It is my understanding that foreign males (excluding those of Arab Ancestry) are forbidden to wear a Gutra (the Checkered Cloth and the Ring that covers head as part of the dress), but can wear an Agama (long maxi like dress). I was told this at a meeting that I had had with my Saudi Counterparts some years ago. Part of my work involved doing field studies and interviewing local landowners and I was briefed about the dress code.
Can someone who knows Saudi (and Islamic Laws) tell me if that ban is still practiced? Is there anything in Shariah Law to back this?
It tells you how much people know about Saudi Laws even while living there. Did you ever wear a Gutra in public? or tried entering a place where a Guard was present (e.g., at the Airport landing, etc.)? Also, the other thing that was forbidden was the Camouflage dress. I dont know if that still is the case.
Why are you trying to mislead people about SaudiArabia, this is your 2nd post today on Saudi Arabia that does not make any sense, As I told you before talk facts not some thing you heard. I lived there for 20 years as I told you before. I wore all the Saudi clothes during Ramada, eid and other occasions like Saudi weddings and parties no one ever objected. This is the first time I have heard of such a ban. I guess NYA get your facts straight. I suggest if you want to bash Saudi Arabia you can do so but don’t mislead ppl.
Dont knwo about the camoflauge thing, but there is no ban on the wearing of a 'Gutra' on anyone. I had family members wear it in saudi arabia, and i know people who wear it even as of now. And I have seen people go to masjid al haram wearing these. So there is no prohibition on its use.
It could be that it was the custom of some local area that u visited, but as a whole, saudi arabia does not have this law. And even if they do, they certainly dont impose it.
Yes, I misstated, Gutra is not banned, but the Ring to be placed on top of Gutra is not allowed, unless one is Arab. Since, I worked on a Government sanctioned project; I was briefed along with a number of my colleagues about such a restriction. One reason that was given to us was that “you might be mistaken as a Saudi” (which I don’t know what the big deal will be). However, I must say that all these draconian laws of Saudi Arabia are to keep the population suppressed and under the dictatorial hold of the Shiekhs. Even the clergy there is very outspoken of the lifestyles of the Princes and of the Royals and of the Upper crest, etc. I must also tell you that contrary to popular belief, some of the best and most humble people that I had the opportunity to interview were people of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia (particularly, Qatif, and Al-Ahsa) and I am sure that most Saudis are decent human beings. It is only the selected rich and upper class (Vegas type) that are responsible of creating such a bad impression of Saudis.
NYA the ring too I wore it with other Pakistanis to a lot of government places, I think some one scared you. Where you working for an American company. They usually over state things.
I has nothing to do with misleading anybody.......
wearing the gutra (the camel wool made rope "double zero")over the white or red/white Checkered Cloth is a total nomad arab tradition, while you can waer the checkered cloth on your head but for non arabs to waer gutra on top is not appriciated, nor-recomended. Although its not forbiden by law, but you will never and I mean Never see a non arab wearing a full traditional dress with checkered cloth and a Gutra in public.
In Saudia/Kuwait/Behrain and Qatar they are strict about it, wear the red/white and white cloth with Gutra to thier coffe bars and you will be kicked out. Non-arabs can wear the "thoub"(long Dress) or "DishDasha" but not the whole thing. On the other hand if you wear the balck/white checkered cloth with a gutra over a western cloth (pants and a jacket)they will let you in but will not talk to you, since they might think of you as a Syrian/Jordanian or worse even Iraqi.
As far the Camouflage dress goes, its forbiden by law in Kuwait. You can not waer that in public, they are so strict about it that they use to arrest palestinins even if they were just wearing camouflage shirts in late 80'early. I had few Pakistanis arrested for wearing thoses Comonado Jackets (very popular in early 90's)in Kuwait.
I have lived in Saudi Arabia for 10 years, I didn't come across any such law, if you live somewhere that long you'll definitely come across such laws.
People who are defending Saudi Arabia, there is no reason to defend them, they are not "ISLAMIC GOVERNMENT" anyway. The only thing to be defended is Makka, Medina. Yes, they are doing nice job of keeping those places as sacred, safe and well developed, we should be thankful to them (after Allah).
Saudi government is oppressive, Saudi people are prejudiced, discriminatory etc. so what? where does it not happen in the world?
