Saudi women, who are undergoing the process of
emancipation, will be the French Senate’s honored guests on Thursday
during a first-of-its-kind seminar themed “A Look at the Saudi Society.”
The seminar, which will be coupled with a conference
and a ceremony at the Arab World Institute (IMA), is a part of a Saudi
charm offensive, and will be conducted in the presence of the governor
of Mecca Province, Prince Khalid al-Faisal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
Prince Khalid, whose passion for culture earned him
the title of the "emir of thought and poetry, will present "development
projects in his region," said a press release issued by the conference’s
organizers: the “France-Saudi Arabia-Gulf Countries Inter-Parliamentary
Friendship Group”, chaired by Senator Philippe Marini, and the
“Strategies for Cultural Development Institute (ISDC),” chaired by
Senator Laurence Selin.
The enlightened prince, also known for his aversion
to extremist ideologies and to the strictness of the dreaded religious
police, wants to radically transform the province of Mecca, which he
governs since May 2007, and which also includes the cities of Taif and
Jeddah, the port and tourist metropolis on the Red Sea. He recently
affirmed that he wanted to make the first holy city of Islam "one of the
most beautiful cities in the world."
Honoring Saudi women
Several other prominent guests, including Princess
Lulua Al-Faisal bin Abdel Aziz, will follow suit, and each will give
their own testimony on Saudi women.
Princess Lulua - the sister of Saudi Foreign
Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal – will talk about the "history of women's
education in the Kingdom” amid a very high unemployment rate among
qualified Saudi women.
Around 73% of highly qualified Saudi women, mostly
university graduates, are unemployed, according to official figures,
Dr Elham Danish, from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, will discuss "the role of women in civil society." Dr. Afnan
Al-Shuaiby, Secretary General of the Anglo-Arab Chamber of Commerce,
will speak about "Women and the Economy".
Sports, media and, human rights will also be on the
agenda. Lina Al-Maeena, founder of the "Jeddah United" basketball club
and a journalist for Arab News, will discuss the topic of “Women and
Sports"; Samar Fatany, a journalist for Radio Jeddah, will talk about
“Women and Media.” Finally, Dr. Zaid Al-Hussain, from the “Saudi Human
Rights Commission” (which depends on the government), will evidently
focus on “Human Rights and Islam.”
The image, that will be reflected, will inevitably
be different from the stereotyped and trivialized one perpetuated by the
Western media: that of a woman forbidden from driving, secluded and
marginalized, discriminated and hidden under the abaya, or the niqab,
and subject to male guardianship.
"The primary objective of this seminar is to improve
knowledge of the Saudi society and its developments (which) remain
unknown or poorly understood by our citizens," stressed the organizers.
This applies specifically to women, as only a few of
France’s citizens and Westerners have heard of Saudi women who have
distinguished themselves internationally in the field of scientific and
medical research.
The Saudi press cites the example of Dr. Hayat
Sindi, the researcher at Harvard University, who participated in the
development of an advanced technology that allows scientists to perform
tests on body fluids to determine the presence of diseases such as
tuberculosis, HIV and malaria. Dr. Sindi has also invented a machine
combining the effects of light and ultra-sound for use in biotechnology.
The media also speaks of Professor Ghada al-Mutairi
who heads a research center at the University of California and who
received the highest award for scientific creativity in the US for the
best research project after discovering a new technique for treating
certain cancers. Al-Mutairi invented a new technology to enable medical
interventions inside the human body that uses light and does not require
surgery. Reports also mention Dr. Faten Abdel Khorshid-Rahman who
discovered the presence of nano-particles in the urine of camels that
can attack cancer cells with success, and is actively involved in the
search of a substitute drug that can be a potential cure for cancer.
The press quoted the names of dozens of Saudi women
who roam the world of science and other fields, such as Princess Mashael
bint Mohammed Al-Saud, who is the top Saudi specialist in applied
geomorphology, Dr. Imane Habas al-Mutairi, a Professor of genetics, and
Rim Tuwairqi, who is a world-renowned physicist.
