Riyadh Flooding – 3 days on

It’s been three days now since the torrential rains we had on the afternoon of May 3rd caused some extensive flooding and chaos in Riyadh. Even yesterday evening and during the night there were some very heavy downpours and spectactular thunder and lightening which I am sure made many nervous of a repeat of Monday.

We took a drove today through the Wadi Hanifa that runs alongside Old Dir’iyyah on the northern edge of Riyadh. Due to the low ground and the fact that it is a wadi (valley) there is still quite a lot of flooding and the newly alotted carparks have become small lakes. There were quite a lot of people out today since it’s the weekend enjoying walking around the around and even paddling in the water! A change from the usual dry aridity of the area!

Riyadh floods – a day on

The following is from سَمْ وَن:

 

The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh said two days ago, that the roads and streets in the Kingdom are not defective, and that their preparation and design were made at the highest levels [...]  Mayor of Riyadh Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Mohammed  answered when asked about the fact that 72% of districts have no storm water drainage network : “We are not in an open meeting, and I will answer later,” the media was discharged so they do not dare to ask him again.  The only common factor between the two positions is the lack of transparency and credibility.

More at Arabnews.com where Riyadh residents are warned of further rains:

An official from the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment Protection (PME) said that the rains would continue over the next 24 hours. He described the weather conditions as “unstable” and said winds were blowing at 42 kilometers per hour from the southwest. The PME urged citizens and residents to take precautionary measures.

Reuters coverage (in Arabic) but very little in the way of detail.

A round up of various blog posts on the floods can be found at Global Voices.

Check out Saudi Jeans for more videos of the flooding.

More photos of the chaos yesterday at de.caf‘s Flickr photostream, many photos of almost completely submerged vehicles but it was the submerged Toyota pickup that particularly struck me.

I have heard from people who have been out on the roads today that although there are areas where there is still some flooding, for the most part roads are open and operational as usual. It seems that those underpasses that were so severely flooded yesterday have been pumped out. The concern however is the weather forecast which warns of further rains over the coming days.

Riyadh’s Rain & Flood Chaos Today

Sheer chaos in Riyadh today after a heavy rain storm that started just after lunch – around 2pm local time. I was at home enjoying the change of weather, watching the rain, listening to the thunder… little did I know what kind of madness would ensue.  There seems to be an absolute blackout by the Saudi media, no radio coverage advising people of which roads are closed, where the worst of the flooding is and what to do.  All information available is coming from those on the streets via sites such as Twitter using the hashtag #RiyadhRain and Twubs. Apparently most schools and KSU are closed tomorrow – it’s 10pm and my children are not even home from school yet anyway.

Civil Defence declares state of emergency because of the rain in Riyadh

Just take a look at the photographs and the videos.

Photo courtesy of Arabcrunch.com

Photo courtesy of Arabcrunch.com

 

Extensive gallery of photos here that really shows the scale of this disaster. Click on ‘slideshow’ in the top left to see the photos in full size.

 Abu Bakr As-Siddiq flooded tunnel:

School bus submerged in a tunnel:

Apparently this is a gushing sewer:

Flooding on the Eastern ring road:

Earth Hour – not for everyone!

I have been reading about Earth Hour in various places on the net over the past few days. It is a yearly event whereby anyone can participate simply by turning off all the lights in their home for 1 hour from 8:30pm until 9:30pm local time wherever you may be. The intention of this incentive is to draw attention to global climate change and the impacts that are already being felt across the world.

Last year, many landmarks across the world took part in the event from the US to Europe and from Egypt to Australia as well as 318 US cities.

I wonder which landmarks and cities will take part this year… Well, not Riyadh anyway as I have read in the Arabnews. Ali bin Saleh Al-Barak, the CEO of the Saudi Electricity Company has stated that he feels that participation in this event is purely ‘symbolic’ and he does not wish to be ‘forced’ to disconnect power across the kingdom. Read more here.

Will YOU be taking part?

Would you pray for Palestine?

