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Arab News
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
1996 - The bombing of Khobar Towers
RIYADH: June 25, 1996, was the day when trust was lost and an edifice was brought down. It was the day that rendered a tear in an evolving friendship. It was the day when a residential tower in Alkhobar, hosting soldiers from the international coalition that was enforcing a no fly-zone in southern Iraq after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, was bombed. It was the day many things changed. News of the bombing — which killed 19 Americans and a Saudi citizen, and injured 498 people of various nationalities — came as a shock to many. It was only the second major terrorist attack in the Kingdom, after the siege of Makkah in 1979. Those affected directly by the bombing were left scarred for life, but those who felt its wider reverberations elsewhere went through a range of emotions that, for some, forever changed their worldview. I still have clear memories of the impactful day, of how I lived through the horror from afar. The news itself scared me because of the magnitude of the attack and because it had targeted Americans while I was studying in the US. My first thought was whether there would be an adverse reaction, because the aftermath of the Oklahoma bombing on April 19, 1995, was still fresh in my mind. I was in Boston, studying English, when the Oklahoma bombing took place. At that time, the first piece of news about the hunt for the bomber was the arrest of a Jordanian-American man who flew from Oklahoma on the day of the attack. Arab News' front page highlighted global outrage over Khobar Towers bombing and Saudi efforts to restore security. I still remember the suspicious looks from people on the subway on my way to school. I was not targeted physically or verbally but the looks were painful and a sense of distrust was evident. The subsequent arrests of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols came as a relief to many of us Middle Eastern students abroad. Later, I experienced similar feelings following the Alkhobar Towers bombing, and felt even worse after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. The Alkhobar bombing also left me with a surreal feeling that this could not happening. Meanwhile, most of us had to face questions from people who could not understand why it did. And there was no escape from the blame. Americans had been targeted, and while the country's citizens had been victims of previous terror attacks, the difference this time was the location: It happened in Saudi Arabia. I was living in the city of Detroit at the time, and of course we did not have Twitter or other social media in those days to provide quick updates on the attack. The internet was still something relatively new. Arabic TV channels were not available in the US at that time. The only source of information was what we read in American newspapers and saw on US TV channels. Other updates on the attack came from friends who had talked to their families back home. During this period of uncertainty, I remember being asked a lot questions by my university friends, many of whom could not point to Iran or Saudi Arabia on the map. Most of the time my answers fell short. One comment that sticks in my mind was from my university history teacher, who remarked with a smile: 'When we defend you, you kill us.' A huge truck bomb detonates outside a building housing US personnel in Alkhobar, killing 19 of them and a Saudi civilian. 13 Saudis and a Lebanese man indicted on terrorism charges by federal grand jury in Virginia. Saudi authorities say they have arrested 11 of the 13 Saudi suspects, who will be tried in the Kingdom. Federal judge rules Iran is responsible for the bombing and orders its government to pay $254m compensation to families of Americans who died. Ahmed Al-Mughassil, accused of being behind the bombing, arrested in Beirut and handed over to Saudi authorities. Another US court orders Iran to pay a further $104.7m compensation to 15 people injured in the bombing. That period we were living in, after the Gulf War in 1991, was witnessing a lot of change. The presence of US forces in Saudi Arabia was an unwelcome development to a segment of society that viewed their presence in the land of the Two Holy Mosques as an unannounced invasion. This narrative was widely distributed through the many cassette tapes featuring the words of famous clerics, who never stopped calling for the withdrawal of American forces and the closure of their military bases. My first impression, like that of many of my American friends, was that the Alkhobar attack was carried out by terrorists influenced by hate speech. But it was later revealed that Iran was indirectly behind it. Investigations slowly revealed a conspiracy to destabilize Saudi Arabia. This was not surprising to me, knowing that the Iranian regime has been on a never-ending mission to destabilize Saudi Arabia since Supreme