TODAY I am going grocery shopping for the first time. Tamimi stores are everywhere. Sultan finds a shady spot under an awning and even before I am out of the car, he is already moving his seat back. It’s an opportunity for him to catch some shut eye. The drivers survive on these brief naps.
As there is no rush, I take my time walking through the aisles. They are spacious and well marked, filled with black cloaked figures moving slowly, sedately around. I blend in well. The Saudi women shoppers I approach for directions are helpful and gracious.
I am blown away by the variety but even more so by the prices. Compared to home, everything is so inexpensive. A can of Coke, not the silly airline ones, is about a third of the price at home. There is a staggering choice of yoghurt, also a fraction of the price I expect. I stand in awe at the confectionery counter.
The fresh produce section is chilled and the fruit and vegetables look fresh and appetising.
I walk past the magazine section and stand for a moment to take it all in. On all the magazines, exposed parts of the body, like arms, have been blacked out. Many people wonder how this happens, It’s a well-kept secret, but I have heard that the covert “Black Hand” society is responsible.
Armed with black marker pens, the Black Hand vowed to erase all haraam pictures from the land. They formed squads that roam the streets at night, entering warehouses, post offices, and malls. The Black Hand has duplicate keys to any building they need to enter. These are obtained by force, or provided by their members.
The Black Hand members carry small rucksacks, containing extra markers, and all photos of anything construed as haraam, are blacked out. Some members even black out words like “pork”.
They work hard, but sometimes miss an arm or a leg. Previously, punishments for these omissions were severe. Miss a whole woman or a pig? A finger was chopped off. Miss a woman in lingerie? That’s your hand. Miss a naked woman? Chop! There goes that male member!