Balancing the Arab Gulf Momentum

Children Follow in Fathers’ Footsteps

A Weekly Political News Magazine

Saudi Female Sports Pioneer Breaks Stereotypes and Records

A Weekly Political News Magazine

2

Issue 1882- December- 10/12/2021

Saif al-Islam: Professor of Economics Who Dreams of Succeeding His Father

Issue 1882- December- 10/12/2021

www.majalla.com

Balancing the Arab Gulf Momentum

www.majal a.com

Editorial A Weekly Political News Magazine

This week, Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman went on an unprecedented tour to the neighboring Gulf countries in a significant display of the strong relations with strategic partners.

Same applies to the recent diplomatic and economic efforts exerted

by UAE leaders with major regional actors mainly Turkey and Iran.

In this week’s cover story, Dalia Ziada writes about the GCC›s consolidated ties, the Arab countries’ rapprochement with Turkey and Iran, and the implications of such diplomatic and economic steps on the region.

As 2021 is coming to an end, some observers can hear drums of war banging along the Russian-Ukrainian borders. Maia Otarashvili discusses the recent developments of the Ukraine crisis as Russia massed large numbers of its troops as well as military equipment on the border. The U.S. warned Russia against invading Ukraine, but Putin said the buildup is merely a “defense tactic” against NATO’s possible expansion to Ukraine. Although the NATO and US provided support to Ukraine, they still stood short of giving the country its real security against Russian threats.

A threat to global economy, tax evasion incurs huge losses on any country so that it requires constant development of tax systems in terms of compliance and collection. Motasem Al-Felou explores the new policies and tools adopted by Saudi Arabian tax administration to enhance compliance without paying additional cost, all through digital transformation.

Last November, Egypt hosted a grand historic event to commemorate the inauguration of the Rams Road in Luxor, the city that is dubbed the “largest open museum in the world.” Salma Adham interviewed three female archaeologists who participated in the National Project for the restoration and opening of the Rams Road and the Great Pillars Hall in Karnak temple. The three passionate women talked about their mission that preceded the grand ceremony and its subsequent flow of international visitors to the beautifully restored site.

Read these articles and more on our website eng.majalla.com. As always, we welcome and value our readers’ feedback and we invite you to take the opportunity to leave your comments on our website.

2

10/12/21

www.majalla.com/eng

Editor-in-Chief

Ghassan Charbel The Editor Mostafa El-Dessouki HH Saudi Research and Marketing (UK) Ltd 10th Floor Building 7 Chiswick Business Park 566 Chiswick High Road London W4 5YG Tel : +44 207 831 8181 Fax: +44 207 831 2310

‫الوكيل اإلعالني‬ ،www.alkhaleejiah.com :‫موقع إلكتروني‬ hq@alkhaleejiah.com :‫بريد إلكتروني‬ + 9714 3 914440 :‫ دبي‬،920 000 417 : ‫من داخل اململكة‬ +44 207 404 6950 :‫ لندن‬+00764 537 331 :‫باريس‬ +966 11 441 1444 : ‫ومن مختلف الدول‬

- ‫ طريق مكة‬- ‫ حي املؤتمرات‬- ‫مرخص لها الرياض‬ ‫تقاطع التخصصى‬ +44 207 831 8181 :‫ لندن‬- 4419933 ‫ هاتف‬:‫الرياض‬

A Weekly Political News Magazine

4

10/12/21

A Weekly Political News Magazine

34 Saudi Arabia Fights Tax Evasion with More Digitalization

Issue 1882- December- 10/12/2021

Ethiopia Faces Corrosive War

26 Consequence

Russo-Ukrainian Impasse

22 Blamed on US-NATO Policies

30 ISIS in Congo and Uganda

56 Creating a Family Medical History

How Egyptian Women Took Part 44 in Karnak Restoration 5

10/12/21

60 Has Woke Racism Become a “New Religion”?

S

napshot

Christmas in Red Square in downtown Moscow A woman poses for pictures at a New Year and Christmas market in Red Square in downtown Moscow on December 6, 2021. Moscow. Russia )AFP Photos(

6

10/12/21

7

10/12/21

S

napshot

Sindhi Cultural Day celebrated in Karachi People wearing traditional Sindhi dresses dance to celebrate the Sindhi Cultural Day in Karachi, Pakistan, 05 December 2021. Sindh is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and Sindhi topi or hat is famous for its cultural value.

Each year Sindhi people celebrate this day by dancing and wearing traditional dresses )EPA Photos(

8

10/12/21

9

10/12/21

SAU

SYRIA Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said on Monday a visit to Damascus last month by the United Arab Emirates foreign minister Abdalla bin Zayed had been "a courageous" move.

The UAE foreign minister on Nov. 10 became the most senior Emirati to visit Damascus since Syria's civil war erupted about a decade ago.

The visit marked the latest in a series of diplomatic overtures that point to a shift underway in the Middle East where several Arab countries are reviving ties with President Bashar al-Assad.

EGYPT U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman will depart on Thursday for the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Egypt to discuss international support for diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ethiopia, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday.

On November 5, 2021, the US Embassy in Addis Ababa called on American citizens to not travel to Ethiopia and consider departing now over insecurity due to the ongoing armed conflict.

10

10/12/21

Saudi Arabi Mohamme Wednesday several Ara Qatar in mi that was re Prince Moh emir Sheikh two leaders evening, Sa Qatar is the states by Pr summit late The summi the United agreed to e foreign pol diplomatic

UDI ARABIA

ia's de facto ruler Crown Prince ed bin Salman arrived in Doha on y on his first visit since Riyadh and ab allies imposed an embargo on id-2017 and set off a bitter dispute esolved only in January. hammed was received on arrival by h Tamim bin Hamed al-Thani and the s held meetings on Wednesday audi state media reported. e third stop on a tour of Gulf Arab rince Mohammed ahead of a Gulf er this month. it will be the first since Saudi Arabia, Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt end a dispute with Qatar over its licy that had led them to sever ties with Doha.

UAE

IRAQ Iraq's national security adviser said on Thursday that U.S.-led forces had ended their combat mission in Iraq, a move that transfers all remaining troops into a training and advising role.

Qasim al-Aaraji said on Twitter that the combat mission had ended on schedule ahead of the end of the year and that combat troops were to withdraw.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi sealed an agreement in July to formally end the U.S. combat mission in Iraq by the end of 2021.

The United Arab Emirates will shift to a working week of four and half days with a Saturday-Sunday weekend from the start of next year to better align its economy with global markets.

IRAN The United States and Israel increased pressure on Iran on Thursday as nuclear talks in Vienna stalled, with Iran reiterating that its position has not changed.

Israel's visiting defense chief Benny Gantz raised the issue of joint military readiness to be able to halt Iran's nuclear aspirations, if necessary.

Reuters had exclusively reported that Thursday's US-Israeli agenda was expected to include discussions about possible military exercises that would prepare for a worst-case scenario to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities should diplomacy fail and if their nations' leaders request it.

11

10/12/21

A WEEK ACROS MEXICO.

U.S. President Joe Biden reached out to Ukraine’s leader Thursday as the United States moved to take a more direct role in diplomacy between that country and Russia, part of a broader effort to dissuade Russia from a destabilizing invasion of its western neighbor.

But any negotiations to peacefully resolve Europe’s tangled East-West rivalries will present minefields for the U.S. president.

The United States has returned the first two migrants to Mexico since restarting a Trump-era program to remove asylum seekers from U.S. soil, officials said Wednesday, as the Biden administration grapples with pressure to curb immigration.

The United States and Mexico last week agreed to relaunch the controversial scheme known as Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) that obliges asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for U.S. immigration hearings, in keeping with a federal court order.

Mexico made the restart conditional on Washington meeting certain criteria, including offering vaccines to asylum seekers and exempting vulnerable people from expulsion.

12

10/12/21

,

LIBYA. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday appointed U.S. diplomat Stephanie Williams to lead mediation efforts in Libya after his special envoy quit just weeks ahead of planned elections in the war-torn country.

U.N. special envoy on Libya, Jan Kubis, is due to step down on Friday. Guterres had informally suggested veteran British diplomat Nicholas Kay as a replacement, but Russia said it would not support Kay, according to diplomats.

SS THE WORLD GERMANY. Social Democrat Olaf Scholz became Germany's chancellor on Wednesday, ending 16 years of conservative rule under Angela Merkel and launching his three-way coalition that has pledged to boost green investment and strengthen European integration.

Scholz, 63, who over the past four years served as vice chancellor and finance minister in coalition with Merkel, won a majority of 395 votes from lawmakers in the lower house of parliament, Bundestag President Baerbel Bas said.

MYANMAR. A court in military-ruled Myanmar jailed deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi for four years on Monday on charges of incitement and breaching coronavirus restrictions, a source familiar with the proceedings said, in a case that critics dismissed as a farce.

President Win Myint was also sentenced to four years in prison, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, as the court delivered its first verdicts in numerous cases against Suu Kyi and other civilian leaders detained by the military in a coup on Feb. 1.

INDIA. India's protesting farmers have received a revised proposal from the government addressing some of their pending demands such as a new law to secure government prices for crops beyond rice and wheat, farm union leaders said on Wednesday.

13

10/12/21

C

over story

Balancing the Arab Gulf Momentum GCC Countries Re-cast Their Future, Seeking New Economic and Political Areas of Influence

By Dalia Ziada Most of the news coming out of the Middle East, these days, is about the Arab Gulf countries’ unprecedented diplomatic activity on both regional and international horizons. The Arab Gulf region is living a positive momentum of political and economic expansion, which indicates that the Middle East region is finally

starting to recover from the painful decade of the Arab Spring aftermath. The Arab Gulf momentum has started in January, when the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) wisely decided to find a way to coexist, despite their conflicting political visions and interests.

The rapidly changing security and political circumstances inside and around the Arab region, especially after the United States withdrawal

14

10/12/21

from Afghanistan in August, accelerated the process of re-tying the brotherly bond between Arab Gulf countries, and thus pushed the Gulf region to the forefront of leading the future of the Middle East, in contrast to the diminishing regional roles of Egypt and Syria, since the Arab Spring revolutions. However, the quick pace of regional transitions should be balanced by strengthening the internal cohesion to avoid undesired consequences of this critical phase in the life of the Arab Gulf and the entire region of the Middle East.

OPENING TO TURKEY AND IRAN

A handout photo made available by the Saudi Royal Court shows Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (L) meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al- Nahyan (R) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, 08 December 2021. Bin Salman started on 08 December a tour of Gulf countries. (EPA/ BANDAR ALJALOUD/SAUDI ROYAL COURT)

The election of the Democrat President Joseph Biden in the United States and the renewed geo-economic opportunities, which stirred deep-rooted geopolitical tensions in the eastern Mediterranean basin, pushed Arab states to keep pace by reconsidering their existing regional and foreign policies. The Gulf reconciliation process that started by signing Al-Ula Agreement in January, was one important step in that direction, as it ended years of extreme political polarization among Arab Gulf countries. Since then, the Middle East is no longer a scene where Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Egypt stand together in one camp against an adversary camp of Qatar, which had to push against being isolated by enhancing its alliance with the axis of Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan.

