Muhammad Al-Rashidi
Al-Riyadh
An actor who lives in a Gulf country has become known for his excessive praise for the efforts of members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Haia). Personally speaking, I believe this actor is playing with the feelings of the Saudi people and is trying to win more fans. Members of the Haia are known for the work they do and do not require someone like this person to commend them. By the way, this actor is also famous for his Snapchat videos and the bold issues he often raises.
Recently, on a visit to Riyadh he told his fans he was going to visit a mall. While at the mall, many shoppers, especially women, recognized him and started taking his picture. He also took selfies with women. While he was at it, members of the Haia appeared from nowhere and arrested him. They took him outside the mall and he was shocked as he thought he was immune from being arrested by the Haia.
The other day, a female Kuwaiti singer, named Shams, during a TV show called for Saudi women to be allowed to drive and expressed shock that they are banned from doing so. I am sure that she did not say this because of her love for Saudi women. On the contrary, she said it to annoy her rival, an Emirati female singer called Ahlam. The two do not get on and Ahlam is against allowing Saudi women to drive. I wonder what gives these two singers the right to interfere in our issues. I am quite certain that their goal is to manipulate the feelings of the Saudi people and win more publicity and popularity.
Are we so naïve that we cannot see through the games these people are playing at our expense? Everyone wants a piece of us and sticks their nose into our affairs, even when it comes to soccer. Why are there no Saudi actors speaking about women driving and similar issues that seem to be controversial in our society? Why it is always non-Saudi actors and people who raise such issues?
We have big stars like Nasser Al-Qassabi who, in one of his TV shows, focused on Daesh (the self-proclaimed IS) and painted a realistic picture of the organization and their terrorism. I think he should play a more active social role in such issues. We also have Fayez Al-Malki who is active on social media websites and discusses several issues. But where are the rest?
Educated Saudi actors and actresses can have more influence on Saudi people but they are not being given the chance. We, as Saudis, should give them this chance so that individuals on the fringe do not interfere in our affairs.
