Those who visit the UAE as well as other Arab and foreign countries and mix with people of different nationalities, including veiled and unveiled women, have surely noticed how Saudi youths behave differently when outside the Kingdom.
Once abroad, our young men behave in a decent manner, strictly abiding by the laws governing public conduct in foreign countries. You almost never see a Saudi harassing women in the market or the street, taking pictures of girls with mobile phones, throwing pieces of paper with phone numbers at passing cars, using obscene language or making strange body movements to attract women’s attention.
Questions may be asked as to what is going on that makes these young men behave differently abroad from what they do at home. The very young man who does not hesitate to commit every kind of despicable and vulgar behavior in the Kingdom becomes well-behaved and respectful abroad.
So what is the cause of this split personality?
The way the young men dress, walk in the streets, behave toward others, especially women, all suddenly changes. It is as if good manners and politeness suddenly descend upon them when they are outside the Kingdom but both quickly disappear once they return home. Their behavior here may even include violence.
The answer to the question may be linked to several factors, the most obvious being that when traveling abroad, the young men know very well that law can reach them and that they will have to answer for their behavior regardless of their social status or their influential connections in the Kingdom. Away from home, they know that nobody can help them escape punishment and that with no one to back them, they will have to bear full responsibility for anything they do.
Unless we too apply the law to all without exceptions, our streets and public places will continue to be marred by the kind of unrestrained youth who show no respect for others and whose main concern is to abuse and assault all those who come their way, especially women.