Dialogue is the keynote
During his visit to Paris, "the prince of poets"
will also attend a cultural conference organized by the "UNESCO", and
give a lecture at the Arab World Institute (IMA).
The IMA, a “bridge between France and the Arab and
Muslim world,” will host today a “Grand evening party for Dialogue and
Peace,” organized by “LLLS,” the first “Saudi Women's Association in
Europe for cultural exchange,” born thanks to “the motivation of Saudi
women, artists, and creators, determined to make art a preferred vector
for carrying messages of peace and tolerance in today's world,” as
stated by the association’s Saudi founder and president, Latifa
Al-Sowayel.
According to this young woman, the main goal of the
gathering is "to promote intercultural dialogue", a concept promoted by
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, who called for an interfaith dialogue
between believers from all religions.
The evening will be dedicated to “queens that have
marked the civilizational heritage,” including Hatshepsut, the first
female Pharaoh, Queen of Sheba, Theodora, the Byzantine Empress, Wu Hou,
the Empress of China, Catherine de Medici, and Catherine Great, the
Empress of Russia.
In celebration of arts and culture, the event will
feature an exhibition of paintings and Haute Couture creations of Abayas
(traditional Islamic clothing), and a music show.
The economy is the bottom line
Besides culture, an important part of the seminar
will be devoted to the economy – No escape from looking into the issue
of Franco-Saudi cooperation!
On Thursday afternoon, "the seminar will present an
overview of all forms of cooperation that exist or may arise between
France and Saudi Arabia on the economic front," the press release said.
The sessions will be opened by Jean-Pierre Fourcade,
Senator, former Minister and president delegate for Saudi Arabia.
The program of the day includes a general
introduction on Franco-Saudi relations by Patrice Paoli, Director of
North Africa and Middle East at the French Ministry of Foreign and
European Affairs, a speech by Dr. Saleh Bakr Al Tayar, Secretary General
of the Franco-Arab Chamber of Commerce and president of the Euro-Arab
Center for Studies, entitled “The development of economic relations with
France,” and another speech by Maryse Viseur, president of the «Femme
Avenir» Association, entitled “Proposals for Partnership with Saudi
Arabia.”
However, culture will still be on the menu as the
president of “Saudi Masar High-Tech,” Fahed Al-Mugairin, will speak of
“intercultural dialogue between France and Saudi Arabia,” and the
director of the Ecole d'Avignon, Patrice Morot -Sir, will talk about the
“Cooperation Project with the historic center of Jeddah.”
Paris, Riyadh: The same fight!
Speaking recently at a conference in King Abdul Aziz
University, Prince Khalid indicated that “Saudi society is crying out
loud and clear: No to fanaticism (...), Yes to moderation in ideology,
politics, economy and in culture!”
Jamal Khashoggi, Editor-in-Chief of the influential
daily newspaper Al-Watan, which is controlled by the same Prince Khalid,
said “Prince Khalid Al-Faisal recalled that the three great principles
of humanity, freedom, equality and justice, are an integral part of
Islam”, which also happens to be the motto of the French Republic ...
almost word by word.
Around the same time, Senator Jean François-Poncet,
participated in a seminar organized by the Senate and the Robert
Schuman Foundation, under the theme "The Middle East at a nuclear time,"
and said that "the destiny of the Saudi monarchy appears now fairly
well assured: a law regulating the delicate problem of succession
within this large family appears to have been settled (...) and King
Abdullah imposes reforms with caution but determination, which will
gradually modernize the country and transform a society that remained
profoundly conservative."
According to "Le Figaro” newspaper, King Abdullah -
whose last visit to France dates back to the summer of 2007, three
months after the election of Nicolas Sarkozy - should be the guest of
honor at this year’s 14th of July festivities in Paris.
The Saudi monarch will inaugurate an exhibition
entitled "Routes of Arabia, archeology and history of the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia" at the Louvre Museum... and the “charming” cultural
offensive continues.
