By Habib TRABELSI

Monday, 8th of March 2010 

PARIS - Saudi women, who are undergoing the process of emancipation, will be the French Senate’s honored guests on Thursday, the 11th of March, during a first-of-its-kind seminar themed “A Look at the Saudi Society.” 

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 Makkah, 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 his or her 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” where, despite the efforts to increase female enrollment, the main challenge remains the high rate of unemployment, which affects, according to official figures, around 73% of highly qualified Saudi women, mostly university graduates.

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 chat 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 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 in general, 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 U.S. 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 on Wednesday, the 10th of March, 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, commented by saying that: “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.

- Translated by Nesrine TRABELSI.

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