JEDDAH: The scene is reminiscent of Ernest Hemingway’s days in Paris when some young aspirants in letters and the arts staked out a territory in Paris to vent their feelings after World War I in the various cafes dotting the French capital.
One café in Jeddah is using the pen as a sword to rip into the criminal mindset of people. Orumshi Café, a favorite haunt for writers and artists in the city, has initiated a novel way to counter terror.
Soon after Assistant Interior Minister for Security Affairs Prince Muhammad bin Naif escaped an assassination bid, the owner of the café launched a campaign “we all are against terror, we all are with our nation,” to express his joy at the escape of the prince while also willing the people to express their feelings against terror. Customers have been rushing to participate in a signature campaign started by journalist Kamal Abdul Qadir.
The signatories of the document expressed their love for the country, solidarity with the government against the terror and terrorists, and their joy at the failure of the attack, Al-Watan daily reported Wednesday.
The journalist also plans to visit the prince and submit the document.
“The customers’ eagerness to sign the document denotes the Saudi rejection of the criminal act,” Abdul Qadir said.
