Pakistan: Goodbye Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif reportedly enjoyed himself on his recent religious excursion to Saudi Arabia, while Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz assured him that his country would always stand by Pakistan. The PM emphasised that he wants to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia and the two leaders discussed the challenges facing the Islamic Ummah, calling for unity and solidarity. It is hard to see how that aim is furthered by the ban Saudi Arabia has imposed on marriages between Saudi men and Pakistani women, reported in a Moroccan newspaper this week. The report by Morocco World News regarding further restrictions on liaisons between Saudi men and Moroccan women, mentioned that women from four other countries, Chad, Burma, Pakistan and Bangladesh are persona non grata for marriages to Saudi men. It is safe to say that should any non-Muslim or western country, particularly one with a large Pakistani expatriate community like the UK, make a similar announcement there would be riots in the streets, calls of racism or Islamophobia, and denunciations in international forums. Religious extremists would use it as weaponry for their claim that the west ‘hates Muslims’, Pakistani expats would protest. Of course, the simple fact is that such an action would not be permissible in countries like the UK, the US or elsewhere in the west because human rights laws and institutional prerogatives would nullify the proposal, deeming it contrary to citizens’ civil liberties and international human rights conventions.

Saudi Arabia is not concerned about human rights; it is even less concerned about women’s rights. Women in Saudi Arabia are seen as property and are genuinely believed to be inferior to men by most Saudis, including many women who are brainwashed by a theological state education system. Should Pakistani women, despite the restrictions and hostility of religious fundamentalists they face at home, even consider spending their lives in such a hellhole? The ban is actually a boon. It should show Pakistanis that Islam only receives lip service in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government earns billions promoting religious tourism while destroying and defacing Islam’s most cherished and unique historical and religious sites. The Prophet’s (PBUH) house was razed by the government, as were the homes of all his companions. There was recently discussion about razing the Prophet’s (PBUH) tomb in Medina along with the ancient part of Masjid al Nabwi that houses it. Saudis view the 1.5 million Pakistani expatriates there as parasites because many are employed in low-paying jobs considered too menial for Saudi nationals. While we complain about racism in the west, the worst racism against Pakistanis exists in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries we eagerly woo. The ban should wake Pakistanis up to this fact. There is no need for Pakistan’s strong and resilient women to subject themselves to such treatment. Rather we should encourage Saudi women to escape their lives of deprivation and come to Pakistan, where despite all the problems women face, they still have some rights.