Leader Ali Khomeini came to power in 1979. The main mission of the regime in Tehran was to export its ideology through proxy forces in neighboring countries. What scared me most at that time was that it had managed to do this through its arm in Saudi Arabia, Hezbollah Al-Hejaz, which claimed responsibility for the attack. Family members of the 19 US Airforce Airmen killed in the bombing weep during 5th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony held in Virginia. AFP Iran is no stranger to sabotage and bad behavior in the region. It consistently attempts to brainwash young people in other countries into adopting its ideologies and turning against their own governments. We have seen how Tehran has managed to find a foothold in countries as far afield as the heart of Africa and South Asia. The demonstration by Iranian pilgrims in Makkah in 1987 comes to mind. I watched in horror on TV how they turned the Hajj religious event into chaos, attacking, killing and injuring many innocent pilgrims. I saw how they burned cars and beat to death police officers on the streets. Similar events happened in Madinah, where they also instigated riots and attacked pilgrims. A government with an ideology that does not care about sacred places and innocent lives for sure will not feel any sympathy when it directs its minions in the region to carry out such attacks. Iran will not remain calm and will not deviate from its main goal of destabilizing the region. It is still reaping what it sowed in Alkhobar and other areas. What has Iran gained since 1979 except chaos, war and economic sanctions?
Ammon
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Ammon
Muasher: Jordan must assume responsibility for itself politically, economically, and socially
Ammon News - Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Marwan Muasher, called on Jordan not to wait for an external savior because the era of external saviors is over. During a dialogue session at the Shoman Cultural Forum, moderated by Dr. Mohammed Abu Rumman on Monday, Muasher said that Jordan must assume responsibility for itself politically, economically, and socially, as waiting for an external savior means the situation is extremely dire. Muasher explained the Jordan has three problematic relationships, which were previously viewed in one way but are now viewed in a different way, the most prominent of these relationships are the Jordanian-Israeli relationship, the Jordanian-Gulf relationship, and the Jordanian-American relationship, adding that all of these relationships have changed in ways that we can no longer ignore.
CairoScene
20-03-2025
- CairoScene
How One Jordanian Architect Brought a Piece of Petra to California
Inspired by his childhood in Amman, Malek AlQadi's latest project, 'The Folly Mojave', injects desert minimalism with sustainable luxury. Born in Amman, Jordan, raised in Florida, and based in Los Angeles, Jordanian-American architect Malek AlQadi has dedicated his life to his follies. In architecture, a folly is a building that serves no purpose aside from aesthetics. But AlQadi's follies? They are worlds unto themselves; portals to places only visited in daydreams and memories. His first folly came about as part of his thesis project, during which he designed and executed a humble, fully self-sustaining stay in California's Joshua Tree National Park. Though his design language has evolved over the years, his core principles remain the same: sustainability, minimalism, and a reconnection with nature, all rooted in a childhood spent marvelling at Jordan's deserts. In Jordan, ancient structures like Petra dominated his early experiences. In Florida, his exposure to contrasting environments shaped his understanding of space, structure and purpose. AlQadi's obsession with follies finds its roots in his desire to push the boundaries of design. He's not interested in the grandiosity of skyscrapers or the utility of commercial buildings. Instead, his work delves into the ethereal, focusing on creating spaces that encourage introspection, exploration and escape. The Folly Mojave, a series of standalone suites dotted across 200 acres at the intersection of The Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park, is AlQadi's most recent and most ambitious project to date. The project is a retreat that blends into the arid environment while providing visitors with an isolated, immersive experience. 'A lot of it was navigating childhood memories and connecting them with real-life scenarios and architectural elements, tying vastly different places in the world together, yet still grounded in similar principles and environments.' AlQadi tells SceneHome. For AlQadi, the desert isn't just a backdrop. It's a critical component of the project, shaping the way the Folly Mojave interacts with the land. The retreat's location in such an extreme environment is intentional; it encourages guests to detach from their everyday lives and engage more fully with their surroundings. At first glance, the Folly Mojave may appear simple, but its simplicity belies the thoughtfulness of its design. The structure is fully off-grid, powered by solar energy, and equipped with self-sustaining water systems. The retreat is designed for minimal impact on the surrounding environment. Inside, the space is surprisingly open, with large windows that frame the vast desert views. 