Long ago, Bedouin tribes used to roam around most of the middle eastern countries. They rode camels and moved place to place in the deserts for oasis and food. They carried swords and used to kill animals and even humans of other tribes.
A friend of mine who recently retired from Mississippi State University after a long 30 years as a faculty member visited Saudi Arabia a couple of times to attend conferences and give lectures. He used to tell that the culture, attitude and living standards remain still Bedouin-like. Fortunately, they have petro-dollars and have Mecca, the most sacred religious place of the Muslim world.
Last week, the Government of the Saudi Kingdom, once again has proven that their ancestors were true Bedouin and they still follow Bedouin culture.
Mr. Khashoggi, a well-known Saudi journalist went to the Saudi embassy in Istanbul, Turkey for some affidavit related job. Obviously, he had a prior appointment. The rest has become a nightmare event in this modern age. It is most astonishing that this country, who is always speaking up for human rights, doesn’t find anything wrong with this.
As a journalist Mr. Khashoggi writes, so his finger has to be cut into pieces. He can still give dictation, so his heart and brain have to be cut into pieces too. What a barbaric act! In fact, that’s what happened in this case.
People can easily understand it was a pre-planned murder. While the Bedouin used to use camels to get from place to place, now the Saudis use jets.
Our ancient Indian culture teaches us that even if an enemy comes to your house and seeks help, you should offer water and food. You are not supposed to kill an unarmed guy like Khashoggi.
If the U.S. doesn’t support human rights and first amendment rights, how are we any better than a dictatorship?
Jiben Roy, a native of Bangladesh, teaches chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences at Mississippi University for Women. His email address is [email protected].
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