This brave, but relatively swift, decision to abandon internal disputes and look for peaceful coexistence, enhanced by the United States withdrawal from the Middle East, created a state of fluidity that accelerated the course of reshaping regional coalitions in an unexpected way.

The rapidly changing security and political circumstances inside and around the Arab region, especially after the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, accelerated the process of retying the brotherly bond between Arab Gulf countries. vember, President Erdogan noted that Turkey shall take steps to accelerate the reconciliation process with Egypt and improve its diplomatic ties with Israel. Some reports mentioned that Turkish ambassadors may be re-appointed for Egypt and Israel, in the near future.

In record time, Egypt and Qatar fixed their torn relationship and started fruitful cooperation, not only on fulfilling bilateral interests, but also on co-managing chronic regional troubles, such as the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Since the latest episode of war between Israel and Hamas, in May, Egypt and Qatar have been closely coordinating to reconstruct the Gaza strip and provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians living there. This level of cooperation between Egypt and Qatar was an impossibility, only a few months ago.

On the other hand, more Arab Gulf countries decided to open up to the idea of cooperating with the non-Arab states of Turkey and Iran, due to their direct influence over political and During his speech at the Qatari-Turkish Joint security dynamics in the Middle East region.

Forces Command in Doha, on the 7th of De- The UAE took the lead role on this rapprochecember, President Erdogan said that “All the ment effort. On the next day of Taliban’s seipeoples of the Arab Gulf are true brothers of zure of power in Afghanistan, in mid-August, Turkey, regardless of their origins, sects, or be- UAE’s National Security Advisor, Sheikh Tahliefs.” He also asserted that Turkey is actively noun Bin Zayed, took a flight to Ankara to meet working to fix its relationship with all Arab with the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip ErGulf countries. On another occasion, in No- dogan. Sheikh Tahnoun’s move and President

15

10/12/21

C

over story

Erdogan’s quick response surprised observers Zayed pledged to invest a total of ten billion due to the history of fierce rivalry between Tur- dollars in the Turkish market. The huge Emirati investment is considered a booster shot that the key and the UAE. Turkish economy badly needed, amidst a strugThree months later, on the 24th of November, gle with the record decline rates of the Turkish Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, the Crown Lira. UAE, by showing confidence in the TurkPrince of Abu Dhabi and the de facto ruler of ish economy, has encouraged other regional UAE, led a high-profile delegation to Ankara to economic powers, such as Saudi Arabia to conmeet with President Erdogan and sign a dozen sider picking up some investment opportunities memoranda of economic cooperation between in Turkey. the two countries. At the end of the visit, Bin On the next day of UAE’s senior delegation visit to Turkey, on November 25th, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Commerce, Majid bin Abdullah, flew to Istanbul to meet with Turkey’s Vice President Fuat Oktay. The two officials discussed investment opportunities that may emerge out of the current economic crisis in Turkey. On a general note, the official ties between Turkey and Saudi Arabia have been steadily improving since the leaders of the two countries communicated during the G-20 meeting in October 2020. Next week, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs is expected to visit senior officials in Saudi Arabia to explore means of taking the Saudi-Turkish affair to the next level.

Meanwhile, UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed

The quick pace of regional transitions should be balanced by strengthening the internal cohesion to avoid undesired consequences of this critical phase in the life of the Arab Gulf and the entire region of the Middle East.

16

10/12/21

A handout picture released by the Qatar News Agency (QNA) shows Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (R) meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the capital Doha, on December 9, 2021. (Photo

by Qatar News Agency / AFP)

French President Emmanuel Macron pictured in Jeddah with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

has already started moving towards Iran. On the 6th of December, Sheikh Tahnoun paid a rare visit by an Emirati official to Tehran. He met with his Iranian counterpart, Ali Shamkhani, and the Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, to discuss bilateral and regional ties. Over the past years, the UAE has been careful not to break economic and political relationship with Iran, due to their geographic proximity.

However, this is the first time, the UAE has actively sought to expand and deepen bilateral ties with Iran, in spite of its continued political and ideological conflict with Saudi Arabia, highlighted by its support to the Houthis in Yemen.

DIVERSIFYING DEFENSE OPTIONS On the 7th of December, while President Erdogan and his top ministers were in Qatar for routine strategic talks, a delegation from UAE visited Ankara for negotiating defense deals. To the anger of the ultra-nationalist Turkish public opinion, some reports claimed that UAE asked to buy shares in ASELSAN, Turkey’s leading electronic defense manufacturer. One quarter (25.6%) of ASELSAN company shares is already listed in the Borsa İstanbul (BIST) stock

17

10/12/21

More Arab Gulf countries decided to open up to the idea of cooperating with the non-Arab states of Turkey and Iran, due to their direct influence over political and security dynamics in the Middle East region. market. This means that, although ASELSAN is a national company, the UAE can actually buy the company’s shares as part of its economic investment in Turkey. On a side note, ASELSAN opened a branch in Doha, in January, as part of the military agreement between Qatar and Turkey.

The UAE delegation’s visit came three days after positive statements by Ismail Demir, the Chairman of the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), about the potential of cooperation in the defense sector between Turkey and the UAE. “When we look at our defense

C

over story

industry figures, we see that our defense industry relations continued even during times of crises. There was contact even when relations were not at their highest,” Demir told the press.

In fact, the UAE purchased weapons from Turkey for more than 90 million dollars, during the first quarter of 2021, according to official statistics by the Turkish Ministry of Commerce and the Exporters Council.

The UAE’s move to negotiate defense and armament deals with Turkey came exactly two

On a general note, the official ties between Turkey and Saudi Arabia have been steadily improving since the leaders of the two countries communicated during the G- 20 meeting in October 2020.

days after UAE signed a contract with France to purchase a record number of 80 Rafale fighter jets, which will cost more than 17 billion euros. This is the first time the UAE, or any other Arab Gulf country is making such a big armament deal with any arms exporter country, other than the United States. The UAE has been waiting for so long for the US Administration of President Biden to implement the F-35 fighter jets deal, signed in 2020, under the Trump Administration. The deal has been postponed several times, since Biden took office in January, due to pressures from Congress members and Israel.

On pragmatic terms, the UAE investment in Turkey’s defense sector is beneficial to both Turkey and UAE. For UAE, it can buy advanced technology weapons from Turkey, including benchmark drones and tanks, with a low cost of manufacturing and importation, compared to the high-cost weapons that it can procure from France or Russia. For Turkey, the UAE investment in its defense sector, does not only mean more money to be poured into the Turkish economy, but also a huge support to its indigenous defense industry.

18

10/12/21

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed alNahyan, the UAE’s de facto ruler, review a guard of honour during a welcome ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, November 24, 2021.

(Murat Cetinmuhurdar/ Presidential Press Office/ )Handout via REUTERS

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi receives UAE’s top National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, at the Presidential palace in December 06 ,Tehran, Iran Photo: Iranian( .2021 )Presidency/dpa

However, in practical terms, defense cooperation between Turkey and the UAE remains a very sensitive issue. Despite recently signed historical economic cooperation agreements, Turkey and UAE are still supporting and sponsoring conflicting actors in various ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Africa. That is clearly seen in the examples of the civil wars in Syria and Libya. Moreover, the UAE is already having military cooperation agreements with France, Greece, and Cyprus. All of them are counted as enemies by the Turkish state and public. It is unlikely that UAE will abandon its relationship with Greece or France to ally with Turkey. All these considerations make effective UAE-Turkey cooperation in the sector of defense a challenge for both countries and their existing allies.

INTERNAL BALANCE NEEDED The political unity of Arab Gulf countries adds more power to their existing economic supremacy, in the eyes of the international community. In the absence of the United States as a historical ally and influencer, the Arab Gulf region has become an attractive playground

19

10/12/21

for the competition between regional and international powers, such as the ferocious rivals – Turkey and France. This competition may benefit the Arab Gulf region in terms of opening their oil-dependent economies to new and diverse investment opportunities with Europe and Eurasia.

To achieve maximum benefit out of this momentum, Arab Gulf countries need to keep their brotherly bond intact, and to adjust their individual compasses towards the same NorthStar. In that sense, the tremendous efforts that are being exerted by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, to reunite the Arab Gulf family under one mission and vision is particularly important for ensuring that the Arab Gulf countries can effectively follow their legitimate ambitions to politically and economically expand outside their geographic limitations.

Dalia Ziada is an Egyptian author and Director of the Liberal Democracy Institute. Her work covers military affairs, political Islamism, and geopolitics in the Middle East and North Africa. Tweets at @daliaziada.

o

pinion

My Cultural Project

By: Tarek Heggy

Pluralism, altruism and coexistence are the result of the “love of life,” a value missing in some cultures that value death more than life

I have written, published, lectured and spoken a lot since publishing my first book 43 years ago. I have so far published 35 books, dozens of articles, lectures, seminars and have been interviewed on television, radio and press in several languages, mostly Arabic, English, French and Italian.

Despite the variety of subjects I tackled in my books and conversations, they all aim to promote the ideas and values of modern humanity.

These ideas and values are neither Western nor Eastern and do not have a nature and identity other than being the outcome of humanity, modernity and progress.

All that I have written and am still writing, and what I have said and am still saying are aimed at consolidating the recipient’s acceptance and conviction of these values: Pluralism is one of the key features of life, ideas and systems. The antithesis of pluralism is death, as life, by its nature, produces various patterns of living, ideas and systems. Pluralism enriches life.

Altruism, or accepting others, is not only one of the most wonderful aspects of human reasoning but also a natural and inevitable result of pluralism.

Among the values that result from pluralism and altruism are coexistence and the culture of peace.

Pluralism, altruism and coexistence are the result of the “love of life,” a value missing in some cultures that value death more than life.

All the aforementioned values are clearly correlated and complement each other.

One of the values that I have written about often is that the “rights and duties of women as human beings are equivalent to men’s.”

Promoting women’s rights requires shedding light on “masculinity” as one of the most heinous behaviors created by humans, as well as unveiling the shameful role of religious institutions, which have always supported patriarchal ideologies, systems and values. They presented what some (ignorantly) misread as evidence of “Heaven’s” support for masculine values.

Also, my writings, conversations and interviews have underlined the importance of basing educational systems on the rules and principles of “scientific thinking.”

One of the most important values of modern humanity is having a civilized state since finding values of modern humanity is very difficult in any society in which the state is not completely civil.

It is not possible to talk about the values of modernity without highlighting the mechanisms for ensuring and protecting “human rights” as defined by the international law.

However, is the modernity European?

Yes and No! It is humane, but it was formed in Europe.

The “humanness of modernity” is the subject of my next article.

