newsX
28th February 2006, 02:52
Riyadh International Book Fair- a citizen's report
Few minutes after the beginning of the panel, Dr. Mohammed Al-Zulfa, member of Shoura Council who called for the right of women's driving, came and sat next to me. I could not talk to him, even though I really wanted to do that. But after the panel was ended, the same people who were gathered around Al-Dakheel came and stood around Dr. Al-Zulfa and started talking to him. They were telling him to stop calling for women's rights, and that he has no right to talk about such issues because they should be only tackled by Sheikhs and scholars. Al-Zulfa refused to obey, and asked what's the difference between him and these sheikhs. "Is it something with my clothes? I can change my clothes, you know," he told them.
The organizers were telling the people that they have to leave because they are closing the gates now, but the extremists kept on shouting. "Do you want to face God on judgment day with women's driving next to your name?"
More at Saudi Jeans (http://saudijeans.blogspot.com/2006/02/exclusive-riyadh-international-book.html)
Few minutes after the beginning of the panel, Dr. Mohammed Al-Zulfa, member of Shoura Council who called for the right of women's driving, came and sat next to me. I could not talk to him, even though I really wanted to do that. But after the panel was ended, the same people who were gathered around Al-Dakheel came and stood around Dr. Al-Zulfa and started talking to him. They were telling him to stop calling for women's rights, and that he has no right to talk about such issues because they should be only tackled by Sheikhs and scholars. Al-Zulfa refused to obey, and asked what's the difference between him and these sheikhs. "Is it something with my clothes? I can change my clothes, you know," he told them.
The organizers were telling the people that they have to leave because they are closing the gates now, but the extremists kept on shouting. "Do you want to face God on judgment day with women's driving next to your name?"
More at Saudi Jeans (http://saudijeans.blogspot.com/2006/02/exclusive-riyadh-international-book.html)