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Saudi Woman Poet Defies Death Threats – Final of Million’s Poet Competition

By Melanie Nathan 3-20-10 ; A Saudi housewife, Hissa Hilal, became the subject of death threats after reciting a poem on a show known as the  “Million’s Poet television show” when she rebuked “ad hoc fatwas.”   She courageously performed a similar poem this week – and reached the final. LGR send “Bravery Kudos” to our sister in Abu Dhabi.   A loose translation by The Nation a Saudi News site:-,

“I have seen evil from the eyes of the subversive fatwas in a time when what is lawful is confused with what is not lawful;

When I unveil the truth, a monster appears from his hiding place; barbaric in thinking and action, angry and blind; wearing death as a dress and covering it with a belt [referring to suicide bombing];

He speaks from an official, powerful platform, terrorizing people and preying on everyone seeking peace; the voice of courage ran away and the truth is cornered and silent, when self-interest prevented one from speaking the truth.”

Hissa Hilal, said her work was inspired by “subversive” fatwas.  One such example was issued  by Sheikh Abdul-Rahman al Barrak, a Saudi cleric, on his website last month.

Many viewers praised her for her courage, while others attacked her for criticizing clerics and reciting her poems in public; one website called for her death.

The Poet, Ms Hilal, ignored the threats, and defiantly delivered another Poem after the threats.  On the subsequent show – and she received the highest score of the round.

The judges praised Ms Hilal’s courage for expressing her opinion “honestly and powerfully”.  By reaching the final, she is guaranteed a prize of at least Dh1 million (US$270,000).

Sheikh al Barrak’s fatwa had called for the execution of anyone who says mixing of sexes is allowed in Islam because “he is allowing what is not allowed, and therefore he is a kafir who left the religion and should be killed if he does not change his opinion”.

Article lead by Hassan Hassan-         Read the article here…

Note: Picture from The National.

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By Melanie Nathan.