THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

Dr. Qanta Ahmed describes the two years she spent practicing medicine at the National Guard Hospital, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  Dr. Qanta Ahmed, British born and educated, and of Pakistani Muslim heritage, was practicing medicine in the USA when her visa was not extended.  Dr. Ahmed decided to take a lucrative position offered in Saudi Arabia.

 

Upon landing in the desert Kingdom, Qanta Ahmed recalls the first insult to her gender when her passport is confiscated by her male guide, who then drives her to her place of residence on the National Guard premises.  Dr. Ahmed unpacks her belongings in the small apartment acutely aware of the heat and dust.  One of Dr. Ahmed’s first necessities is to purchase an abbayah, a veil she describes as a full, black, head and body covering.   At her first encounter at the local mall, Qanta Ahmed realizes how divided by gender, the country is.  It is time of day for women and families to shop; no single males allowed.  The doctor also learns, the Muttaween, the religious police, patrol the malls.  The doctor relates instances throughout the book of the fear and harassment of the Muttaween.

Dr. Ahmed describes the sphere for women, both in the professional setting of the hospital as well as in settings of social occasions.  She also notes her surprise of the anti-American, anti-Western sentiment.

Dr. Ahmed makes a pilgrimage to the holy places, and explains the origins of Wahabiism, a movement founded by Mohammed bin Abdul Wahad, who died in 1792.  Dr. Ahmed reiterates throughout the book that Wahabiism is a distortion of Islam, though the protectors of Wahabiism, are the Saudi’s.

 

Dr Qanta is clear and concise in the defense of her religion while denouncing the subjugation of women, anti-Semitism, and terrorism.