TABUK, 25 May 2007 — Depending on your view, a recent incident at a park in the northwestern Saudi city of Tabuk is either an argument for women police officers or a reason to clarify to male police officers that it is OK to enter women-only areas if they’re trying keep the peace. According to a report in yesterday’s Al-Madinah daily, a woman and a female guard at the park got into a physical confrontation after the visitor grew extremely impatient at the indecency of having to stand in an organized line to enter the park. When police responded to calls about the fight they were hesitant to enter the women-only park. Instead they waited around for the male guardians of the women involved to arrive and escort the women out of the park.

Traffic Department ‘Kidnaps’ Boy

MAKKAH, 25 May 2007 — A citizen of the holy city filed a complaint against the Traffic Department, which apparently inadvertently kidnapped the man’s son, local media reported yesterday. The man had parked illegally with his sleeping son in the back. His car was then impounded while he was away with the child in tow. The kid awoke to find himself in the middle of a Makkah impound lot. He walked home and his father then went to the authorities to angrily point out what they had done.

School Turned Into Home Shopping Network

JEDDAH, 25 May 2007 — A public school principal opened the doors of her school to a saleswoman vending women’s apparel items, shoes and perfume, apparently unaware that this would probably not be something higher education authorities would be happy about, the daily Al-Madinah reported yesterday. The principal not only made purchases but also allowed teachers to leave class to do a little in-school shopping. The report didn’t mention if any punitive measures were taken against the principal.

Two Women Discover Their Hidden Roots

TAIF, 25 May 2007 — Eighty years ago, two Saudi brothers got into some long-forgotten dispute and moved to different cities. Two girls were born to each man. Earlier this week, two women who were in their 60s, had a serendipitous encounter in Jeddah and were surprised that they shared the same family name. After a discussion, they realized they were cousins who had been the two girls born to the two brothers, the daily Al-Madinah reported yesterday.