20

10/12/21

P

olitics

Russo-Ukrainian Impasse Blamed on US-NATO Policies

US Warns of Sanctions Against Russia & Says Ukraine NATO Membership is On Track despite Russian rumblings

By Maia Otarashvili

Russian soldiers placed near Ukraine’s borders. Based on these developments, U.S. and NATO intelligence For over a month now Russia has been conducting a services have warned against a possible large-scale major military buildup near its borders with Ukraine, Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Ukraine’s president and on the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula. At the Zelensky recently announced that his government had time of this writing there are approximately 175,000 uncovered a coup plot against him.

22

10/12/21

This is a continuation of a major military buildup near Ukraine Russia staged earlier this year. Back in March and April the Russian military conducted a large-scale buildup on the border with Ukraine. According to some reports it massed as much as 15% of its total manpower and approximately one-third of its battalion tactical groups, as well as military equipment, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery, and air defense systems on the border.

Ukraine sounded the alarm bells, warning its western allies that Moscow was getting ready to invade.

In May Russia pulled back its troops, explaining the event was just a military exercise. However, most of the heavy equipment remained in place and is still there. A June summit between President Biden and Mr. Putin seemed to diffuse the tensions, although no “reset” deal was struck between the now-longtime adversaries.

A Ukrainian army service member rides with a Javelin anti-tank missile during a military parade marking Ukraine’s Independence Day in Kiev, Ukraine, on August ,24 2018. (Gleb Garanich/ Reuters)

Vladimir Putin explained that the military buildup on the border is merely a “defense tactic”, and in return he expects NATO to guarantee that it won’t expand into Ukraine, calling such a potential move a red line.

“Vladimir Putin warned against shifting the responsibility on Russia, since it was NATO that was undertaking dangerous attempts to gain a foothold on Ukrainian territory and building up its military capaMoscow again denies plans to invade Ukraine. bilities along the Russian border. It is for this reason Vladimir Putin has explained that the military build- that Russia is eager to obtain reliable, legally bindup on the border is merely a “defense tactic”, and in ing guaranties ruling out the eventuality of NATO’s return he expects NATO to guarantee that it won’t eastward expansion and the deployment of offensive expand into Ukraine, calling such a potential move a weapons systems in the countries neighboring Russia. red line. President Putin is also demanding guarantees The two leaders agreed to instruct their representathat there will be no U.S. missiles placed in Ukraine, tives to engage in meaningful consultations on these or anywhere else on the border with Russia. sensitive matters.”

On December 7, President Biden and President Putin spoke over a video call. The call lasted over two hours, and the White House said President Biden warned Mr. Putin of “severe consequences” as the United States would pursue “strong economic and other measures” if Russia invades Ukraine. Washington has said a major sanctions package is on the table in case of an invasion, this would include removing Russia from the international SWIFT system, and ensuring Germany halts the highly controversial NordStream-2 pipeline project with Russia.

The Kremlin readout of the discussion between Putin and Biden said, “The intra-Ukrainian crisis and the lack of progress in implementing the 2015 Minsk agreements,” have been worrisome to Mr. Putin, and that in the discussion he expressed “serious concern about Kiev’s provocative actions against Donbass.” According to the readout, Biden’s concern about Russian troop movements to the border with Ukraine were met with Mr. Putin’s warnings against NATO:

23

10/12/21

This crisis has quickly revealed itself as a standoff between Russia and the United States/NATO, at its core.

The Biden administration seems to be well aware of it and is expressing more concern over and support for Ukraine than it has since Russia annexed Crimea back in 2014. Back then Joe Biden was Vice President of the United States. The Obama administration chose not to become significantly involved, supporting Ukraine only in rhetoric. It was not until the Trump presidency that the United States began arming Ukraine. Now the White House says it’s prepared to be tough on Russia should another invasion happen. According to the White House National Security Advisor, Ned Price, “things we did not do in 2014, we are prepared to do now.”

The United States has also worked actively to decouple the immediate Russian military threat against Ukraine from the prospects of Ukraine’s NATO membership. The U.S. leaders see the current crisis as something directly related to the conflict in Donbas, and entirely unrelated to Ukraine’s future with

P

olitics

NATO. According to them, the age-old message in the West is that whether or not Ukraine (or any other country) becomes a member of NATO is a matter entirely between NATO and the candidate country itself, and there are no legal or logical grounds to give Russia a veto over it.

The U.S. has offered Russia an “off-ramp” in the form of joining the Minsk Agreement and renewing the stalled peace accords that began in 2015, so far without U.S. participation. The Minsk Agreements would include giving a special status to Ukraine’s Russia-backed breakaway region of Donbas, and

This crisis has quickly revealed itself as a standoff between Russia and the United States/NATO, at its core. The Biden administration seems to be well aware of it and is expressing more concern over and support for Ukraine.

having elections there so it can self-govern. In return, Moscow would have to pull out its forces from Donbas, hand over the control of the border to Ukraine, and ensure all mercenaries leave the embattled region. This deal is highly unpopular in Ukraine, and over the years mass protests have erupted every time President Zelensky has tried to pursue it. However, the U.S. currently considers it to be the way out of the crisis with Russia, and U.S. leaders seem to be confident this deal can be revived if Russia comes to the negotiating table. Earlier this week, the U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland explained to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs: “the Minsk Agreements offer the best basis for negotiations, and the U.S. is prepared to support a revived effort if the parties welcome that. … a more stable and predictable U.S. Russia relationship is better for both sides.”

This year alone the United States has given over $450 million in security assistance to Ukraine. Over the recent years, after much initial reluctance, the United States and other NATO allies have sold arms to Ukraine so it can defend itself. Notably, Ukraine purchased 210 Javelin anti-tank missiles and 37 launchers from the U.S. in 2018 for approximately $47 million, and the State Department approved the sale of a second batch of 150 missiles and 10 launch units in late 2019. Turkey has also sold Bayraktar TB2

24

10/12/21

This combination of pictures created on December 06, 2021 shows US President Joe Biden during a signing ceremony at the White House in Washington, DC on November 18, 2021 and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a congress of the United Russia party in Moscow, on December 4, 2021. (Photo

by MANDEL NGAN and Mikhail Metzel / various sources / AFP)

This satellite image provided by Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies taken on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021 shows a Russian troop location in the Yevpatoria municipality, in Crimea. (Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies via AP)

drones to Ukraine, which the latter has successfully deployed in Donbas.

But all of this is seen as a drop in the ocean when it comes to Ukraine’s real security needs. Kiev has been pursuing its path to Euro-Atlantic integration for decades since its independence from the Soviet Union. However, at this time, Ukraine is not even an

The U.S. has offered Russia an “offramp” in the form of joining the Minsk Agreement and renewing the stalled peace accords that began in 2015, so far without U.S. participation. official NATO membership candidate. Rather, it enjoys various types of formal partner status with the United States, European Union, and NATO – a far cry from the security guarantees a full-fledged NATO membership would give to Ukraine. But this has not deterred Moscow from perceiving the threat of potential NATO eastward expansion as a real and imminent danger to Russia’s national security. To date no form of NATO efforts to build bridges with Moscow has succeeded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint statement with Croatian Prime Minister in Kiev, Ukraine, 08 December 2021. EPA/VALENTYN OGIRENKO / POOL

Maia Otarashvili is a Research Fellow and Deputy Director of the Eurasia Program. Maia also serves as the Deputy Director of Research at FPRI. Her research interests include geopolitics and security of the Black Sea-Caucasus region, Russian foreign policy, and the post-Soviet “frozen” conflicts.

25

10/12/21

P

olitics

Ethiopia Faces Corrosive War Consequence Will the Country Give Peace A Chance?

By Chris Coons Ethiopia is sprinting toward calamity. Last week, as the rebel forces of the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and their allies advanced toward the capital of Addis Ababa,

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed traveled to the frontline and vowed to lead Ethiopian troops into battle himself. “We won’t give in until we bury the enemy,” he said. Not to be outdone, a spokesperson for the TPLF called Abiy’s leadership a “chokehold on our people” and pledged to continue the

26

10/12/21

rebels’ “inexorable advance.”

If Abiy and his opponents continue on their current path, they risk triggering not only massive bloodshed and economic collapse but the fracture of the Ethiopian state as we know it. Ethiopia is at risk of becoming this generation’s Yugoslavia: a great nation and a regional leader that violently shatters along ethnic lines. Echoes of the bloody Yugoslav wars are already evident in the polarization, hate speech, and violence that have gripped Ethiopia over the last year. The memory of those previous conflicts haunts me when I think of what may be next for Africa’s second most populous nation.

Even as the fighting comes to the doorstep of the Ethiopian capital, it is not too late for swords to be beaten into plowshares and for Abiy and the TPLF to come to the table for dialogue to prevent further escalation of a war that has already claimed far too many lives. Both parties should take immediate action to bring the most pressing humanitarian crises to an end, which in turn can create the necessary space for negotiations.

BROKEN PROMISES

A police officer looks on outside the prison in Mehal Meda, Ethiopia, on December 06, 2021.

(Photo by Amanuel Sileshi / AFP)

Not long ago, Ethiopia was on a very different trajectory. In 2019, Abiy won the Nobel Peace Prize for ending a brutal 20-year border war with Eritrea and advancing a series of broad democratic reforms. In his Nobel acceptance speech, Abiy described his governing philosophy as Medemer, an Amharic word for “addition” that he said signified the combination of reconciliation, unity, and tolerance. Together with his early reform efforts, this vision for a diverse, inclusive, and united country gave millions of people hope that Ethiopia was on the path to a more stable future.

But over the last year, that hope has all but evaporated. I first spoke to Abiy about the brewing conflict in Tigray in November 2020. Tensions between his government and the TPLF, which dominated Ethiopia’s ruling coalition until 2018, had been mounting for months, culminating in a TPLF attack on Ethiopian military bases in the north of the country. In response, Abiy was preparing to launch a major military offensive against the Tigrayan capital of Mekelle. I urged him to reconsider and to take the path of negotiation and reconciliation instead. Abiy insisted to me that he was merely undertaking a law enforcement operation to apprehend a gang of criminals; the mission, he said, would be completed in a matter of weeks. I cautioned that generals on both sides of the American Civil War had made similar predictions in the spring of 1861. Far from having a swift and decisive outcome, however, that conflict dragged on for more than four years, becoming the deadliest and most destructive war in U.S. history. Despite my warnings—and the warnings of many leaders from Africa and around the world—Abiy pressed forward with a military

27

10/12/21

If Abiy and his opponents continue on their current path, they risk triggering not only massive bloodshed and economic collapse but the fracture of the Ethiopian state as we know it. campaign that has since caused mass displacement and human rights abuses.

In early 2021, President Joe Biden made the conflict and humanitarian emergency in Tigray one of his administration’s first foreign policy priorities, investing significant high-level attention and resources in trying to alleviate the crisis. Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman have all worked with regional partners and European allies to push the warring parties toward negotiations. I have been proud to be a part of the administration’s diplomatic efforts, including by traveling to Addis Ababa to meet with Abiy and hand deliver a personal letter from Biden.

