Attack on literary club sparks fears over cultural freedom
Published: Mar 2, 2010 15:03 Updated: Mar 2, 2010 15:03
JEDDAH/AL-JOUF: An arson attack on the Al-Jouf Literary Club on Sunday has raised fears that the advancement of culture and literature in the Kingdom may be in danger.
Scholars believe that radical conservatives are responsible and have demanded action against them, claiming they have moved from insulting the intellect of the public to threatening people’s lives.
Al-Jouf literary club was severely damaged by a major fire on Sunday afternoon.
A statement on the club’s website said that the head of the club Ibrahim Al-Humaid had received a threatening text message that read: “Do you know that killing you is Halal? God willing, in a few hours you will be killed just like your neighbor Hamoud and his friends.”
The text was thought to refer to Col. Hamoud Ali Al-Rabeea, director of Aziziya police station in Sakaka, Al-Jouf province, who was shot dead by an unidentified gunman seven years ago while he was returning home from work.
Head of the Jeddah literary club Ahmad Al-Zahrani told Arab News the attack was “a catastrophe.” He said literary clubs had experienced riots but there had never been such a determined effort to destroy it.
“We rely on these cultural clubs to educate the public and officials have to stand strongly against these attacks,” he said, adding that different scholars have contributed in conveying the Kingdom’s culture abroad.
Al-Zahrani also said that such attacks would not affect what is presented there despite opposing views or the fact that women can participate.
“We do not want to turn the literary clubs into police spots. These clubs are meant for intellectual people who are useful for the country.” He added that the Riyadh Book fFair would still go ahead despite the attacks.
Saudi writer and columnist Badria Al-Bishr also condemned the attacks.
“The conservatives have worked over the past 30 years to create confusion, strife and conflict amongst the public. They also blocked and attacked cultural events considering them Haram,” she said, adding that fatwas against the mixing of men and women at work and universities have not helped, including that recently issued by Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Barrak.
Last year, Al-Jouf literary club was damaged by a fire after Saudi poetess Halima Muzafar spoke there.
Spokesman for Al-Jouf police Col. Daman Al-Daraan told Arab News that samples have been taken from the damaged area for testing, adding that investigations are still on going and that the fire was being treated as suspicious.
Deputy head for Al-Jouf police Mutlaq Al-Abdullah added that they were investigating the text received by Al-Humaid who on Monday met Al-Jouf Gov. Prince Fahd bin Badar to discuss the attack.
The governor expressed his complete support for the literary club, its events and activities which he said served the local community. He condemned the attack, saying it was a personal vendetta and did not represent the people of Al-Jouf.
Al-Humaid stressed that the club would continue as usual at the Al-Kaidi Literary Center, adding that it would be ready again to host events within a fortnight.
— With input from
Abdul Aziz Abdul Wahid
