Salmiya

The partial eclipse can be seen tomorrow both in the Arctic and in the Middle East. I will be in an airplane (provided no strike of Lufthansa employees) heading to Oslo and then returning to Tromsø. See the tiny area of the totality here .

The recent riots of Bagladeshi cleaners in Kuwait have been reported world-wide in the media. Teargas, batons, and the threat of deportation of 'troublemakers' (strikers) badly reflect on a state implementing laws which are not protecting those who are effectively running the country. The 250'000 or so Bangladeshis in Kuwait apparently belong to the lowest social class. But when they are cheated on their 40 Dinars salary (about € 100), when 18 Dinars per month in fact are left (€ 45), that should in fact be regarded as theft. And that is happening in one of the richest countries in the world! I want to dedicate this posting to a secretary from the Philippines who I learned to know about five years ago. Her talents and capabilities, competencies and skills were so manifold that any of her superiors in FOD at Kuwait University and the whole staff immediately noticed that a job as a secretary would not really challenge her. So, her responsibilities were upgraded again and ag...

As in every year, temperatures reach 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) during the last week of July. The heat is then unbearable. This year, it happened Saturday and Sunday when Kuwait Airport recorded 50 degrees. There are no meteorological stations out in the desert which could indicate even higher temperatures. Those in the farm areas in Abdaly in the far north and Wafra in the far south sometimes record 51 or even 52 degrees. One of my favorite places, on top of Jal Azzor, can only be visited later in the year (or in springtime). The peaceful watching of the setting sun while listening to the low sounds of the wind has always been a great pleasure. Contemplation and meditation in an otherwise extreme and most hostile environment may reduce one’s, at a time exaggerated, ego in a very healthy way. Maybe some people may even understand why the great monotheistic religions have their origins here, in the vast lonesomeness of the Middle Eastern deserts. About 60 kilometers long Jal ...

It is absolutely true (but difficult to believe) when the Iranian President Ahmadinejad claimed on Monday in an interview with NBC that nuclear weapons belong to the 20th century. But what about female suicide bombings of pilgrims? Also on Monday this week at least 25 people died in three(!) suicide attacks against Shi'a pilgrims in Baghdad on the occasion of the Kadhimiya mourning. Three years ago, almost 1000 died in a stampede on a bridge across the river Tigris when rumors were suddenly spread that suicide bombers were among the pilgrims. This is clearly not 21st century but can be compared only with the darkest periods of the Middle Ages. I have my deep problems with the faintest understanding for Iraqis still fighting Americans in their country instead of doing everything to overcome the obvious reasons why they are there after all. But what about sectarian fights between Sunni and Shi'a, urging women(!) to wearing dynamite under their loose-fitting robes in order not to...

The Iranian President in his interview with NBC today. That's absolutely true. But is it realistic to assume that they won't become a major issue in the 21st century, too? I doubt. That Mr. Ahmadinejad now personally addresses the American people but also all of us does not mean that the problems with Iran and its nuclear program are off the table. I would appreciate a clearer statement that Iran does not threaten any other nation and in particular not Israel. I would really appreciate ensuring human rights in the Islamic Republic. Iran might consider itself meanwhile a regional superpower . In a way hubris. But problems, be it regional or even global, have to be dealt with in concerted actions. Mr. Ahmadinejad might understand that his unacceptable rhetoric has never been helpful but is in fact counterproductive. Of course, there is a demand for independence, especially after extremely bad experiences with the UK and, in particular, the USA in the past 50 years. Operation Ajax...

Something else. In May I attended a workshop in Helsinki. It was Spring, exceptionally good weather, good discussions with my international colleagues and great hospitality of my dear friends in Turku. They took me together with other guests to the medieval capital of Estonia, Tallinn. Particularly amazing are the huge Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Catherdral, the medieval Town Hall, the City Wall, and St. Olav’s Church. Lots of amber shops (which cannot be found in Estonia but in the nearby Latvia and Lithuania), artisans, restaurants and pubs. And thousands of tourists.

In several postings I have tried to trace the rather good relationship between Iranians and Jews during almost the entire history of ancient Iran. After the Arab conquest of Persia (633-656 CE) Jews were allowed to practice their religion. During Mongolian rule (1256-1318) there were periods of persecution, however. Later, when the Safavids proclaimed Shi’a Islam as the state religion, and in particular during the Qajar dynasty from 1794 onwards, things worsened dramatically. It is sad to say that the European antisemitism found its counterpart in Shi’a-ruled Iran. After the Islamic Revolution in 1979 the majority of Jews left their home country for good. I do not entirely believe that the Persian Jews are directly threatened by the present regime with its hardliner President who consistently uses strong and unacceptable rhetoric with regard to the State of Israel. However, ‘Death to Israel’, 'Death to USA' shouting students on Quds Day (the last Friday in Ramadan) or on every...

Steve Reich. Different Trains (1988)

I assume that only few Westerners who have lived for some time in the Middle East have not become addicted to oriental carpets. It is wonderful, handmade artwork. You’ll see the efforts, the vision, and talents of the artisan. A good carpet always tells a story. Interesting carpets may also have little anomalies in symmetry or irregularities in pattern which invite us to study them in greater detail. Sooner or later you will end up in counting the colors and checking the type of the knots: Is it Ghiordes (Turkish) or Senneh (Persian) ? And you may also count the knots per square inch. The finer the better, but tribal carpets may have few and are charming anyway. Persian carpets have been manufactured for thousands of years. The so far oldest fragment is the Pazyryk carpet which had been discovered in the Altai Mountains in Siberia in 1949. Although it was found in a tomb of Scythian prince, the pattern is Achaemenian. Amazing is the number of symmetrical knots per square inch: 232 (or ...