In March, I spent five hours with Abiy over two days in Addis Ababa. He conveyed a deep pride in Ethiopia’s history as the only African nation never colonized by a foreign power, and he demonstrated a strong sense of independence. It was clear to me that he saw himself as a determined reformer even as he struggled to balance competing internal political forces and external pressures from the international community. I urged him to take decisive measures to address the conflict and resolve humanitarian, security, and human rights issues before they spiraled any further out of control.

Abiy made a number of promises to me, some of which he initially kept. After acknowledging for the first time that Eritrean troops had entered the conflict to fight alongside Ethiopian forces, Abiy fulfilled his pledge to visit the Eritrean capital of Asmara to discuss the withdrawal of Eritrean troops with President Isais Afwerki.

Abiy also publicly recognized that all parties to the conflict had committed human rights abuses and expressed the need for accountability. He allowed improvements in humanitarian access and permitted a joint UN-Ethiopian Human Rights Commission investigation to proceed.

Within a few weeks, however, these glimmers of hope had faded, as Abiy reversed course and pressed forward with the war effort.

P

olitics

The results are as clear as they are devastating. A little more than a year into the brutal and tragic conflict, over 60,000 people have fled Ethiopia. I visited some of them in April at the Um Rakuba refugee camp in neighboring Sudan. Individually, their stories of forced relocation, rape, and other forms of ethnic violence were heartbreaking. Together, they add up to a generational tragedy.

Although the exact casualty figures are unknown, the human toll of the conflict has been terrible. In addition to the 60,000 people who have fled the country, more than two million have been internally displaced. Over half are women and girls, many of whom have faced appalling gender-based violence. The war has killed thousands, pushed at least 400,000 people into faminelike conditions, and left seven million people in need of

There is still an opportunity for both sides to show real leadership by ceasing hostilities and coming to the negotiating table in pursuit of a genuine national dialogue to chart a path forward.

urgent humanitarian assistance. All sides of the conflict have committed atrocities, according to international investigators.

CHOOSING PEACE The U.S. government has responded to the crisis in Tigray by suspending security assistance to Abiy’s government, imposing targeted sanctions on those fueling the conflict and violating human rights, and revoking the preferential trade access Ethiopia has enjoyed through the African Growth and Opportunity Act. With a unified bipartisan voice, the U.S. Congress has condemned the actions of the Ethiopian government, its allies, and the TPLF. Alongside Senators Bob Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, and Jim Risch, Republican of Idaho, I recently introduced bipartisan legislation requiring mandatory sanctions on perpetrators of the conflict and human rights violators, an end to arms sales and security assistance to Ethiopia, and restrictions on U.S. support for funding for Ethiopia from international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund.

The conflict has fueled anger and division both inside Ethiopia and across the Ethiopian diaspora, which are riven by dueling narratives about ethnicity, nationalism, and history. Making matters worse is a toxic digital environment awash in misinformation, propaganda, hate speech, genocidal rhetoric, and incitements to violence. This dangerous online discourse has had real-life consequences, in some cases resulting in atrocities. In August, for instance, rumors spread on Facebook that the Quemant people, an ethnic minority in the Amhara

28

10/12/21

FILE PHOTO: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed attends his last campaign event ahead of Ethiopia’s parliamentary and regional elections scheduled for June 21, in Jimma, Ethiopia, June ,16 2021. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo

People react as captive Ethiopian soldiers walk towards Mekele Rehabilitation Center in Mekele, the capital of Tigray region, Ethiopia, on July 2021 ,2. - According to Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters, more than 7,000 captive Ethiopian soldiers have walked from Abdi Eshir, about 75 km southwest of Mekele, for four days. (Photo by Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP) / AFP PICTURES OF THE YEAR 2021

region, were supporting opposition forces. Soon after, supporters of the Ethiopian federal government allegedly dragged more than a dozen Quemant people from their homes in the town of Aykel and butchered them in the street.

Eight months after Abiy and I met in Addis Ababa, I am once again calling on him to choose the path of compromise and peacemaking that will prevent the conflict from tipping over into genocide. I am also calling on the TPLF and the other combatants to do the same. The battlefield dynamics have changed drastically since I was in Ethiopia, as the TPLF and its allies have apparently made significant gains against Abiy’s government. For leaders in the midst of a military campaign, I know that compromise can seem like weakness, but leadership requires a willingness to compromise. Running roughshod over the opposition is never a recipe for success.

As the insurgents move toward Addis Ababa, grinding conflict, massacres, and enduring ethnic divisions are not just possible but probable. They are not inevitable, however. There is still an opportunity for both sides to show real leadership by ceasing hostilities and coming to the negotiating table in pursuit of a genuine national dialogue to chart a path forward.

Abiy’s government must lead the way by creating conditions under which both sides can negotiate. To that end, it should take immediate steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Tigray, including lifting the de facto blockade and allowing sufficient food and medical supplies into the region. It should also restore electricity, telecommunications, banking and commerce, and other basic services to the region that it cut off during

29

10/12/21

The conflict has fueled anger and division both inside Ethiopia and across the Ethiopian diaspora, which are riven by dueling narratives about ethnicity, nationalism, and history. the conflict. These steps will not only end violations of international humanitarian law but also eliminate the TPLF’s initial justification for expanding its offensive outside Tigray. Finally, Abiy’s government must cease arresting and detaining Tigrayans based solely on their ethnic identity and stop referring to the TPLF as a terrorist group to be annihilated. As long as Addis Ababa continues to say that it seeks the TPLF’s destruction, it is hard to imagine a scenario in which Tigrayan leaders pull back their forces. For its part, the TPLF must stop its relentless advance toward the capital, tone down its own aggressive rhetoric, and signal a willingness to negotiate. If Ethiopia’s warring parties continue to choose violence, accountability will be sure, forceful, and global—but by then, Ethiopia will be irreparably damaged.

This article was originally published by Foreign Affairs.

R

eport

ISIS in Congo and Uganda U.S. Reports Reveal Terrorism in Central Africa Linked to Main ISIS

By Majalla – Washington Recent American reports criticized the Biden administration for ignoring what the reports called “ISIS in the Equator,” and warned that sub-Saharan Africa, after West Africa, might be ISIS’s next battleground of violence and atrocities.

But officials in the Biden administration, while not denying violent group attacks in

countries like Congo and Uganda, played down their relationship to the main ISIS in the Middle East.

One report, published by Texas-based Bridgeway Foundation, was titled “Denying the links between the Allied Democratic Forces and militant Islamists will endanger civilians.”

According to the report, ISIS claimed its

30

10/12/21

“Violent, graphic video productions are a hallmark method of other ISIS affiliates, and the fact that the terrorist group has adopted the practice emphasizes the degree to which the group’s ideology and communications strategy are being influenced by ISIS.” The report criticized “Those skeptics who are concerned that acknowledging a relationship between the ADF and the ISIS risks obscuring the region’s local drivers of violence, such as competition for illicit economies.”

Another recent report entitled “The Islamic State in Congo” was published by the Program of Extremism, at George Washington University, in Washington, DC. The report quoted Musa Baluku, leader of the terrorist group, saying: “There is no ADF anymore. Allah willing, ADF ceased to exist a long time ago … Currently, we are a province, the Central Africa Province, which is one province among the numerous provinces that make up the Islamic State that is under the Caliph and Leader of all Muslims, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi alQuraishi.”

Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) soldiers rest next to a road after Islamist rebel group called the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked area around Mukoko village, North Kivu province of Democratic Republic of Congo, December ,11 2018. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic/File Photo

first attack in Uganda when, in November, two nearly simultaneous suicide bombings rocked downtown Kampala and forced the closure of Uganda’s parliament.

The attacks were said to be perpetrated by ISIS’s affiliate group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which calls itself the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) and is known locally as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

31

10/12/21

According to the report, ADF began in 1995 as a militant Islamist movement in Uganda and has held bases in the forests of eastern Congo for nearly two decades. Four years ago, the ADF’s operations stalled, and according to reports from former members, the group faced severe funding shortages and was on the brink of collapse.

Then, in 2017, the group began receiving money from Islamic sources in Kenya and Uganda, and its leader, Musa Baluku, pledged allegiance to ISIS.

R

eport

Another recent report by the Washington, DC-based Jamestown Foundation said that Kenya and the Congo “signed agreements on security and defense amid growing threats from Islamic State in Central African Province (ISCAP),» and that the agreement was signed by Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Felix Tshisekendi of the Congo.

The report added that “Recent massacres by the ADF in North Kivu (Congo) show increasing signs of Islamic State procedures of instilling fear. This relates to beheading videos that resemble what happened in Syria and other parts of the world where

In 2017, the group began receiving money from Islamic sources in Kenya and Uganda, and its leader, Musa Baluku, pledged allegiance to ISIS.

this Islamist group operates.”

However, the report echoed statements by some US officials that these violent activities might not be directly related to the main ISIS of the Middle East, and might just be continuations, or side activities, of the decades-old interventions by Rwanda and Uganda governments forces in the Congo.

According to the report, “Civilians in the Congo are increasingly alarmed by Islamist terrorist attacks. However, past intrigues

by Rwanda and Uganda in the Congo also remain vivid.”

On the other hand, the George Washington University report, while also mentioning past interventions by Rwanda and Uganda governments troops in the Conge, confirmed Musa Baluku’s ISIS connections. The report added that “activities in the Congo have appeared in Islamic State media messaging since 2019; it is evident that the Islamic State is leveraging these activities to demonstrate that it remains a relevant and

32

10/12/21

Ugandan police work on the scene of a bomb blast near the Central Police Station in Kampala, Uganda, 16 November 2021. According to Ugandan Police, two blasts occurred near the Central Police Station and another near Parliament in the capital Kampala. No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks in which several were reportedly injured. EPA/NICHOLAS BAMULANZEKI

Bridgeway’s report warned that “ignoring, or minimizing, this connection makes it much harder to protect civilians against both local violent groups and established players in the global extremist network.” verification methodology to monitor and analyze violence in eastern Congo.

Musa Baluku

active movement with a broad transnational reach, despite its loss of territorial control across Syria and Iraq.”

While this report said it “systematically examines the efforts of the Islamic State to expand globally,” the abovementioned Bridgeway Foundation’s report went beyond examination, and harshly criticized the Biden administration. Driven by its conservative ideology, the foundation’s report warned that “ignoring, or minimizing, this connection makes it much harder to protect civilians against both local violent groups and established players in the global extremist network.”

This report added: “Continued disagreement about the ADF’s links to the Islamic State dilutes Western efforts to assist in finding a durable solution for the group’s escalating violence.”

A few years ago, the Bridgeway Foundation partnered with Human Rights Watch and New York University’s Congo Research Group to establish the Kivu Security Tracker, which employs a strict independent

33

10/12/21

The Bridgeway report said that the terrorists were pushing into new territories and waging campaigns in Congo’s northern Ituri province. It added that Baluku had framed these attacks as a “conquest war,” telling his fighters in a camp speech: “The Islamic State declared a few days ago that we were going to fight and conquer new areas. This is a war purposely to bring more new areas under our control.”

