons. A lunar year contains twelve months but is eleven days shorter than the solar year. For this reason, the holy days gradually shift from one season to another.
Lunar year dates are derived from 622 A.D., the year of the Prophet’s emigration, or hegira, from Mecca to Medina. The Islamic holy day is Friday. The working week in Saudi Arabia begins on Saturday and ends on Thursday.
Economy
More than one-quarter of the world’s known oil reserves lie beneath the sands of Saudi Arabia. In 1933, Standard Oil Company of California won the rights to prospect for oil in Saudi Arabia. In 1938, oil was discovered at the Dammam Oil Well No. 7, which is still producing oil today. The Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco) was founded in 1944 and held the right to continue to search for oil in the kingdom. In 1980, the Saudi government assumed ownership of Aramco.
The kingdom’s oil wealth has ensured that the citizens of Saudi Arabia live the kind of opulent lifestyle enjoyed by few. With free education and interest-free loans, most Saudis prosper. All Saudi citizens, as well as Muslim pilgrims, receive free health care. Government programs provide support for Saudi Arabians in the case of disability, death, or retirement. The entire country is an impressive socialist state. Economically, Saudi Arabia has developed into a modern, technologically advanced nation.
Currency
The Saudi riyal is the basic monetary unit in Saudi Arabia. The riyal consists of 100 halalas and is issued in notes and coins of various denominations. As of August 27, 2015, the riyal is 3.75103 to the U.S. dollar.
Law and Government
Saudi Arabia is an Islamic state and the law is based on sharia, the Islamic code of law taken from the pages of the Koran, and the sunna, which are the traditions and practices based on the Prophet Muhammad’s words and deeds. The Koran is the constitution of the country and provides guidance for legal judgments.
Executive and legislative authority is exercised by the king and the Council of Ministers. Their decisions are based on sharialaw. All ministries and government agencies are responsible to the king.
Religion
Saudi Arabia is home to Islam, one of the three monotheistic religions. Muslims believe in one God and that Muhammad is his Prophet. As the heartland of Islam, Saudi Arabia occupies a special place in the Muslim world. Each year, millions of Muslim pilgrims journey to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to pay homage to God. For this reason, Saudi Arabia is one of the most traditional Muslim countries and its citizens adhere to a strict interpretation of the Koran.
A Muslim has five obligations, called the Five Pillars of Islam. These obligations are:
1. Profession of faith: “There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of God.”
2. A Muslim should pray five times a day, facing the city of Mecca.
3. A Muslim must give a fixed proportion of his income, called zakat, to the poor.
4. During the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, a Muslim must fast. During this time, called Ramadan, Muslims must abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset.
5. A Muslim must perform the hajj, or journey to Mecca, at least once during his lifetime (if he has the economic means).
Raif Badawi, a “Worthy Man”
It is dangerous to express your opinion if you live in Saudi Arabia. Raif Badawi’s case shows this to be true. For merely discussing politics, religion, and personal freedom on his Web site, Free Saudi Liberals, Badawi has been tortured by flogging and has lost his own freedom.
Raif Badawi is one of the bravest men my readers will ever “meet.” His struggles to promote freedom has touched the hearts of people all over the world. Raif Badawi is a hero for anyone campaigning for human rights.
Time Line
Date of Birth: January 13, 1984
Birthplace: Saudi Arabia
Profession: Writer, activist, creator of the Web site Free Saudi Liberals
Wife: Ensaf Haidar
Year Married: 2002
Children: Two daughters and one son: his daughter Najwa, born 2003; his son Terad, born 2004; and his daughter Miriyam, born 2007.
2008: Arrested on charges of apostasy, which carries an automatic death sentence in Saudi Arabia if found guilty. He was released after one day of questioning, but the Saudi government banned him from traveling.
2009: Saudi government freezes his bank accounts. Ensaf Haidar’s family filed a court action to forcibly divorce the couple but did not succeed.
