Princess: Stepping Out of the Shadows, стр. 5
I am proud to say that this young cousin is of my father’s family. Although I cannot claim to visit with the Crown Prince personally, I spent time with him when he was only a child. Such visits automatically ceased when he grew into male maturity. However, the men of my family have had many occasions to be in his company and have spoken well of him. Now that he has stepped to the front of the world’s attention, memories of his babyhood, his toddler years and childhood are returning to me. Furthermore, past conversations with my husband Kareem, my son Abdullah and other male members of my immediate family pertaining to visits once the child became a man are reappearing in my mind. The men of my family have long praised this cousin and maintained that he is a man who speaks for all Saudis, not just for the royals who have held fast to power since 1953.
Looking back to our history, that was the moment the founder of the kingdom, our grandfather King Abdul Aziz, drew his last breath in the mountain city of Taif on the 2 Rabie al awal 1373 (9 November 1953) in the palace of his son, Faisal. Although he died in Taif, and the funeral prayer was conducted in that city, Grandfather was returned to Riyadh to be buried at the Al Oud Cemetery. While I know the location of the Al Oud Cemetery, I have no idea where his grave is located within it. Since Saudis do not visit and mourn at the grave, I have been told that none of his sons visit that site and all who attended his funeral can no longer identify it, which is an enormous disappointment to me, his granddaughter. How I wish I knew the exact spot my grandfather was buried. If so, no one could keep me from visiting, just to feel his presence.
Uncle Faisal grew to be a fine man, highly respected by his father, and would follow his older brother, Saud, in ascending the royal orbit to assume the rank of king only a few years after his father’s death.
Although I was not yet born to my mother when my grandfather passed from this earth, I have heard endless stories of his life, his exploits, his courage and his multiple triumphs – on the battlefield, and in administrative and diplomatic encounters with aggressive Saudi tribesmen, as well as prominent statesmen from all over the world, from the beginning of his struggles until the time of his rise to great power. He was, as Kareem is fond of telling our children, ‘a man who would let you know he was coming’. Since his death, in fact, our family has impatiently waited for one of his sons, or grandsons, to let us know he is coming! And now it seems this day is upon us. We believe that Crown Prince Muhammad is demonstrating the same astonishing qualities as the man who was responsible for the formation of Saudi Arabia and for the fate of the family who now rules. All who know our Crown Prince personally say that he is a formidable character who possesses extraordinary leadership skills and has a powerful intellect, not unlike our grandfather.
My country and our people need such a man. Just considering what I have heard of his plans, as I consider what is coming our way, I feel breathless with excitement. I believe that nothing less than a miracle is roaring across the entire country, a phenomenon that will bring a positive kind of disturbance that will shake the hearts of all. Some hearts will be moved by joy, others by sorrow.
Never did I believe that I would be so fortunate to live a life long enough to see the moment when absolute male power over women in Saudi Arabia will come to an end, but I believe that now I shall.
Now I long for those who care about me and my country to turn the pages of this book with the same anticipation and joy as I feel when revealing how this miracle developed and grew, and how finally, after many years of all-embracing male domination, freedom will become a reality for many of the ten million or so Saudi women living today. Know that in this book you will hear from women who never believed that their dreams of true freedom would be realized, as well as from women whose dreams are still tightly suppressed by the male guardians who cling to ancient customs and traditions in order to maintain complete control.
I cannot contain my joy each time I consider the anger and hostility springing from the hearts and minds of those immovable and dominating men of my country, men who believe it is their rightful privilege to rule over women, men who are seething like dangerous volcanoes because a bold, intelligent and fair-minded prince is coming to power. When this occurs, their brutish behaviour will be curbed. These angry men are of all ages and come from many social circles, including the proud Bedouin, the city poor, the professional and business classes, even the royal family. Since the day they came to an age of understanding, these men have held tightly and unfairly to absolute control of Saudi women.
But no more. No more …
* * *
The story you are about to read will be told with the highest hope and greatest enthusiasm.
I extend my hand to you in invitation. Come with me on a brief journey into Arabia, my desert kingdom, to feel with me the distinctive magic hovering over the darkness of human cruelty. Together we shall cross centuries to travel back in time to the very beginning, for only then is it possible to appreciate how the Saudi Arabians of today continue to live with archaic customs and how urgent is the need for social transformation – brought about by our king-in-waiting.
I cloak my thoughts to the modern