Middle East Focus: Saudi Times are They A-changin’? Unemployed Youths Demonstrate…….

Arabia Deserta

Saudi Times are They A-changin’? Unemployed Youths Demonstrate…….

“RIYADH: Some 200 unemployed Saudi university graduates staged a rare protest in the capital Riyadh demanding the Gulf Arab state give them jobs, Saudi media said yesterday. Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, is an absolute monarchy that has no elected parliament and usually does not tolerate public displays of dissent. Unemployment hit 10.5 percent last year, according to official data, and creating jobs for a fast-growing native population of more than 18 million is one of the biggest challenges facing the country’s ageing leadership. Saudi newspapers carried pictures of graduates from state universities gathering on Saturday in front of the Education Ministry to demand jobs as Arabic language teachers. “Enough injustice,” read one slogan carried by the protesters in front of the Ministry building…….”

The several thousand princes and their retainers get huge stipends every month, just for being who they are, for being there (to quote Woody Allen). For life. Why not these graduates?
Cheers
mhg

m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com