This Is Not A Western Conspiracy

Saudi writer Wajeha Al-Huwaidar’s sequel to her poem “When.”   

When you feel that whenever you leave your house there are hidden eyes that spy on you, follow your movements, watch you with suspicion and misgiving, and make you return quickly back from where you came - this is part of the culture of fear. And without the least bit of doubt, it is not a Western conspiracy that was hatched against you; this is a product of your own country …

When all the years of your life are stolen from you… and your vitality, your mind, and your soul are wrested away, all in the name of religion, customs, traditions… and an outmoded heritage - and you know that this has usurped your right to life - don’t weep and don’t cry, and don’t imagine that this is a Western conspiracy against you; these are actions and behaviors that are a product of your own country …

The rest here.

Topics: middle east, saudi arabia

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 12:21 am on Friday, May 25, 2007

One Response to “This Is Not A Western Conspiracy”

  1. RebeccaH Says:

    There’s not much to say, when Wajeha Al-Huwaidar has said it all. Except that the very people who should read this, and take it to heart, won’t.

Leave a Reply

Trackback URL

You must be logged in to post a comment.