Saudi writer Zaynab Hifni on women, sex and taboos

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Comments

[Abu Sinan]

I appreciate the clip. However, how do you feel about using such a source? MEMRI is known for it's far right/pro-Israeli neo-con viewpoint?

It is founded and run by a former member of Israeli intelligence.

If you have kept an eye on what they put out it is very clear that they are VERY selective on what they translate and print.

You read and speak Arabic. Do you think what they translate is representative of Arabic media and Arabic society in general?

What they translate makes the Arabic/Middle Eastern world look like a jungle of apes, blood thirsty dogs. You name it.

They do not hold the same standards with the Israeli press which has a lot of the same types of stuff.

I could pick and choose American media and European media and make it look exactly as they do. I could put Anne Coulter on often, as they do with certain sheiks, I could put Robert Spencer and Daniel Pipes on all of the time, concentrate on the far right in America, and Europe. The National Front and their Muslim bashers would be translated all of the time.

Why do you think they refuse to show a balanced view of the Middle East and Muslims?

I have no problem with this news clip, nor do I have an issue with all sections of Arab media being translated.

However, MEMRI is highly selective and gives a VERY distorted view of Arabic media and Arabic society.

[quixote]

That was an amazing clip. No. That's an amazing woman. God, it's good to know that there are people like her. Where does she find the courage? How does she manage to answer some of those asinine questions without slugging the guy? (Although, they're probably not his fault. He probably reads from a script.)

As for Memri, yes, they're a bunch of jerks. But, as the old joke goes, even a stopped clock is right twice a day. The trick is knowing when those moments are, and Aya has sure got it.

[John]

I have to argue a bit with Abu Sinan. What he describes is the way MEMRI operated, uniformly, five or so years ago. Since then, it is also paying attention to (and translating) reformers in the ME.

All the information about its origins and its mission are correct. But MEMRI has realized that it cannot do only negative coverage and retain any credibility. I cite it on my own blog frequently, but add caveats and cautions when something seems 'iffy'.

Of course it is selective in what it chooses to translate. That selectivity isn't always negative these days.

[abu sinan]

I would argue that John. I am on the "MEMRI" list so I get all of the e-mails that they send. They do cover reforms, yet in the way they cover them is still a slame against the Middle East, Islam and Arabs.

If they were truly interested in providing fair and balanced reports on the media in the Middle East they would cover all of the media, not just the parts that portrays the society and the people in a bad way.

Besides, why dont they put out videos about settlers comparing Arabs to cockroaches? Why no interview with settler leaders who think Arabs should be sent to gas chambers? How about interviews with members of the Israeli government who think the Arabs should be ethnically cleansed from Israel?

All of that stuff happens, it is out there. Yet they dont cover it. Why not? Because their mission is one thing, to demonise the Arab peoples, Islam, and help gain support for Israel in the West.

Lets take a look at what I have been mailed by MEMRI the last few days. See if you think MEMRI, based on these articles, is giving a balanced view of what is going on in the Arabic press, or is it slanted completely towards one side with one view?

Kuwaiti Columnist: Interference of Religious Groups in Curricula Damages Education

Iraqi Columnist: What Is Happening in Iraq Will End in the Defeat of Terrorism and in the Region's Recovery From Its Ills

AKP Uses Intimidation Tactics to Silence Turkish Journalists Critical of Erdogan Government

"The Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb": The Evolving Terrorist Presence in North Africa

Al-Arabiyya TV Director-General: "Why Do Islamist Extremists Who Incite Against the West Insist on Living There?"

Egyptian Press Criticizes the Muslim Brotherhood's Infiltration of Egypt's Education System

Saudi Daily Discusses the Phenomenon of Same-Sex Relationships in Some Saudi High Schools and Colleges

[K from Oslo]

Happy International Womens day Aya, and all female readers of this blog. I hope you had a fulfilling day, and thank you Aya, for bringing attention to this smart an eloquent woman. Do you know if her work is translated into English or French?

[Alexandra Villers]

I don't agree with any of the comments above. Memri does not show a destorted image of the Middle East. On the contrary, they show Arabs with other views. They show that there are Arabs with a different opinion, background and education. They show that not every Arab is obsessed by Allah and their religion. They show the people that the few revolutionary Arabs who exist in this world, are rejected by the rest of the Arab world.

What you see on Memri TV, is the truth. Islam is a very dangerous religion. 85 % of the wars in this world are caused by Arabs: Arabs against Christians, Jews, Hindus or other muslims.

Muslims just hate our society, and everything we have achieved: free thinking, emancipation, free opinion, free will, free in choosing your religion, free to be an atheist, FREE! We are free people.