June 2012: Arrested on the charge of insulting Islam through electronic channels.
Other charges filed, including apostasy.
December 2012: Charged with “going beyond the realm of obedience.” His Web site was ordered shut down.
2013: After receiving death threats, his wife and children obtained political asylum in Canada.
2013: Amnesty International has designated Raif Badawi a prisoner of conscience.
After appeal, resentenced to 1,000 lashes to be carried out over twenty weeks, ten years in prison, plus a fine.
January 9, 2015: Given the first fifty lashes. (The German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that Badawi had written from prison that he “miraculously survived fifty lashes while he was surrounded by a cheering crowd who cried incessantly “Allah Akbar” (God is great). The remainder of his nineteen scheduled weekly fifty lashes were temporarily postponed due to his frail health.
June 2015: Saudi Arabian Supreme Court upheld sentence of 1,000 lashes and ten years in prison.
August 15, 2015: Badawi’s book, 1,000 Lashes: Because I Say What I Think is released to great fanfare in the United States. (Book previously published in other countries.)
An Added Outrage
Raif Badawi’s lawyer, Waleed Abulkhair, has also been jailed on various charged, one for setting up Monitor of Human Rights in Saudi Arabia. He was also charged for “breaking allegiance with the ruler” (meaning the king). He was found guilty of “undermining the regime,” “insulting the judiciary,” inciting public opinion, and for “breaking allegiance with the ruler” (meaning the king). Abulkhair has been sentenced to fifteen years in prison, to be followed by a fifteen-year ban on travel.
Something Shocking
Saudi Arabia is a member in the U.N. Human Rights Council.
Human Rights Watch has reviewed Saudi Arabia’s membership in this council and they say, “Over the last year, Saudi authorities have harassed, investigated, prosecuted, and jailed prominent peaceful dissidents and human rights activists on vague charges based solely on their peaceful practice of basic rights, particularly the right to free expression, including Abdullah al-Hamid, Mohammed al-Bajadi, Abd al-Kareem al-Khodr, Omar al-Saeed, and Raif Badawi.”
Doctors at Freedom from Torture, a charity in the United Kingdom with experience helping torture victims, fears that further floggings will probably cause permanent physical and psychological harm to Badawi. When the cane strikes, the blood is forced from the tissues beneath. . . . Damage to the small blood vessels and individual cells causes leakage of blood and tissue fluid into the skin and underlying tissue, increasing the tension in these areas. According to Dr. Juliet Cohen, the head of the charity, “The more blows are inflicted on top of one another, the more chance of open wounds being caused. This is important because they are likely to be more pain
ful and at the risk of infection, which will cause further pain over a prolonged period as infection delays the wounds’ healing. (. . . ) Psychologically, flogging may cause feelings of fear, anxiety, humiliation, and shame. Anticipation of the next scheduled flogging is likely to cause heightened emotions especially of fear, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping . . . pain and fear together over a prolonged period have a deeply debilitating effect and recovery from such experiences may take considerable time.”
Leaders of governments worldwide have urged Saudi Arabia to free Raif Badawi. But the Saudi government rejects criticism of its human rights record (which is appalling) and asserts that “it does not accept interference in any form in its internal affairs.”
Glossary
abaya: a black, full-length outer garment worn by Saudi women
abu: means “father of”
al-Saud: ruling family of Saudi Arabia
Bedouin: a nomadic desert people, the original Arabs
bin and ibn: means “son of” (Khalid bin Faisal, son of Faisal)
Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (CPVPV): religious authorities in Saudi Arabia who have the power to arrest those they believe commit moral wrongs or crimes against Islam or go against the teachings of Islam, also known as the morality police
Dhu al Hijjah: the twelfth month of the Hejira calendar
Dhu al Qi’dah: the eleventh month of the Hejira calendar
hajj: annual pilgrimage to Mecca made by those of the Islamic faith.
Haji: honorific for a person who makes the pilgrimage to Mecca