The wave of fear which has gripped the world since Sept. 11 and the tense atmosphere of war looming on the horizon have led countries to react differently when it comes to air traffic. Some insist on applying stringent safety measures even if this means long delays at airports. Others react as if the matter is of no concern to them.
It seems that we in the Kingdom are in the second category. I have traveled inside the country over the past few months without noticing any strict safety measures in use at our airports. Each time I approach the check-in counter, my identity card in hand to show to the clerk, he gives me my boarding pass without bothering to look at my identity card to see if the name matches the one on the ticket. Not only that, but on my last journey, I pulled out my identity card and the clerk didn’t even look, saying there was no need to check. Having completed the check-in formalities and proceeded to the departure area, I expected the security personnel to ask me for some kind of identification. Again, however, the security personnel were as casual as the clerk at the check-in counter. They did not even look at my card.
Some people may be pleased with this kind of treatment but I think it is a sign of serious negligence and an even more serious security breach that should never happen, especially in these circumstances. Asking people to show some identification is a very important step and should be taken seriously regardless of whether the person in question is wearing Saudi dress or not. Some airports are so strict they demand you show them any kind of photo ID to prove your identity — a passport, driving license or whatever.
Now we come to the Saudi passport. Many Saudis traveling abroad wear Western dress throughout their stay. The problem is that their passport pictures show them in traditional Saudi dress. Travelers are exposed to embarrassment whenever an airport officer or hotel employee keeps shifting eyes from the picture on the passport to the person standing before them. Having experienced this situation, I inquired whether it is possible for me to be issued a passport bearing a picture of me in Western — instead of Saudi — dress. Unfortunately, I was told this was impossible since it is against the law. My passport must show me wearing traditional Saudi dress.
I love my country and I am proud to be a Saudi but I see no reason for such a law. I think people should be allowed to choose the dress as they wish in their passport photographs. After all, the passport is used only when traveling abroad and if the picture matched the person, we would be spared many strange looks at airports and hotels outside the Kingdom.
Arab News From the Local Press 22 January 2003