Everybody must be aware now of the carnage being inflicted on Gaza and there are many bloggers around blogosphere posting on this subject. A very dear sister has posted this idea for staging a peaceful protest through praying for our brothers and sisters in Gaza for 24 hours.

She says:

I am calling you sisters, I am trying to arrange something different, something more Islamic than anger and shouting. I am asking you, would you pray for Palestine? Would you join to the group of praying people in the park, if you would know they were there 24 hours praying for Palestine?

Only thing you would have to take with you, would be your prayers mat and the water bottle to make wudu. Would you do this? And if you are an Imam who reads this, would you lead the prayers 24 hours for Palestine? And if you are not able to pray, would you be able to help those who can by offering them hot drinks if it is cold or offering them warming blankets?

Could we do something like this as a one big Muslim ummah?
I would, so would you come to pray with me?

She has also posted a few facts about the injustices that have been suffered by the Palestinians over the past 6 decades.

So what if Obama is Muslim?!

Quite a powerful statement from the former US Secretary of State, Colin Powell today in a interview in which he endorsed Barrack Obama:

Powell also said he was “troubled” by suggestions that “you know, Mr. Obama is a Muslim. Well, he’s not,” Powell said. “But what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim? The answer is no. Is there something wrong with a seven-year-old Muslim kid dreaming he could be president of the United States? (source)

A very interesting interview that can be read at the Washington Post, see link above.

Justice for Aafia Siddiqui – Protest in London

 

I received this in the email from a friend today and as there has been so much buzz on blogs about this case recently in order to make known the plight of this lady, I want to publicise this protest which is scheduled to take place next Friday.

Further reading about this case at Muslimmatters and Anwar Al-Awlaki online

 

JUSTICE FOR AAFIA SIDDIQUI PROTEST

Friday 12th September 2008

6-8pm

Outside the US Embassy, Grovesnor Square, London

Speakers include:

Moazzam Begg (Ex-Guantanamo detainee, Cageprisoners)

Lord Nazir Ahmed

Yvonne Ridley (Press TV, Respect)

Andy Worthington (Author, Reprieve)

Asim Qureshi (Cageprisoners)

Imran Khan (invited)

Speeches will commence at 6:30pm. Iftar and Maghrib at 7:30pm.

A petition for Aafia Siddiqui as well as leaflets and postcards will be available. Donations will be collected for Aafia’s fund. Please design and bring your own banners!

WHO IS AAFIA SIDDIQUI?

Detained Incommunicado for five years. Abused physically and psychologically. 11 year old son in custody in Afghanistan. Her two youngest children remain missing. Dr Aafia Siddiqui, the American educated Pakistani scientist and mother of three was detained for years by the US in Bagram. She has been the victim of the US programme of secret detention for five years since having been kidnapped in Karachi by Pakistan security services in 2003 along with her three children.

On Monday 4th August 2008, federal prosecutors in the US confirmed that Aafia Siddiqui was extradited to the US from Afghanistan where they allege she had been detained since mid-July 2008. The US administration claims that she was arrested by Afghani forces outside Ghazni governor’s compound with manuals on explosives and ‘dangerous substances in sealed jars’ on her person. They further allege that whilst in custody she shot at US officers and was injured in the process.

According to her lawyer, Elaine Whitfield Sharp, “We do know she was at Bagram for a long time. It was a long time. According to my client she was there for years and she was held in American custody; her treatment was horrendous.”

Aafia’s claim is contrary to the heavily contested position of the US administration that she was detained in July by Afghan forces while attempting to bomb the compound of the governor of Ghazni. The US has previously denied the presence of female detainees in Bagram and that Aafia was ever held there, bar for medical treatment in July 2008.

Aafia Siddiqui now faces trial in the US in circumstances that can only be described as strange at best. Questions remain as to her own whereabouts over the last five years and still that of her children; the US government have recently acknowledged that her eldest son Ahmed, an 11 year old US national, is in Afghan custody. The whereabouts of her youngest two children remain unknown.

