This is unbelievable. Morrocan women “of a certain age” are not allowed to go to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage? This is indeed a stereotype too far. as Nisreen Malek wrote in the Guardian today:
Instead of diverting resources to investigate and tackle the problem within Saudi Arabia, the blame and responsibility for the problem has been placed squarely on the shoulders of Moroccan women. This, if I may indulge in a little generalisation myself, is a characteristic way of dealing with issues that touch on morality. Sweep under the carpet, blame the other, and if all else fails, ban something.
But the blame sits not only with the Saudis. The Moroccans should have made a bigger stink out of this. They should have threatened to go all the way and if need-be ban their citizens from going to Saudi Arabia. Maybe this would generate the kind of publicity that forces the entire Arab world to debate this all-too-common stereotype.
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You know, I always defend Saudi and try to show people that it’s not as bad as they would think it is, since I’ve been going there my whole life. But all these news coming out about it are making it hard to do that and are awfully disappointing me.
I’m really frustrated by this.
Even if a woman was indeed a prostitute. What if she decided to start a new life, wash away her sins and go to the Hajj? The only thing standing between her and a merciful God are some ignorant Saudi administrators.
I can’t believe they are playing the role of God. They should be punished for the sins of all the people they prevent from going to Hajj. Saudi would do anything to keep going backwards. What a disgrace.
Every single day that passes there is a humanitarian scandal in that mideaval country. Did you see the Sri Lankan women with 23 nails in her body? She’s on BBC right now. The only good thing that Saudi Arabia could possibly do is to cease to exist.