WikiLeaks: Sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll – Saudi style
The cable suggested a thriving nightlife beneath the conservative facade of Jeddah’s streets.
“The full range of worldly temptations and vices are available – alcohol, drugs, sex – but strictly behind closed doors.”
If you want to get your readers’ attention, it’s not a bad way to start. The language comes from a short but tantalizing U.S. diplomatic cable sent last year from the consulate in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia – where alcohol is banned and carnal relations strictly regulated.
“Behind the facade of Wahabi conservatism in the streets, the underground nightlife for Jeddah’s elite youth is thriving and throbbing,” the cable begins.
In evidence, then Consul General Martin Quinn refers to a Halloween party last year. The redacted cable reads: “Along with over 150 young Saudis (men and women mostly in their 20s and early 30s), ConGenOffs accepted invitations to an underground Halloween party at Prince XXXX residence in Jeddah on XXXX.”
“The scene resembled a nightclub anywhere outside the Kingdom: plentiful alcohol, young couples dancing, a DJ at the turntables, and everyone in costume,” it said.
The notorious Vice Police were nowhere to be seen “because the religious police keep their distance when parties include the presence or patronage of a Saudi royal and his circle of loyal attendants.” There are literally thousands of princes in Saudi Arabia, but the host of this event was able to trace his lineage back to a direct ancestor of King Abdullah.
As for the details of the party, the cable continues: “The hired Filipino bartenders served a cocktail punch using sadiqi, a locally-made moonshine… It was also learned through word-of-mouth that a number of the guests were in fact ‘working girls,’ not uncommon for such parties.”
The cable goes on to make the point that black-market liquor is prohibitively expensive – even for princes. A bottle of Smirnoff vodka might cost the equivalent of $400. “Additionally, though not witnessed directly at this event, cocaine and hashish use is common in these social circles and has been seen on other occasions,” it adds.
The Consul General draws an interesting conclusion at the end of his dispatch. “Parties of this nature and scale are believed to be a relatively recent phenomenon in Jeddah. …It is not uncommon in Jeddah for the more lavish private residences to include elaborate basement bars, discos, entertainment centers and clubs.”
"As one high society Saudi remarked, “The increased conservatism of our society over these past years has only moved social interaction to the inside of people’s homes.”
Re: WikiLeaks: Sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll -- Saudi style
bump. it is so cliched that its hard to believe. If it weren't for the leaks, i would have doubted that these people had it in them for these shenanigans.
Re: WikiLeaks: Sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll -- Saudi style
Such elements are in every society around the world!
Does the Wikileaks gives a 'Statistical Overview' ??? if 'NOT' then YOU are Judging like any one else who care to read the leak. If 'YES' than re-phrase the word 'Exploits' and explain how it has worked against Pakistan?
Before you get the blame of 'Mixing few bads with many goods' I suggest you should open another exclusive thread to the issue so we may all have a go at the 'Exploiters & Exploitees'
Re: WikiLeaks: Sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll – Saudi style
All other societies don’t have Vice police around.
Such parties are norm in Saudi society as long as some prince is invited. So the interesting question is not the presence of such elements (they are humans, after all), rather the question is where does the Vice police disappears when these parties are held in the presence of royals?
Compare it with what they do against commoners in the name of Islam.
Saudi Arabia’s religious police stopped schoolgirls from leaving a blazing building because they were not wearing correct Islamic dress, according to Saudi newspapers.
In a rare criticism of the kingdom’s powerful “mutaween” police, the Saudi media has accused them of hindering attempts to save 15 girls who died in the fire on Monday.
One witness said he saw three policemen “beating young girls to prevent them from leaving the school because they were not wearing the abaya”.
The Saudi Gazette quoted witnesses as saying that the police - known as the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice - had stopped men who tried to help the girls and warned “it is a sinful to approach them”.
“Lives could have been saved had they not been stopped by members of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice,” the newspaper concluded.
The religious police are widely feared in Saudi Arabia. They roam the streets enforcing dress codes and sex segregation, and ensuring prayers are performed on time.
**Those who refuse to obey their orders are often beaten and sometimes put in jail.
**
Re: WikiLeaks: Sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll -- Saudi style
This has been going on for ages and tbh it's one of the milder stories.. There have been acounts of Saudi princes flying in whole planes full prostitutes into the kingdom for sex parties..
Khoji, that story about those schoolgirls not being allowed to leave their burning schools is disgusting.. Like u said, load of hypocrites..
Re: WikiLeaks: Sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll -- Saudi style
This has been going on for ages and tbh it's one of the milder stories.. There have been acounts of Saudi princes flying in whole planes full prostitutes into the kingdom for sex parties..
Khoji, that story about those schoolgirls not being allowed to leave their burning schools is disgusting.. Like u said, load of hypocrites..
Yup
Has anyone here ever read "Sleeping with the Devil"? It clearly outlines the hypocrisy of the royal family. Every weekend the lot of them go to Morocco and have wild orgies, while at the same time a commoner doing so in Saudi Arabia will probably get beheaded. I mean just look at the way Saudi princesses dress compared to the way common women in Saudi Arabia are forced to dress.
Re: WikiLeaks: Sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll -- Saudi style
I am telling you this is Zionist & Western conspiracy. Muslim Ummaah should show solidarity with Saudi Arabia...
Allah-hu-Akbar
death to Israel
death to usa
death to the infidels
death to the George Coolney
death to the wikileaks
death to the CNN
Re: WikiLeaks: Sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll -- Saudi style
The question that comes to mind is how is any of this new? Unless you have never traveled to the region or don't read a newspaper etc. this should be pretty much common knowledge. Ignorance does not make something new.
Re: WikiLeaks: Sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll -- Saudi style
Saudi rulers are just a bunch of uneducated backward beduoins that the British put in power just before they lost control over the region. A very smart move that's still paying off now...
