The worst thing that can happen as a result of a tragedy is that nothing happens. When people do not learn from mistakes, when things do not change and when horrific tragedies are so quickly and easily forgotten.
Last week I was a prisoner. I was locked inside the Aroma Cafe, a well-known popular spot on the Jeddah Corniche. Two friends and I went to the cafe about six o’clock in the evening. We planned to leave before Isha prayers but by the time we had paid and the change had been brought to us, it was too late. The restaurant’s doors had been closed and locked. As we walked to the front doors, we noticed that all the tables were full — with families, couples and groups of women. The front door was locked, however, with a large and unsightly padlock.
Five minutes passed until I found a waiter who informed me, "Madam it is prayer time; you cannot leave." I explained to him that I had to leave and it was urgent. He pointed to the far right of the restaurant and told me, "You can leave from that door."
As my friends and I walked past the tables, I noticed the waiter disappeared into the kitchen. To our frustration, we discovered the side door was locked and the location of the key was unknown. For another five minutes we searched for anybody who could tell us how we could leave. A waiter walked out of the kitchen bringing a check to a customer. I stepped in front of him and explained that I needed to leave and that both exits were locked. He told me that Reception had the key and as it was prayer time, I would have to wait until the doors were unlocked. I was in effect ignored even though I repeatedly told him "I must leave, now."
Realizing that I was becoming very angry and beginning to panic, he left to find somebody else for me to unleash my fury upon. After another 10 minutes a man came with a key to the side door. By this time, I was very nervous, very angry and shaking with rage. Twenty minutes to exit a public place in a time of necessity! Twenty minutes!
All I could think was of the poor girls in Makkah who were trapped inside their school. How quickly would there have been panic in the cafe had there been a fire started by the burning coals in the hubbly bubblies on almost every table?
Fourteen young girls died when a school became a prison and fire ignited panic. Yet how many other public places also turn into prisons at prayer times?
The next day I phoned the Aroma Cafe and spoke to one of the managers. I told him what had happened. He politely answered, "During prayer times, nobody enters and nobody leaves." Three times I asked my question, "No matter what?" Twice he affirmed, "No matter what." Then on the third question, he cautiously volunteered, "If, God forbid, something bad were to happen, then we would handle things differently."
I wondered how things could be handled "differently" if the only person with the key could not be found? The manager kept reassuring me, "God willing, bad things will not happen."
Unfortunately, as we all know, accidents not only can — but do — happen. Having the attitude "God willing, we will be able to solve any problem" without proper measures and preparations being taken is both extremely foolish and extremely dangerous.
The tragedy lies in the fact that the deaths of 14 young girls is so easily forgotten. Valuable lessons should have been learned in order to save people from similar tragedies in future. Orders to lock doors can be easily issued. What about orders to keep people safe? All public places should have well-marked emergency exits. If doors are to be locked from inside as well as outside, keys should be easily accessible. Places that offer indoor hubbly-bubblies should be the first to ensure that if there is an emergency, patrons can get out quickly and safely. People should become wiser and not let the lessons of a tragedy fade away.
