Discussion Panel on Human Rights at KSU

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human rights at KSUMany people in the KSU community have been excited about appointing Abdullah al-Othman as a new rector. Although I despised all the ass-kissing published in the university newsletter after he took the helm at Saudi Arabia’s oldest university, I must give the man some credit for many good initiatives that he’s been pushing. One of the these initiatives is opening the campus for new voices rarely heard around here.

As part of their regular weekly events, the student affairs deanship at KSU will host tomorrow a discussion panel featuring Mufleh al-Qahtani and Saleh al-Khathlan from the National Society for Human Rights. It should be a good chance to raise awareness among ignorant students — if they show up, that is — and also talk about the current state of human rights conditions in the country.

Unfortunately, I have a practical exam at the same time so I won’t be able to attend, but I will try to finish early and catch what’s left by the time I’m done with my exam.

This is an open event, so if you are interested I highly encourage you to come. Girls are out of luck because AFAIK this event won’t be transmitted to the girls’ campus in Olaysha. Unless, of course, you have the ovaries to come to the boys’ campus and try to find a seat there. A few female journalists were allowed to attend Prince Turki al-Faisal lecture last month at Hamad al-Jassir auditorium.

What: Human Right — Between Reality and Ambition
Who: Mufleh al-Qahtani, VP of NSHR; Saleh al-Khathlan, member of NSHR
When: Monday, April 21, 2008. 12:30 PM
Where: Building No.7, Auditorium 7A, opposite to the College of Arts

7 thoughts on “Discussion Panel on Human Rights at KSU”

  1. brother Ahmed, I can’t agree more on what you’ve said about Dr.al-Othman but, it’s as you said, such initiatives are one good thing about him… alas, I too cannot attend (taking into consideration no black outfits would be allowed in just as usual!). I guess our people are in bad need for someone to enlighten them about human rights… hope a big number of students would take the pains to attend this lecture… brother, good luck with your exam and I’d be looking forward to reading your comment on the event, of course, if you got there chance to attend.. take care

  2. ROTFL! You rock; *Unless, of course, you have the ovaries to come to the boys’ campus and try to find a seat there*
    Really !
    Good luck for your exams!

  3. Yeah, I laughed at the ovaries part too :D
    A relative of mine, who had been working in KSU for over 15 years now called me up last week from excitement, saying that things which existed in the dreams alone of the female staff in her college are taking place. One, for example, is setting dates by which all the teachers should take “computer driving” certificates. Others are the dean saying from now on, no decisions should be taken independently of the women’s dep’t attending men’s meetings. There are other things related to additional employment no longer assigned from the men’s department but rather solely through the ladies, as well as increasing the number of employment so it would match with what was previously allowed on the men’s campus.
    I hope these changes are not temporary, and only promise for more…

  5. Ya Ahmed,
    Thanks a lot for posting this – as I said to you when I saw you today, if you hadn’t posted this, I would have missed the panel.

    It was a very interesting lecture, with both Dr Mufleh and Dr Saleh speaking for about 20 mins each, and they then answered questions from the floor (which is always the most interesting part of these lectures).

    Some of the main topics covered were:
    *The judicial system and how it needs to be reformed.
    *The need to secure rights of suspected criminals, including in the investigation period.
    *The right to obtain health care (availability of medicine and concentration of health facilities in the cities)
    *Raising awareness of a “human rights culture”.
    *KSA and international HR agreements
    *Protection of women and children

    As I said, question time was very good and there were some hird-hitting questions, including on the sponsorship system for foreign workers, the funding of the NSHR, and strangely, the rights of university students (!)

    Enjoy your up-coming travels, and I look forward to hearing your stories on the blog. Once again, thanks for the post today, and I think your blog is great.

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