For us, paradise means seeing your family and friends back in heaven, being healthy, being loved. For them, paradise means fucking virgins and drinking wine. This is written in their violent koran! This is their idea of paradise, this is why they blow themselves up, this is why they kill innocent people every day.

[Aya]

Alexandra, you are an extremist yourself. Your ideas are absolutist and full of hate and ignorance, you are sounding just like a terrorist. All of the resources for knowledge and intellectual development, abundantly available in the West, haven't helped you in opening up your mind and learning to reason. That is definitely a shame.

[Aya]

K from Oslo, thanks dear. I am not sure if her works are translated into English or other language, she is indeed an inspiring woman.

[Abu Sinan]

Well, I am glad that we have here to typical MEMRI partisan. That is EXACTLY why I wont use their materials for reference. This is exactly the type of anti Muslims/anti Arab that they are breeding with their material, and they know it.

[Dotsson]

Alexandra Villers your whole comment is a big contradiction and absolute BULL SHIT!!!

Yes, the Muslim world is in a state of turmoil. But we will eventually come out of this.
Currently we are in the same state France and Europe were prior to the French Revolution, when the Catholic Church and monarchs had great influence on people and preached hate against other religions and sects. Just as most of our Ulema (clergy) do.

The west did not just wake up one day and embrace democracy. Religion was given a chance, as was socialism, communism, Fascism and then finally came democracy. In other words it was a slow process that did not happen over night.

The Muslim world is still a couple of hundred years behind and right now we are at a stage where the majority feel that religion should be given a chance and that is the way of life. This is our period to be ruled by the "Catholic Church."
Eventually Muslims will realize (after we have killed enough of each other) that religion and state do not go together and they will rebel against the religious and then perhaps democracy will be given a chance.

The next time, before you start whining "you are jealous of us because we have democracy" crap at us, go read up on your facts.

P.S. I prefer beer over wine :)

[Northern Shewolf]

Dear friends,
So much I wanted to write, my head has been bubbling... but have had the misfortune of breaking my left arm and right thumb: Canada is not only cold, it is also very slippery. Dear Aya thank you for sharing this clip; there is a wind of change within Islam and it is coming from the women who are speaking out bravely with absolute conviction and great eloquence, as K from Oslo points out. As always Abu Sinan, you can be relied on to bring clarity and pointed observations.
And above all, many thanks to Dotsson for stating it like it is!
Signing off; exhausted now from typing with the 2 working digits I have got left; may God give me patience!

[abusinan]

Shewolf,

I am sorry to hear that. I hope you get well fast. Having broken my right arms and two fingers, I know how much it can put you out of action, in my case for 8 weeks.

Good luck.

[al_miller]

Yes Islam has nothing to do with it. Arabs hated women before Islam and they hate them after. Big deal! The only problem with Islam is that nothing can change. If it isn't in the Koran or in a hadith then it doesn't exist.

[Suck It bitch]

Look, you are nothing but a shameless fucking whore. I hate filthy feminist bitches like you who are but the scum of the earth. Bitch, how many men have you fucked? Fuck you dirty assaudi bitch that worships big fat fucking Mcdonalds & shit. Oh by the way, suck my my big Jewish-American sausage you stupid bitch. I will lick your pussy bitch and make you orgasm. I will make sweet love to you and make you feel like a real woman. You don't have to be a slut, I will change your heart and pussy and make it love my heart and my big Jewish cock okay?

[al_miller]

Sir, there are more oxymorons in your filthy statement than I care to count. You should be ashamed of yourself for such filth.

[Aya]

Dearest Shewolf, I hope you are feeling better now. My wishes and prayers go to you. Please take care of yourself and be safe!

[Aya]

I decided to keep the filthy comment for everybody to see. It shows how certain people get pleasure from scum and insults. Those words don't hurt me for a mere second, on the contrary, it makes me feel sorry for that waste of a human being.

[Aayedh]

Interesting, a westerinzed saudi lady. And that is all what she is. Very unconvincing in the interview. She made a few good points but then she was trying to defend the indefensible.
adios

[Aya]

Aayedh, quite interesting statements you make I must say. I don't know what is the definition of a "westernized Saudi lady" and what is the "indefensible"? It would be great if you can elaborate so we can be on the same page.

[Abu Omar]

This video is a bunch of rubbish. She was trying to quote hadith and even had the presented calling out her mistakes. She lives in London, doesn't wear even proper Islamic dress and then tries to quote from Islam. What a joke and load of crap. Besides, the majority of Saudi women are not liker her anyway, and the so-called 'liberals' are very small in number indeed.