ARABIALINK Daily News – SAUDI ARABIA – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Saudi Ministry Undeterred by Islamist Threats [Sep 6]
“The Saudi Ministry of Labour has made it clear that it would continue issuing work permits to women to work as cashiers in shopping centres and would not be deterred by Islamist threats to boycott shops that employ women. The experiment of employing Saudi women as cashiers has been implemented for the first time in leading shopping centres in Jeddah and the Eastern Province,” Deputy Minister of Labour Dr Abdul Wahid Al Humaid said in a statement published on Sunday by Al Riyadh newspaper. However, the controversial experiment has not been tried in Riyadh and Qassim. Al Humaid urged the people to cooperate with the efforts of the ministry to find employment for women as this is one of the limited opportunities available for the employment of women.. .. Saudi Islamic scholar Dr Yousuf Al Ahmad condemned the policy of Hyperpanda markets to appoint women cashiers as haram. “This is unlawful as it is an effort to westernise the Saudi society,” he said..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Arabia Demands Justice in 20-Year-Old Murders of Diplomatic Staff [Sep 6]
“Saudi Arabia lashed out at Thailand on Monday for promoting a senior police officer charged in the two-decade-old murder of a Saudi businessman, saying it had been patient enough but now wants a series of “terrorizing and horrible crimes” solved. Saudi Arabia has long suspected official involvement in the 1990 disappearance of businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili and the murders of four members of Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic staff in Bangkok. It has suggested that the slayings were linked to another crime: the theft of $2 million worth of royal jewels from a palace in Riyadh, many of which were never recovered. Saudi Arabia downgraded relations with Thailand following the crimes and ties have never fully recovered.. .. Monday’s statement had a tougher tone in response to Thai media reports over the weekend and comments by Thai officials who defended the appointment..” [Complete Report]
Millions Gather at Holy Mosques Seeking Lailat Al-Qadr Blessings [Sep 6]
“Over three million Muslims attended special prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah on Sunday, the 27th night of Ramadan, seeking the blessings of Lailat Al-Qadr (the Night of Power).. .. The government has made all arrangements to receive the large crowds of worshippers from within the Kingdom and other parts of the world. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is in Makkah to supervise the services being rendered to the guests of God. About 4,500 police officers have been deployed to maintain law and order in the city. The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques and the Makkah Municipality have deployed nearly 10,000 cleaning workers to keep the mosque and its surroundings neat and tidy..” [Complete Report]
Saudi Named New Leader in Arab Peninsula [Sep 6]
‘Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which is based in Yemen and using it as a launching pad for targeting the Kingdom, has appointed a Saudi of Yemeni origin, Khaled Battarfi, as the leader of the organization in Abyan Governorate, a Yemeni government official disclosed to Okaz/Saudi Gazette. The move follows the killing of the former leader Jameel Al-Anbari in an air strike on March 14 that targeted the organization’s members in Moudiah city, said Ahmad Ali Al-Qufaishi, director general of Lodar Province, which is located in southern Yemen. Speaking by telephone, he said Battarfi, 35, who is also known as Abu Miqdad Al-Kindi, is the “Shariah-in-charge” in the terrorist organization in Yemen..” [Complete Report]