'A big part of the experience is having less light pollution and being able to see the stars at night. All of that fed into the idea of disconnection,' AlQadi explains. 'It's about having the luxury of time and space to relax and take in nature, which, at its core, is the ultimate healer.' Malek AlQadi emphasises the "site-responsive" nature of his architectural philosophy. Unlike architects who adhere to a singular aesthetic, AlQadi's approach is shaped by the environment he works within, adapting to the unique qualities of each location. "No two projects are ever the same," he explains, yet there's always a recognisable touch that connects his work. Symmetry, the use of natural materials, and a minimalist design language are core to his style, while he doesn't shy away from incorporating brutalist elements when appropriate. For AlQadi, creating spaces that resonate beyond the present - lasting decades or even centuries - is a key part of his architectural philosophy. 'Guests often describe the experience as surreal, unique and unplugged,' AlQadi reflects. 'Many mention feeling a deep connection while staying there. It's rewarding to know that people from all walks of life have been able to share in that experience.'
Arab News
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Jordanian artist aims to ‘inspire and heal' through her book
RIYADH: Jordanian-American impact artist Aida Murad hosted an exhibition in Riyadh's St. Regis on Wednesday, commemorating the launch of her new book, 'Life Is a Miracle.' Through the book, Murad told Arab News, 'I want them to feel seen. I think that my purpose in life is to help people feel seen, heard and loved. I think because I wanted that the most, and there is something so beautiful when a human sees you and loves you, even when they see you fully.' She hopes that she can help people to feel seen through life lessons and navigate the different emotions that humans experience. 'In the book, you would find harder emotions like sadness and confusion and being lost, and also happier ones, and how to navigate both. As Arabs, I don't think we do a good job of talking about the spectrum of emotions,' she said. Through her art and her book, Murad hopes to inspire readers to appreciate and celebrate the smallest of miracles in life, such as breathing. 'The title, 'Life is a Miracle,' came to me because I find that people, including my past self, would wait until big things happened in our lives to be like, 'Wow, this is a miracle' or 'Wow, this is beautiful.' 'I started realizing that to train myself to be happier, whole, human and more content, I started training myself to notice the small miracles,' she said. 'Just by me waking up, you know how many miracles have happened, you know how many trillions of cells are moving,' Murad said. The book has been five years in the making: 'The real-time that it took was the courage. I feel that the content could have been ready years ago, but I think it's the courage to take a step out and say, 'This is me.'' Murad stressed the importance of courage when it came to publishing the book: 'You just have to trust and share.' The book has sections titled 'key messages' that serve as reminders of important life lessons. She encourages readers to open to a random page, find their message of the day, or flip through until they connect to a message. 'I decided to compile my pieces into the ones that are ready to be shared with the world and their stories and a key life message because I don't want people just to be passive; I want them to be involved, and that is why I created the creative activity,' she said. Along with the launch of her book, Murad is co-hosting an art exhibition at St. Regis Riyadh, which she described as her 'dream partner.' The exhibition that opened on Wednesday features 30 paintings with a common theme of 'accepting your higher mission on Earth. 'It's about connecting with your inner purpose and accepting it,' the artist said. Each of her pieces comes with lessons and themes that help people to unlock their mission in life through greater understanding. Murad underlined that her aim through the book and her art was to heal, inspire and help people be seen. Originally from Jordan, Murad has lived in US cities such as New York, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. She has called Riyadh home for more than a year. Speaking about her year living in Saudi Arabia, Murad said: 'The people are the kindest people I have ever met. I do not want to be anywhere else in the world other than here. The land inspires me, the energy inspires me, everything, and I am grateful to be here.'