According to the report, last June the terrorist group, “released its first beheading video … Violent, graphic video productions are a hallmark method of other Islamic State affiliates, and the fact that the terrorist group has adopted the practice emphasizes the degree to which the group’s ideology and communications strategy are being influenced by the Islamic State.”

The terrorist group also “began preparing its fighters to use suicide belts, communicating to its members that all great jihadis, including former Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, wore them.”

The November attack in Kampala that closed the Ugandan parliament was carried out simultaneously by two suicidebombers.

E

conomy

Saudi Arabia Fights Tax Evasion with More Digitalization

E-Invoicing and Comprehensive Digital Link to Ensure Better Enforcement

By Motasem Al Felou - Jeddah Tax evasion and avoidance are a couple of vital threats to the global economy. Compliance and collection are two constant challenges for the tax system. Saudi Arabia is no exception. The Kingdom introduced its first ever value-added tax (VAT) in January 2018. After having completed 4 years of application, the Saudi tax administration is looking for ways to enhance compliance without paying additional cost.

“E-invoicing” is the newest tool of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) to fight tax evasion and avoidance. E-invoices are generated by specific solutions

to be used in B2B and B2C transactions, and then submitted to ZATCA for the VAT cross-checking and collection electronically. The next stage of tax invoicing is the comprehensive linking of taxpayers with ZATCA in 2023. The VAT in Saudi Arabia is 15%.

The Saudi tax administration is undertaking digital transformation seriously to increase efficiency, compliance and collection. How is this going ahead? Let’s see!

LESS ONGROUND AND PAPER WORK With the introduction of e-invoicing, on-ground tax observers will have less burden in checking and cross-

34

10/12/21

checking invoices, which used to be generated on paper. According to the ZATCA website, e-invoices will lead to the absence of prohibited functionalities, which include uncontrolled access, software time change, tampering, and multiple invoice sequence. Those functionalities can be used by merchants to manipulate invoices and statements.

Tracking illegal transactions and operation is a real headache for VAT administrations. It needs a level of expertise in IT, accounting and taxing. E-invoices come with a mandatory QR code that shows the invoice and tax details for simplified tax invoices. Nobody can manipulate e-invoices. This is not the case with paper or printed invoices.

E-invoicing is a reformative step in taxation, opening a new horizon of digitalization, raising the standards of sustainable collection and reducing compliance problems.

E-invoicing is a reformative step in taxation, opening a new horizon of digitalization, raising the standards of sustainable collection and reducing compliance problems.

The digital transformation of tax collection will ensure better law enforcement since mistakes or discrepancies, or miscalculations are tracked properly. Digital records enable easy access for both taxpayers and administrators to check the accounts and documents.

ZATCA so that data is transformed directly, meaning that the tax administrator can know the exact taxable sales or services in a real-time manner, second by secBIG DATA AND DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE ond.

The rise of “Big Data” is defined as a collection of data The new project is scheduled to start in 2023. Businesses that is huge in volume, yet growing exponentially with need to level up to the new linking requirements with time. Good examples are transaction processing system, more transparency in all transactions. The human error customer databases, medical records, smart apps and so- margin gets lesser.

Traditional sales estimations by tax administrators cial media.

This is a huge amount of data being pumped will be from the past. Real-time taxable sales reports into cloud storage systems every single second are stored in clouds, making the cross-checking of or even a fraction of a second. Big data will not statements, payments and personal date easier than be possible without a digital infrastructure that ever. More transparency helps in proper taxation, has been built since the introduction of the In- and, most importantly, reduces evasion and avoidternet in the Kingdom in 1990’s. According to ance. the World Bank, the Internet penetration rate in Compliance with new regulations means more taxpayers Saudi Arabia is 97.86%. This high percentage is are transferring the proper amounts of taxes, ensuring the an indicator of the advancement of the National values of taxation justice are respected.

Strategy of Digital Transformation, which have been translated into action since 2006. It is going TAX LEAKAGE to end in 2024.

According to a variety of sources (reports and sales ZATCA imposes hefty fines for the violation of VAT managers and accountants), cash transactions are at regulations. Some financial penalties reach up to USD an all-time low in the Kingdom. Some stores reported 26,000. that only 10% of customers pay in cash! The Covid-19 The digital transformation of tax collection will ensure lockdown of 2020 has driven customers to contactless better law enforcement since mistakes or discrepancies, payment methods. Electronic payments are easier to or miscalculations are tracked properly. Digital records enable easy access for both taxpayers and administrators track and tax. to check the accounts and documents.

How is this related to improving taxation?

Tax administrators always have fears of tax leakage. Loss of revenues is a constant challenge. More COMPREHENSIVE DIGITAL LINK compliance means more revenues, and less leakage.

The Saudi tax administrators are paving the way for Zero leakage is yet a goal to be set in the near futhe comprehensive link of taxpayers (merchants) with ture!

35

10/12/21

S

ociety

Children Follow in Fathers’ Footsteps Warnings against ISIS Women, Children Staying at Al-Hol Camp

By Jiwan Soz - Qamishli Problems at al-Hol camp in Hasakah governorate in northeastern Syria continue to grow. Countries refuse to repatriate their female citizens who are associated with ISIS, and the most radical female ISIS members are killing women who have abandoned the terrorist organization’s extremist ideology.

Most of the women associated with ISIS who reside in this camp are either the wives or widows of ISIS fighters who were killed in military confrontations with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a source from the camp told the Majalla.

Notably, the SDF, which is backed by the United

States and the Global Coalition to defeat ISIS in Syria and Iraq, is an alliance of forces formed during the Syrian civil war. It is composed primarily of Kurdish, Arab, and Assyrian/Syriac, as well as some smaller Armenian, Turkmen and Chechen forces.

There are about 8,000 ISIS women from dozens of European, Asian and Arab countries, who live with their children in a special section in al-Hol camp.

However, many infiltrate other sections and kill those who joined the group years ago and decided to abandon its radical ideology.

ISIS controlled vast areas of Syria and Iraq and took full control of the Syrian city of Raqqa in early 2014 and made it the de facto capital before the SDF de-

36

10/12/21

clared it recaptured in late March 2019.

The SDF has about 12,000 ISIS militants in their prisons. However, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES), which manages civil, service, and judicial matters in the SDF-run areas, only prosecutes Syrians who had joined ISIS. The Administration releases ISIS elements who are proven not to be involved in terrorist crimes, provided that they do not return to their previous activities under the sponsorship of the dignitaries of their tribes.

Its areas include parts of Aleppo and Deir Ezzor governorates, Raqqa and Hasaka governorates, except Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad cities, which Turkey took swiftly and urgently to help the Autonomous Adcontrol over following a large-scale military opera- ministration and the displaced people by pressuring tion against the SDF in early October 2019. countries to repatriate their female citizens residing in the camp.

REPATRIATION OF CITIZENS IS NEC- “Many international organizations withdrew from alESSARY Hol camp,” the civilian official said, adding that the area where it had been established is besieged by the Leaders of the Autonomous Administration con- Syrian government and Turkey and its border crossstantly warn that the situation in al-Hol camp will not ing with Iraq’s Kurdistan region is closed. change as long as countries refuse to repatriate ISIS “All these reasons prevent humanitarian aid from women demanding to return. entering our areas,” Ahmed stressed, noting that the Five crimes were committed in November at al-Hol international community must provide access to the camp, Sheikhmus Ahmed, head of the Autonomous basic needs and support the Autonomous AdministraAdministration of North and East Syria’s office for tion in the humanitarian, political and security fields. internally displaced persons and refugees, told Ma- “It should address the ISIS women’s issue, especially jalla. with the coronavirus outbreak and the sleeper cell’s The five victims are Iraqi nationals, he noted, add- ongoing efforts to reorganize their ranks.” ing that the camp has witnessed the highest rate of murders in 2021, amounting to 89 by late November. DOZENS OF CHILDREN TAUGHT ISIS “Al-Hol camp recorded in 2021 the highest rate of IDEOLOGY killings since the arrival of ISIS women years ago.”

Ahmed accused ISIS sleeper cells of committing The population density is high in al-Hol camp, where these crimes, stating that “the parties behind these op- almost 60,000 Iraqis and Syrians who fled ISIS-conerations are certainly ISIS cells in the camp that are trolled areas have been residing for years now. Womsupported by organization’s intelligence and cells de- en affiliated with the terrorist organization residing ployed in Iraq and in Turkish-occupied Syrian cities.” there come from 60 different countries.

These crimes have sparked fear among displaced Syr- The murders are not limited to ISIS women or those ians and Iraqis in the camp, he added. who belong to the organization. Female ISIS mili“Refugees fear ISIS cells have been able to organ- tants living in al-Hol camp stabbed members of the ize their ranks throughout this year to commit more Syrian Kurdish internal security services, known as crimes and assassinations in and outside the camp, Asayish, to death. especially since the organization appears to have re- In addition to the residence of these women in the sumed its operations in Syria and Iraq.” camp, officials in the Autonomous Administration These fears are constantly increasing, especially since warn of the repercussions of the continued residency the terrorist organization considers al-Hol camp a mi- of their children as well, fearing their mothers would crocosm of its alleged “caliphate,” Ahmed stressed. teach them the organization’s radical ideology.

He reiterated his appeal to the international communi- Many countries refuse to reclaim dozens of children ty to address the problems in the camp and intervene living in these camps. Other countries, including Su-

Most of the women associated with ISIS who reside in al-Hol camp are either the wives or widows of ISIS fighters who were killed in military confrontations with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

A picture shows the Kurdish-run al-Hol camp, which holds relatives of suspected Islamic State (IS) group fighters in the northeastern Hasakeh governorate, on December 6, 2021. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)

37

10/12/21

S

ociety

dan, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, France and other Arab, European and Asian countries, have repatriated hundreds of children.

Children of ISIS fighters live in dire conditions in alHol camp as a result of malnutrition and the lack of means of safety from storms, fires and the pandemic.

Their actions and thoughts are driven by the extremist ideology, which makes them sleeper cells and time bombs ready to explode any moment.

A volunteer who works inside the camp with a local organization underlined the great danger these children face, as well as their need for psychological support, food and in-kind assistance. She warned against following in their parents’ footsteps, noting that this constitutes the greatest danger inside and outside alHol camp.

An estimated 11,136 foreign women and children

Leaders of the Autonomous Administration constantly warn that the situation in al-Hol camp will not change as long as countries refuse to repatriate ISIS women demanding to return.

from some 60 other countries remain in camps in northeast Syria, the United Nations has earlier announced. But Autonomous Administration officials say that “the numbers are, in fact, much higher.”

TIME BOMB The Autonomous Administration considers al-Hol camp a “ticking bomb” due to crimes committed there and its concern that ISIS would reorganize its elements inside the camp near the border with Iraq.

It is noteworthy that Turkey launched its Operation Peace Spring in October 2019, which helped ISIS women flee from the camps to other Syrian areas controlled by Ankara, the Administration announced then.

