Concerned for my safety, my mother called and ordered me to wear a thobe anytime I went out in public. She had read in Arab News online about the German who was shot and killed in Riyadh on Saturday night.
You see, I am a Latino and have lived in Saudi Arabia for 15 of my 30 years. I am a Muslim, speak Arabic, and have embraced Saudi culture in every way wishing to make it my own. My daughter was born here and I have chosen to live in Saudi Arabia in order to provide her with the best possible Muslim upbringing close to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
Growing up for many years in Los Angeles, I have heard of children being pushed into prostitution, being abducted, raped and murdered and later found in a dumpster. To me, Saudi Arabia has always been the embodiment of safety; however, I am now worried, simply because I am white.
In my experience, I have found Saudi Arabia to be among the safest and most secure places in the world to live. Here, I don’t have to worry about my family like when I lived in the United States.
Hundreds of Westerners have lived in Saudi Arabia for over 20 years, some converting to Islam much like one of those killed in the Yanbu shootings. We have learned from our culture and our way of life. I say “our” because this is where I feel I belong. Those targeting Westerners are striking at what they deem to be Western corruption. But doesn’t the road travel in both directions? Many expatriates take the values they have learned here, values that have only manifested themselves in Islam, and share them with their families and friends in their own countries. Doesn’t that help spread Islam to places it otherwise may not have been? And doesn’t it give a good idea of what Islam really is?
If those who committed the shooting had gotten into their car with guns and drove around with the intention of killing someone, that would be a truly terrifying thought. Perhaps one day soon we will know the motive behind the act. Anyone who doesn’t look like a “Saudi” or a Muslim is in danger. The fact that the shooting was described as a drive-by gives a sense of randomness to the tragedy. The apparent randomness of Saturday’s shooting really gave me pause. I could have been the person stepping out of that bank. There is no condoning killing anyone regardless of race, religion or pigmentation, but to those who committed Saturday’s shooting, I look like an average Westerner.
To those who are doing these shootings, I wish to convey that targeting people because of the way they look is madness. Many Saudis look like Westerners and many Westerners look like Saudis. Yes, I am afraid, but only because if something were to happen to me, my daughter would have no choice but to live with her mother, most likely in Los Angeles.
(Andre Strickland is a Latin American businessman. He is based in Jeddah.)