Snapshots of Riyadh #3

Snapshots of Riyadh #3

Greetings from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia… Wish you were Here!

In a conservative city where photography has not been that long legal, opportunities to capture some shots of the city can be few and far between. Ministry buildings can even be that little bit harder!

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
February 2009

The Ministry of the Interior oversees the provincial governates, public security & law enforcement, the coast guards, civil defence, fire prevention services, border police, special security, domestic intelligence (Mabahith al-’Amma), special investigative functions, including criminal investigation and is responsible for liaising with the Mutawa Religious Police) in the kingdom.

The Prince has exhibited a high degree of broad mindedness, when asked about the certain issues facing the royal family the prince responded, “These shortcomings and mistakes can happen in any society. We are trying to solve our mistakes. I would say that nobody is one hundred percent perfect.”

As the Interior Minister, Prince Nayef is also the Supervisor General of the Saudi Committee for the Al Quds Intifada, which supports and compensates the families of the Palestinian refugees across the world Intifada. He has been instrumental in committing acts of charities not only to palestanians but also for the Post Tsunami Aid, 2005 Pakistan earthquake, etc. His monetary contributions have been viewed, as possible incentives to carry out such bombings. It is believed that Prince Nayef has personally contributed at least $33 million in charity.

The critical nature of Prince Nayef’s is that he is very much required for the stability of the kingdom. He has been instrumental in breaking barriers, for example it was Prince Nayef, and not foreign minister Saud al Faisal, who went to Iran for a ground breaking meeting to renew relations with the regime in April 2001. Similarly, it is the job of the information minister to control the content of all media in the Kingdom. Since 1995, the position has been held by Dr. Fouad bin Abdul Salaam bin Muhammad Al Farsi—but Prince Nayef heads the Supreme Council on Information, which oversees the processing of information including controls on the World Wide Web.

Prince Nayef implemented the Al Saud decision to begin issuing women with identity cards in November 2001. The Directorate of Civil Status issued the first identity cards to women on 3 November, thus making it much easier for women to carry out transactions – financial, legal and social – and is therefore considered a highly significant move. Previously women were registered on their husband’s or father’s identity cards.

Of Late Prince Nayef has been instrumental in working to bring the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a major economic hub for the middle east.

Source: Wikipedia

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