The operation allowed Syrian regime forces to regain control over the areas run by the Autonomous administration in which these camps were established, forcing dozens of international organizations to halt their work there.

In this context, a source in an international organization that previously worked in al-Hol told the Majalla that “This camp is no longer safe for our employees, so we decided to suspend our activities there and limit our work to sending some aid through the central government in Damascus.”

Dozens of organizations were working inside al-Hol camp, especially with ISIS children, but they all suspended their work after ISIS women’s repeated attempts to attack UN officials by stabbing them with

38

10/12/21

There are about 8,000 ISIS women from dozens of European, Asian and Arab countries, who live with their children in a special section in al-Hol camp. (AFP)

Children of ISIS fighters live in dire conditions in al-Hol camp as a result of malnutrition and the lack of means of safety from storms, fires and the pandemic.

Head of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria’s office for internally displaced persons and refugees, Sheikhmus Ahmed.

(Supplied)

knives or threatening to kill them.

Last week, international organizations, led by the UN and the European Commission, renewed their warnings of the danger of keeping ISIS women in the camps for a longer period, while US reports have recently warned of the possibility of them turning into a bloodier version of the extremist organization.

The source of this danger are ISIS women themselves and those seeking to enforce rules and punishments on other residents in the camp. These groups are known as the “Hisba,” It is the religious police formed by the murders inside the camp, according to US, EuroISIS after controlling various areas in Syria and Iraq. pean and Syrian reports.

The Hisba remains the main accused of committing In November, a British newspaper described al-Hol camp as “one of the world’s bloodiest areas”, where murders are committed in public.

Fires break out in al-Hol camp every now and then for unknown reasons. A fire broke out in the camp on Monday and burned down several tents, resulting in dozens of casualties.

Also last week, a tanker truck distributing water at the sprawling camp rammed into a tent, killing three women and severely injuring a man, whose leg was amputated, eyewitnesses said.

“ISIS women seem to ignite these fires to cause more chaos inside the camp,” a local source told the Majalla.

The population density is high in al-Hol camp, where almost 60,000 Iraqis and Syrians reside, while ISIS women residing there come from 60 different countries.

A fire also broke out in August at al-Hol camp, burning dozens of tents.

39

10/12/21

o

pinion

The Middle East and the Recourse Curse The recourses curse is “the phenomenon of countries with an abundance of natural resources (such as fossil fuels and certain minerals) having less economic growth or worse development outcomes than countries with fewer natural resources”. The recourse curse was initially detected from the “Dutch disease”. This refers to the problem the Netherlands faced, in which there was an economic decline after the discovery of a large Groningen natural gas field (1959). The Dutch disease is the apparent relationship between the rise of one sector’s primary natural recourse and the decline of all other sectors.

By Saif Al-Abri

Intuitively, one might think that discovering an abundant natural resource would lead to an increase in economic development as it would stimulate economic activity. But historically, this wasn’t the case. As it turned out, a sudden discovery of an abundant natural recourse increases revenue, increasing the demand for local currency. This leads to an increase in local currency value relative to other countries. This makes the nation exports seem more expensive for foreign countries as the value of the local currency is higher whilst imports seem cheaper for local buyers. This, in effect, makes the nations other sectors less competitive, leading to their decline.

One aspect that is often excluded is that when a country finds itself generating sufficient funds from that recourse, it becomes overly reliant.

Its government usually starts neglecting other fields such as the manufacturing and investing in human recourses

Furthermore, another aspect that is often excluded is that when a country finds itself generating sufficient funds from that recourse, it becomes overly reliant.

And as such, the government usually starts neglecting other fields such as the manufacturing sectors and investing in human recourses (education and training). This’s why rich recourse countries often underperform in many aspects compared to countries like Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan with little recourse.

Now, moving to the Middle East. In the past century, the economies of most Middle Eastern countries have largely been dependent and shaped by oil and gas. The revenue of oil has largely formed the social, economic, and political life. Shaping both domestic and external policies of such countries. This has resulted in a relatively poorly performing manufacturing sector. Furthermore, it made such countries liable to oil price influxes.

To move forward and minimize the impact of the recourse curse, such countries not only in the Middle East but also in South America must learn from history and implement policies to diversify their economies further, using the Hamilton approach. Although there have been conscious attempts, it hasn’t yet led to the change needed, as indicated by economic development indexes. If not implemented soon, the impact of the post-oil period on such countries’ social and economic life would be detrimental.

40

10/12/21

A Weekly Political News Magazine

2

Issue 1882- December- 10/12/2021

Saif al-Islam: Professor of Economics Who Dreams of Succeeding His Father www.majalla.com

C

ulture

How Egyptian Women Took Part in Karnak Restoration

The Work of Three Passionate Archeologists is On Display to the World

By Salma Adham - Cairo On November 25, Egypt witnessed a grand ceremony on the occasion of the inauguration of the historic Rams Road in Luxor, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in attendance. The city contains one-third of the world’s monuments, which the Egyptian Ministry of

Tourism and Antiquities described as “the largest open museum in the world.”

Under the supervision of the Ministry, more than 100 Egyptian students, trainees, volunteers and graduates of various faculties of antiquities as well as the Institute of Restoration participated in the National Project for the

44

10/12/21

Restoration and Opening of Rams Road and the restoration of the Great Pillars Hall in Karnak.

The project was to restore Rams Road which extends for 2.7 kilometers along the Nile from Luxor Temple to the Karnak Temple. In ancient times, the road witnessed the ancient Egyptians’ celebration of one of their most important religious holidays, namely, the Opt Festival.

The project’s goal was to complete and assemble the missing parts of the statues on the Road of Rams. At the archaeological site in Karnak, it aimed to restore the 12 pillars in the Great Pillar Hall as well as to beautify the 122 pillars in the Temple. The pillars in the Great Pillar Hall are 20 meters tall while the other pillars are 10 meters high. The purpose of the restoration was to reveal the beauty, exquisite colors, inscriptions and hieroglyphic writings that were inscribed thousands of years ago.

ANTIQUITIES RESTORATION PROCESS

Group of archeologists working on the restoration of Karnak Temple in Luxor.

(Supplied)

Among those who worked on the project are three passionate women from Upper Egypt: archeological restoration specialists, Sahar Al-Aas Saqqaou, from Qena governorate, Doaa Ali, from Luxor, and Neama Zanaty, from Luxor. They graduated from the Faculty of Archeology, Restoration Department, and participated in many foreign archaeological missions. They are now working with the expedition team of the Institute of Oriental Studies at the University of Chicago (Chicago House), preparing for their master’s degree and are very ambitious regarding their careers.

The Chicago House mission is to document the archaeological and restoration works in the Habu region on the western bank in Luxor. It consists of foreign and Egyptian members, and it runs a program every year for graduates of the Department of Restoration for the training, maintenance and preservation of antiquities.

“For example, a wall like this is old with damage factors.

These factors include bird droppings, salt and cracks, and there is other damage due to moisture, groundwater, cracks or earthquakes,” said Sahar Al-Aas Saqqaou, antiquities restoration specialist.

What restoration specialists do is reduce these damage factors. Each damage factor has specific tools, materials and techniques. Because if the material exceeds the

45

10/12/21

The chemical way of antiquities“ restoration is by using materials such as distilled water, alcohol, and materials complementing the color trace, so as not to damage it, and to preserve the color of the trace left by the ancient Egyptians,” Doaa Ali, archeology restoration specialist, informed Majalla . stone’s resistance, it will penetrate into the color trace and cause staining and other damage to it.

“The engravings on the Karnak Pillars were hidden by dust and dirt. I worked there on removing them and completing a previous restoration from long ago that was not good with a new filling, using forceps, scalpels, and chemicals,” Sahar added.

“I have worked in the hall of Karnak for two months.

We examine the artifact’s condition and intervene according to whether it needs mechanical or chemical cleaning. Mechanically, we use brushes, sticks of wood with cotton, or scalpels. The chemical way is by using materials such as distilled water, alcohol, and materials complementing the color trace, so as not to damage it, and to preserve the color of the trace left by the ancient Egyptians,” Doaa Ali, archeology restoration specialist, informed Majalla.

Archaeological documentation is an essential part at the start of the restoration process. It can be done by photography, drawing and video, and by checking previous reports and documentation, all with the purpose to protect the workers and the antiquities. This will also allow specialists to know how others were working and the condition of the artifact before they start working on it.

“We can summarize the process in steps. Primary strengthening: If the condition of the artifact requires strengthening before restoration. Then, mechanical restoration begins with removing mud calcifications, wasp

A view of the Great Pillars of Karnak Temple in Luxor. (Supplied)

nests or salts by brushes,” Neama Zanaty, archeology restoration specialist, said to Majalla.

“Third, treating cracks with liquid mortar. The fourth stage comes as a complete process using internationally known materials and within the framework of wellknown international protocols specifying the type and proportions of materials,” Neama added.

Before the last step of showing colors, they work on chemical cleaning, which is a crucial step. Caution must be taken when starting it by doing experiments and gauging the concentration of chemicals in the formulations.

Most people think that we have painted the pillars. This is not right. We used no colors, what we see are the basic natural colors of the stone itself,” said Sahar to Majalla.

An ancient Egyptian painting engraved on a pillar at Karnak temple in Luxor. (Supplied)

Then, lastly, they apply color strengthening by preserving permanent color fixation from the degranulation of stone.

“Most people think that we have painted the pillars. This is not right. We used no colors, what we see are the basic natural colors of the stone itself,” said Sahar to Majalla.

“I was fascinated by the transformation of patterns and colors from something filled with salt and mud accumulations into a beautiful shape,” Neama added.

IS RESTORATION A DIFFICULT TASK FOR A WOMAN? The field of antiquities is an exciting and broad field, especially restoration because it is mainly practical. Restoration is not only for stone, but also includes walls and wood. “We learn how to make and restore oil paintings, do ceramics and various interesting projects, and we also study Islamic and Egyptian antiquities besides our practical study,” Sahar said.

“The difficulties were at the scaffolding sites because the height of the pillar was twenty meters or more, but from our love of history and work, we were happy, and we did

46

10/12/21

Doaa Ali working on a pillar restoration in the Karnak temple in Luxor. (Supplied)

Sahar Al-Aas Saqqaou working on a pillar restoration in the Karnak temple in Luxor. (Supplied)

this with passion and love,” said Doaa to Majalla.

Sahar stated that most of those who worked with her in Karnak were girls. “Women had a major role. I was working as if I were working in my home. I wanted to

do my work in the best way and, thank God, I saw this in the eyes of my family, friends and all the people who watched the celebration,” she added.

“I want to tell all girls to do what they want to achieve — go out, work and travel without letting their fear prevent them. They should bear in mind that a person must fail to learn and succeed,” said Sahar.

“The moment I saw that my family and friends were proud of me, I was flying in the sky, so I did not despair and continued because a moment like this makes it all worthwhile. A woman’s weapon is her work and study.”