We oughta be Changez like, don't we?
[This message has been edited by Changez_like (edited July 10, 2001).]
did u really ever live there… cuz ure other post and this post… goin by em…dont look like it…
my dad has always worn the thobe and the gutra …WITH THE MIGHTY RING…AT THE AIRPORT…IN FRONT OF EM MIGHTY OFFICERS… no one came forward to say..“aish haza..laish intha labbis higaal” just incase u dont knwo what a higaal is…its the mighty “ring” (as u put it
Khwateen, inta mukh mafee. Did you read what Minime wrote? There might not be a written rule (which there isn’t any in Saudi Arabia), but this practice is practiced pretty stringently. If you ever lived there, you should know how men and women don’t get mixed in Souks, and other stupid laws of that stinking place. I bet you drove there 200 miles an hour too.
I am not defending Saudi Arabia discrimination is every where and to pick one culture and depict it as the worst will be unjust. Let me give you a simple example on the dress code. I Lived in Texas for 7 years, let me tell you, You don’t want to walk in to a redneck bar dressed like a Cowboy. You know why, they don’t like foreigners dressed in hat and wrangler jeans. I can give you more example form all over the world, but I think you got the drift.
think they can win any argument..merely by sayin that…oooooo…:rolleyes again:
when did u visit arabia guy..in the primitive times…or was it in one of em villages where they still ride camels from one place to another…no major civilization??? get ure facts right…(how many times are we guppies gonna havte tell u taht???) women and men mix oh so VERY FREELY in souks…malls…etc etc etc… EVEN IN MECCA!!!
wake up and see the mingling!
p;s) i was born and raised there… and can bet ure butt that i will beat u hands down on any quizz… take ure cheap shot :rolleyes yet again:
Ever heard of Taroot? Khwateen, and how come you conveniently avoided the reference to driving? Am I going too fast for you? Yeah men and women mix easily as in my holy hole. Listen you empty brains, I don’t like to discuss serious matters with uneducated Jahils like yourself. Even after spending your lifetime there, could you ever become citizen of that country?
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Originally posted by NYAhmadi: Ever heard of Taroot? Khwateen, and how come you conveniently avoided the reference to driving? Am I going too fast for you? Yeah men and women mix easily as in my holy hole. Listen you empty brains, I don’t like to discuss serious matters with uneducated Jahils like yourself. Even after spending your lifetime there, could you ever become citizen of that country?
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now NYA you are mixing two different things. law which does not allow any foreigner to be citizen is a different issue. you were discussing 'discrimination' between Saudi and non-Saudi i was with you but this is a different issue. if Saudi government is protecting rights of their citizens, there is nothing wrong in it.
imagine this:
Saudi Arabia starts giving citizenship today, think about how many millions would emigrate to Saudi Arabia?? be realistic, they won't be able to handle such huge immigration, there will be lots of other problems. All Saudi's will become poorer again and remain behind.
Saudi government is doing a lot (if not best) for their public. How much is Pakistan doing it for its citizens? How much are other countries doing for their citizens?
if you have to bash Saudis for their being 'discriminatory', 'prejudice' (against Islamic teachings) being i'm with ya, otherwise not.
u know if pakistan adopted the attitude that saudi arabia has…then soo many of us would want to return…but pakistan doesn’t…we want to help kashmir…i know soo many kashmiri pakistanis that call themselves kashmiri first then say that pakistan is the pits…y is the pakistan government spending that much on them? y is pakistan taking up their fight with india with whom…if we begin all bilateral ties…these two countries would be he heart of asia…
and coming back to ure problem with saudi arabia…ny…ure here rite…so what u complaining about? i know people that live in the states and say…tauba tauba…over here there is soo much haram stuff…i want to return back home…then go back…that’s the same with expatriates in saudi…we don’t get rights, blah blah blah…ohhh just put up or shut up, y is everyone’s finger pointing to saudi arabia? y not kuwait, uae? or any other gulf state? cuz it’s the most islamic-and will not tolerate any other sect beside sunnis? well that’s their home, they dont’ want u-shias, ahmedis, christians, hindus, etc etc, to practice ure religion, the end of that…and in the other gulf states…i don’t think that anyone can get citizenship in those countries either…