Aafia’s health has deteriorated since her transfer to the US on August 4th. She suffered multiple bullet wounds whilst in custody, the loss of part of her intestine, and extensive surgical incisions resulting in multiple layers of external and internal stitching prior to her extradition. There are a number of other healths concerns and subsequently her medical condition condition needs to be fully investigated by several different specialists. Physical injuries aside, Aafia’s psychological injuries obviously leave deeper scars. Her ordeal is heightened by the degrading and humilating strip and cavity searches she is forced to endure before every legal visit.

SUPPORTED BY:

Islamic Human Rights Commission (www.ihrc.org)

CAMPACC (www.campacc.org.uk)

For further information:

07973 264197

contact@cageprisoners.com

www.cageprisoners.com

www.aafiasiddiqui.org

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Preparation in Makkah for influx of pilgrims

Looks like there has been an enormous amount of preparation going on in Makkah for the large number of visitors expected during the holy month of Ramadan:

Makkah city braces for huge influx of pilgrims
Badea Abu Al-Naja , Arab News

MAKKAH: Municipal authorities have made all arrangements for the huge influx of pilgrims and visitors to holy city during Ramadan, Mayor of Makkah Osama Al-Bar announced yesterday.

He said the municipality has formulated a comprehensive plan for its work during the fasting month, including the intensification of the activities of the municipality’s branches, particularly in connection with cleanliness, environment observation and close monitoring the markets to check prices[...]

I wonder how it will be this year in the Haram area since I hear there is a lot of demolishing and extending going on… I wonder if chaos can be avoided.

Huge numbers of people flock to Makkah during Ramadan, particularly during the last 10 days since it was said by the Prophet Muhammad ( صلى الله عليه و سلم ) that the reward for an Umra performed during Ramadan is the same as the reward for a Hajj (although Hajj is still incumbent on those who perform Umra during Ramadan).

The Prophet said, “Perform ‘Umra in the month ofRamadan, (as it is equivalent to Hajj or Hajj with me (in reward).” (Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 29,
Number 86)

Saudi woman detained for driving

It will be interesting to see how this story pans out:

Saudi woman detained for violating driving ban

Agencies, Published: June 15, 2008, 23:44

Riyadh: Saudi police have detained a woman for violating rules banning women from driving in the country, a newspaper said on Sunday. The woman from Buraida north of Riyadh was stopped by a police patrol after driving 10km to collect her husband, Al Hayat newspaper said. The woman’s “legal guardian” – her husband – was required to sign a declaration that he would not allow her to drive again, it said. It was not immediately clear if she was released or would face legal action.

UPDATE 30/06/08: Interesting post from American_Bedu about the women in Riyadh who took to the roads in 1991 and the outcry that ensued and the repercussions on the families of these women.

Egyptian gas deal with Israel

Why am I still shocked when I see things like this on the news? For transcription of the main points of interest in the video, see below.

Amr El-Kahky, Al-Jazeera reporter: “Egpyt is to provide Israel with 100 to 150 million cubic feet of gas per day at a favourable price that is said to be $2 per cubic foot, a price well below the market benchmark of $14. The contract runs for 15 years and is renewable. The gas should reach the Israeli port of Ashkelon through northern Sinai through a hundred kilometre long pipeline under the Mediterranean. Egypt has recently started exporting gas to Jordan through another pipeline. Syria waits its turn on the completion of building their pipeline. The deals with those countries allow Egypt to charge the market rate and make a reasonable profit but the deal with Israel does not.”

Tharwat Shalabi, oil reporter: “Egypt bowed under Israeli pressure to accept exporting gas at this low price but it is rejected by the public. Yet Egypt is comitted to providing Israel with energy under the Camp David peace accord. It stopped exporting oil and now has to replace it with gas.”

The man who made the deal is oil minister, Sameh Fahmi and it is said that, “He has been keeping quiet about the details of the Israeli arrangement and has refused any interviews on the subject. Critics say the decision to go ahead came from the president’s office; now the government is trying to renegotiate the price but it will still be well below the world benchmark“

Yehya Al-Gamal: “Exporting this energy only strengthens their military machine and participates in supressing the Palestinian people. It’s not about the price of gas, it’s whether we should export it to them in the first place.”