Archeology graduates hope that they will be employed by the Egyptian government and participate in more restorations like the Road of Rams. Working in private projects is not stable employment because each project has a specific timeframe, after which they may have a difficult search to find more work.

According to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the “Luxor... The Road of Rams” event will be held every year, targeted to promote tourism in Luxor and highlight its diverse tourist and archaeological components.

Neama Zanaty working on a pillar restoration in the Karnak temple in Luxor. (Supplied)

47

10/12/21

Po

rt

ra

it

Saif al-Islam: Professor of Economics Who Dreams of Succeeding His Father

By Majalla Illustrated by Ali Mandalawi

the bloc that aimed to liberate the economy of Libya.

He heads the Gaddafi International Saif al-Islam Gaddafi is one of the Charity and Development Foundamost prominent figures running in tion, which was created in 1998 the Libyan presidential elections and negotiated for the release of but he was keen not to appear until European hostages held by Islama time shortly before the elections. ist militants, especially in the PhilHowever, in light of the division of ippines. the country, some sources were ea- Although he announced in 2008 ger to make his presence known on that he did not wish to inherit the the political scene by speaking on rule from his father, he was conhis behalf, stressing that he intends sidered by some to be the “modern to return to political life just as face of Libya.” supporters of the regime are look- Saif al-Islam has attributes that ing forward to his return to power. distinguish him from Muammar Saif al-Islam Muammar al-Gaddafi Gaddafi the father. In this regard, is 49 years old, and he was born on the New York Times said in its June 5, 1972, in Bab al-Aziziya in headline that Gaddafi’s son is alive and wants to recover Libya.

Tripoli.

He is the first son of Colonel al- In his first press interview after a Qathafi from his second wife, decade-long disappearance, his Safiya Farkash. He has 6 siblings, confirmed his intention to apply including one sister. He obtained a for the candidacy. He said that doctorate from the London School the scene now seemed appropriate of Economics, and he belonged to for a return, after he remained in the shadows throughout the recent

49

10/12/21

past.

In 2011, Saif al-Islam was captured by a battalion with an independent orientation that protected him from other rebel factions, and transported him by air to the city of Zintan, southwest of the capital.

He was referred to trial on charges of killing opponents of his father’s rule, where he was sentenced to death in 2015.

The sentence was rescinded in 2021, as was required by the International Criminal Court, which has called for his trial for crimes against humanity.

Saif al-Islam remained a prisoner even after the 2012 Libyan elections. He was released in 2017, at the request of the interim government, the same year in which he was pardoned by the Libyan parliament.

Saif Al-Islam has artistic interests, as he is fond of drawing, and he has held many art exhibitions in various countries of the world.

s

port

Saudi Female Sports Pioneer Breaks Stereotypes and Records

Saja Kamal to Majalla: “We Want our Names on the Map, We Deserve to Be Seen” Interviewed by Sarah Gamal Over the past few years, Saudi women have managed to break into fields that were the preserve of men, especially after King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman’s implemented their vision of Saudi society to expand the area of freedom that Saudi women currently enjoy.

A Saudi entrepreneur and former senior government advisor with the Saudi Sports Authority and holder of an MA in Project Management, Saudi women’s sports advocate Saja Kamal didn’t know she would become a voice for women’s participation in the social sphere when she first started playing football at the age of 4.

Although Saja retired from football, what she achieved during her career is exceptional for women›s football in Saudi Arabia.

Saja grew up in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and began her journey with the sport of football when she was only four years of age. In her childhood, she practiced all kinds of sports, including basketball and bowling, in addition to football.

When her father asked her to choose one game and specialize in it, she chose football.

Saja opened her heart to Majalla and told us about her inspiring journey.

We asked her to tell us about herself and Saja said: «That’s always a hard question to answer, because not one thing defines me.

I’m very multifaceted and I used to think it was a bad thing growing up, like I didn’t have one specific interest or focus. My frustration with indecisiveness led me to pick one of my biggest passions in life and focus on it as much as I can. That lucky pick was “football”. So we can say I’m a football player from Saudi Arabia, determined to help women all over the world find their courage and strength to choose any career path even if it’s labeled a “male dominated” field.»

«Generally speaking most women face a struggle, as we’re a minority universally in the sports industry (or most career paths). For a woman, going professional in football is nowhere near the same as being a male pro in this sector. Women are paid less, all support channels don’t invest as much, and the misogyny or sexism and other negative social stigmas are more aggressive on women. We’re judged by our appearance constantly, called names, ridiculed and expected to stick to the status quo.

It’s hard but that’s why now I only try to focus on the positive changes and breaking those glass

50

10/12/21

Saja is proud of being the only Saudi participant, who represented the rest of the Kingdom’s women in a football match that set a Guinness World Record by playing the highest altitude football match in history. interest with me from a young age. I don’t think he expected I’d fall in love from the very first practice and become this invested in the sport for all those years to follow.»

«My family supported me from the very beginning and I owe my successes in life to the people who raised me. The environment I grew up in was challenging for me as a woman, that’s why most of my role models are strong women - the first and constant being my mother,» Saja added.

Saudi Arabian Women Sports Advocate Saja Kamel – Credit: Saja Kamal

ceilings for women everywhere», Saja continued.

As a third-culture kid (TCK), this greatly affected her personality and her career path. “Being raised by two parents from two completely different cultures, helped me form my own perfect mix.

I’m sure many TCKs can relate to how I feel, and no matter where I am I always click with people just like me. I’m very proud of both my backgrounds and feel blessed to be exposed to more beauty. In terms of a career path, I believe my love for various cultures and people all over the world helped broaden my horizons and expose me to all sorts of opportunities because of it.” Saja said.

Football isn’t just Saja’s passion, but also it represents “Freedom” for her. «I can’t emphasize enough how much this sport represented freedom to me growing up, and that’s why I urge all the younger generations to pick at least one sports, hobby or passion and try to stick with it. The benefits are so rewarding in the long run. For me personally, I learned about being part of a team and the importance of it in all aspects of my life, time management, commitment, working hard to achieve results, sportsmanship and patience, a strong and fit mind and body. The list goes on», Saja said.

Saja, who is now a senior government consultant turned entrepreneur in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, fell in love with football at four years old. Her parents supported her passion and she was encouraged to play. «I was four, and my father was always involved in soccer one way or another. He’s played, reffed, coached and mentored all his life as a hobby. Involving me in sports as his eldest daughter, was probably him wanting to share his

Reflecting on her experience at Arsenal FC›s Academy, Saja said, «Arsenal soccer school was a great opportunity and I learned a lot behind the scenes as well as firsthand how to strategize for future plans that were brewing in my head for Saudi women in the future. At the time I joined them, it was almost 10 years ago, and we didn’t have many outlets or encouragement as Saudi women at the time. Going abroad, I faced a lot

51

10/12/21

s

port

Saja Kamal and other Equal Playing Field (EPF) players competing in a match on Mount Kilimanjaro – Credit: Saja Kamal

of racism as an “outsider” or Arab and Muslim female. It was so evident and puzzled me!

That’s why I’ve always wanted women from my region or the Middle East in general not to become like others, but to exceed the people who thought we couldn’t make it.»

Not only did Saja Kamal make history through Arsenal, but she is also the first football player in

Saja, who is now a senior government consultant turned entrepreneur in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, fell in love with football at four years old. Her parents supported her passion and she was encouraged to play.

the history of Saudi Arabia to enter the Guinness Book of Records. She is proud of being the only Saudi participant, who represented the rest of the Kingdom’s women in a football match that set a Guinness World Record by playing the highest altitude football match in history.

She played a -90minute game, equivalent to six hours in regular conditions at 5,729 meters on top of Mount Kilimanjaro, where the pitch was composed of volcanic ash and marked out by flour. She said, “It was the hardest experience, because it mixed summitting one of the world’s highest mountains AND being able to play a world record match at that highest altitude. Definitely a unique experience that I’ll never forget, not because I made it, but because that accomplishment opened so many communication channels for women everywhere in sports, to make a difference. I started seeing big changes after 2017 and that’s been mostly how it’s been going since then, only up.» Saja described this extraordinary experience.

She is now working to break down barriers and help future generations. She created her own

52

10/12/21

Saja Kamal, senior government consultant and member of the Equal Playing Field (EPF) – Credit: Saja Kamal

football team of 30 female Saudi players, and is a part of an NGO called Equal Playing Field (EPF), which focuses on empowering girls and women to get involved in sports. EPF has broken three world records; «The second record was at the Dead Sea 2018, the world’s lowest altitude football match. There was something special about world’s highest to world’s lowest, that made me feel we could conquer anything and everything in between. The third one was in 2019 in Lyon, France, during the women’s World Cup for the world’s longest game. They’re all fun accomplishments but the message behind them is what gives it true weight and positive impact.»

Talking about her experience as a commentator on matches in the Saudi League; «I was lucky to be chosen to join the first ever panel of Arab ladies to take part in commentating for the men’s AFC in Dubai a couple of years ago. I was nervous because I have never done it before, nor thought of taking on such an experience. But the main reason I agree to most opportunities that find their way to me, is because, as a “yes woman” I always think maybe there might be at least one woman out there who will benefit

53

10/12/21

from the representation of another woman who resembles her. I didn’t have that growing up representation - so it’s very important to me.»

Saja told Majalla.

An increasing number of women in Saudi Arabia are participating in sports -– as part of the reforms being introduced under the Saudi Vision 2030 plan, which will encourage women to take on different career paths; «It’s very new, professionally speaking, everything prior was only underground/private and individual effort. The beauty about Saudi Arabia, is that as a relatively new country (not quite 100 years old yet) compared to countries who have had a massive head start, we’re fast and effective.

Once the ball is rolling, there’s no stopping us.

Currently there’s a National women’s team, for the first time in our history. I played in the first ever woman’s league last year, and currently there’s a very official woman’s league to test the waters and scout for great players from so many different cities in Saudi Arabia. I’m very proud to see these changes, and feel like all our past challenges didn’t go to waste.» Saja said.

On the other hand, Princess Reema played

s

port

a great role in Saudi sports in general, and Saja’s life in particular; «I think her role in the lives of most women she touched is definitely inspiration. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world to have worked with her personally if even for a brief time. I admire her work ethics, her charisma, open minded and down to earth

An increasing number of women in Saudi Arabia are participating in sports -– as part of the reforms being introduced under the Saudi Vision 2030 plan, which will encourage women to take on different career paths

demeanor, professionalism, and genuine care for all women in the sports sector. She’s now the ambassador of Saudi Arabia in the United States, so she moved on to bigger and heavier responsibilities, but since then HRH Prince Abdulaziz Turki AlFaisal has not only filled her shoes but also exceeded anyone’s expectations.

They all play a very big role in improving the quality of every single person’s lives in the Kingdom. We love them and are grateful for such role models and leaders.» Saja said.

