Middle East Focus: A New GCC: Saudi Women, Moroccan Women, Black Magic, White Magic.......

Arabia Deserta

A New GCC: Saudi Women, Moroccan Women, Black Magic, White Magic.......

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF

"Saudi women have voiced reservations against recruiting domestic helpers from Morocco as suggested by the chairman of the Saudi recruitment committee. This is due to an old belief that Moroccan women use black magic to lure men to marry them. Some Saudi women urged the Shoura Council to intervene, while others threatened to quit their jobs to look after their homes if housemaids from the country were brought in. Najla, a 32-year-old teacher at a private school, said she felt threatened by the news, pointing out that Moroccan women are known for being pliant and willing to adjust to varying situations, and this posed a threat to a working wife who is not at home most of the day. Raja is a housewife who hopes the move falls through. She said Moroccan women are known for their black magic and could use it in Saudi homes. “It is better to be safe than sorry,” Raja said..........."

I had thought this planned expansion of the Gulf GCC was pushed by the Saudis for some higher reasons. It turns out the Saudi potentates are desperate to provide their citizens with cheap housemaids, just to keep them content. Asians have been asking for more liveable wages lately in order to put up with the abuse.
This has emerged as the main issue facing the expected new expanded 8-member funny GCC. Moroccan women are seen by Saudi women, and probably other Gulf women, as too fetching to be trusted in their homes. This is probably a reasonable fear in a couple of the Gulf states but not in all of them. Well, I got news for these Saudis, men and women: Moroccan women are unlikely to be anxious to work as housemaids in the Kingdom without Magic. They certainly would not accept the low wages paid South Asian or even some Southeast Asian women. And they are probably not as easily intimidated and abused. Not when they have the power of all that black magic, something that seems to intimidate many Saudi women, and especially teachers for some odd reason.

(I should not make light of the black magic issue: people have been beheaded in Saudi Arabia after convictions for practicing or using or seeking to use black magic or even thinking of black magic. I am not sure what the status of White Magic is in the Kingdom without Magic).

Cheers
mhg

m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com