«UNDER THE ABAYA» is not only a street style book, but also a non-profit initiative that promotes women’s empowerment through academic scholarships awarded from %100 of the proceeds of book sales, and when I asked Saja about it, she said: «Under the Abaya is a nonprofit book that my good friend Marriam Al-Mossali started a few years ago, after the release of her first book, I decided to get on board for the second one this year. Marriam,

54

10/12/21

Saja Kamal is now a Senior Government Consultant turned Entrepreneur in Riyadh – Credit: Saja Kamal

Saja Kamal Coaches Women’s Teams in Her Spare Time – Credit: Saja Kamal

like myself, is a third culture kid with the same interests to rectify the image foreign media portray of Saudi women. Not only do we share the same fire to fix that false narrative, but we share the love for giving back to our community and people. The proceeds of the book go to scholarships for Saudi women in the arts.»

When asked about Instagram or social media use in general to support the presence of women in Saudi sports, Saja said: «Mainly representation, because I know how much of a difference that makes in a teenager’s life. Positive influence can be hard work, but it’s really worth it in the end.

Snap chat is highly used in the Middle East especially in Saudi. My Snapchat is mostly for the Saudi audience, so I’m more day to day and I open up or show my true self there, which really touches most people. However, Instagram has taught a lot of people outside of Saudi Arabia what we’re really like and how we really live. I love it all!»

55

10/12/21

About her aspirations for Saudi women in football, she said, «To win the women’s World Cup one day. I know it can happen and I’ve seen them play in 2019. I personally know women including myself who could have outdone that performance. We want our names on the map and we want to prove that we deserve to be seen.»

Saja’s determination to break through barriers of preconceived notions regarding women in sport in Saudi Arabia have naturally made her a role model for others facing similar challenges, which is something she is immensely proud of; «My main aspirations in the past few years have been to continue witnessing history in the making, support any Saudi efforts in any sector or field I can, that relate to health and sports, raise awareness to similar topics that interest me. I want to retire knowing we’re going places and accomplishing more, always for the better inshallah.» Saja concluded.

H

ealth

Creating a Family Medical History

Knowing Family Health Information May Help Prevent Some Chronic Diseases

By Kelly Bilodeau How healthy are your family members? Knowing the answer may help you prevent some chronic diseases.

You›ve got your father›s smile, hazel eyes like your sister, and your grandmother›s curly hair.

However, while your genes may confer some of your best traits, they can also bring some lesswelcome inheritances -- namely, a higher risk for

56

10/12/21

certain health conditions.

Your odds for developing heart disease, diabetes, and cancer may be higher than average if these conditions run in your family. By looking for clues in your family›s health history, you may be able to identify risks for future illness and perhaps be able to reduce them, says Dr. Jennifer Haas, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Preventive strategies started early can reduce your risk.

GATHERING IMPORTANT DETAILS When collecting family health information, there are certain items you should prioritize, says Dr. Haas.

«It›s most important to ask about cancer and chronic diseases,» she says. These include diabetes, heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), and Alzheimer›s disease. These are conditions that have a genetic component, so if others in your family have them, you may be more likely to develop them.

Photo by FG Trade/Getty Images/TNS

Whenever possible, it›s also important to get specifics about your relative›s condition. For example, if someone in your family had cancer, you›ll want to know where in the body the cancer started. «Many types of cancer spread to the liver,» says Dr. Haas. But that doesn›t mean the person had liver cancer.

Also ask how old they were when they were diagnosed. «It is important to know age of onset.

If a condition or cancer started when a family member was young, then an individual may benefit from starting screening or prevention earlier than generally recommended,» says Dr. Haas.

Alert your doctor about any illnesses that affect more than one family member and at what ages they were diagnosed, says Dr. Haas.

TIPS FOR GATHERING YOUR FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY

By looking for clues in your family›s health history, you may be able to identify risks for future illness and perhaps be able to reduce them.

Portrait,» (https://phgkb.cdc.gov/FHH), which is an online resource designed to help you create a family health history. It can become an ongoing library for your family.

«The nice thing about it is that people can all orient the information to themselves. So, everyone›s tree is different but they can share information with others,» says Dr. Jennifer Haas, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. «This might be helpful if people are hesitant to disclose their information.»

Another option is using a medical history binder that family members can contribute to and share.

This can be done on paper or electronically using a Google document, says Dr. Haas.

These tools may also be used to help you to track who is biologically related and how closely -- for example, half siblings versus full siblings, she says.

If you›re adopted, have a small family, or don›t have access to your biological relatives, there are still ways to get a glimpse into your genetics.

«Consider using a DNA testing kit to look for common genetic disease markers or to connect with biological family,» says Dr. Haas. However, keep in mind that these decisions can be complicated and should be considered carefully, she says.

HOW TO COLLECT THE INFORMATION

There are a number of tools and strategies that can help you pull together a comprehensive fam- When gathering your family medical history, start with immediate family members: your parily medical history.

The U.S. Surgeon General created «My Family ents, brothers, sisters, and half siblings. From there you can branch out to grandparents, aunts,

57

10/12/21

H

ealth

uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

«It is important to realize that it is only blood relatives that share genetic risk, although nonblood-related relatives can share exposures to things like secondhand tobacco smoke, which can also influence risk,» says Dr. Haas.

While it›s likely fairly easy to identify whom you might want to ask about family history, the challenge often comes in the asking itself. While some family members might be open and willing to disclose personal information, others may view a request like this as highly intrusive. Approach the issue with sensitivity, and respect people›s differences.

Below are some tips that can help ease the process.

Use gatherings as an opportunity. Family gatherings around the holidays can offer a good opportunity to broach the subject, because everyone is in one place at the same time.

Choose a designee. Assigning a point person to collect the information can be a helpful approach. «Families often have a person who is the ‹historian,› which is a good place to start,» says Dr. Haas.

Try different methods. People should decide

whether the best approach is to speak with the family as a group or individually. Some people may be more honest one-on-one, says Dr. Haas.

«Every family is different,» she says.

Also, consider whether you should approach people in person, or if it›s better to call on the phone or send an email. Your strategy may vary based on the individual. Some people might prefer a face-to-face-conversation, while others would rather talk on the phone or send the information in an email or using an online form.

Be clear. Always explain why you are asking.

If people understand that the information may benefit others in the family, they may be more willing to share, says Dr. Haas. It may also help if you explain that you will share health information from others with them, so that they can better assess their own risks.

Protect personal privacy. Ask permission to share someone›s health history with other family members. Respect each person›s privacy unless you have explicitly discussed sharing the information.

This article was originally published by Harvard Women›s Health Watch.

58

10/12/21

Patient Medical History form by Marco .Verch via Flickr

B

ook Reviews

Has Woke Racism Become a “New Religion”?

A Black Professor Writes About Black Extremist “Terrorists”

By Mohammad Ali Salih – Washington A respected Black professor recently published a book criticizing extreme Black opinions and activities by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, and by other Black organizations and groups. As expected, he was faced with harsh attacks.

John McWhorter, -56years-old, is a linguistics professor at Columbia University (New York), and is the author of many books on languages and race relations. He had obtained an MA from New York University and a PhD from Stanford University (California).

His new book, “Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America,” surprised many people, particularly the US media, because the book came out during a period of Black demonstrations, awareness campaigns and calls for a reckoning about the relations between Blacks and Whites in the US. Last year’s killing of Black George Floyd by a White policeman in Minnesota has led to the current heated debates and confrontations about race relations in the US, past and present.

But, McWhorter has been, for about 20 years, writing books and opinions that criticized what he called “Black Extremism.”

The following are the book’s chapters: What Kind of People? The New Religion. What Attracts People to This Religion? It Hurts Black People. Beyond “Dismantling Structures.” How Do We Work Around Them?

According to the book, the problem is that antiracism has become, not a progressive ideology, but a religion – an irrational and neo-racist one. The book wondered why “Americans, on both the left and the right, are secretly asking themselves the same question: how has the conversation on race in America gone so crazy? We

are told to read books and listen to music by people of color. We are told that wearing certain clothes is not appropriate. We hear that being White automatically gives you privilege and that being Black makes you a victim.

We want to speak up, but fear we’ll be seen as unwoke, or worse, as racists.”

McWhorter described himself as «a cranky liberal Democrat,” a critic of “many of the tenets of the Civil Rights orthodoxy,” a supporter of former president Barack Obama, and a defender of gay marriage.

Twenty years before this book, McWhorter wrote that Black attitudes, rather than White racism, were “what held black people back” And that “victimology, separatism, and anti-intellectualism underlie the general Black community’s response to all race-related issues.”

He added that «it’s time for well-intentioned Whites to stop pardoning as ‹understandable› the worst of human nature whenever Black people exhibit it.»

A few years before he published this book, McWhorter wrote that anti-racism has become “as harmful in the United States as racism itself.” He had described antiracism as a «religious movement,” a description that he later put in the title of this book.

Last year, during the uproar that followed Floyd’s killing, White Robin DiAngelo’s book, “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism,” received a great deal of attention, from both Blacks and Whites, because it publicized a general Black opinion that Whites, insistently and intentionally, avoid talking about racism.

McWhorter was one of a few Black intellectuals who criticized the book, and argued that it «openly infantilized Black people» and «simply dehumanized us,» and «does not see fit to address why all of this agonizing soul-searching about racism by White people is necessary to forging change in society.”

60

10/12/21

People march during the «One Year, What›s Changed?» rally hosted by the George Floyd Memorial Foundation to commemorate the first anniversary of his death, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. May 2021 ,23. REUTERS/Nicholas Pfosi

Book Cover

He added: “One might ask just how [White] people can be poised for making change when they have been taught that pretty much anything they say or think, is racist.”

One of the book’s critics was Black Elie Mystal, a reporter with the liberal Nation magazine, writing in the Washington Post.

The Post was apparently glad to publish his opinion because of its recent reckoning campaign, riding on the bandwagon of Black activists, and appointing a Black reporter as its “managing editor for diversity and inclusion.”

These are some of Mystal’s responses to

McWhorter’s book: First, “The alleged twist here is that it’s a Black man saying it this time … He just seems to believe that making culturally conservative arguments while Black is inherently thoughtful, or at least provocative. It is not.”

Second, “He sounds less like a thoughtful academic and more like a conspiracy theorist looking for hidden critical race messages in the menus at Chuck E. Cheese [children’s restaurants].”

61

10/12/21

The book wondered why “Americans, on both the left and the right, are secretly asking themselves the same question: how has the conversation on race in America gone so crazy?

Third, “He claims that the woke are perpetrating a ‘reign of terror’ — a phrase he uses twice — but devoted only three paragraphs (I counted) to the actual insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol and tried to overthrow the government … McWhorter downplays White domestic terror threats.”

Fourth, McWhorter’s work “fits neatly within the long history of African American assimilationist thought.

There’s a tradition in this country of Black people arguing that other Black people shouldn’t be so “sensitive” to encounters with White racism. And that all that Black people need to overcome 400 years of slavery and oppression in the New World is hard work, good grammar and pants reliably secured at the waist.”

Fifth, “McWhorter … says that Black people have no pride.»