Job Discussion Forums

johnslat · Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 9:43 pm Post subject:

Dear tatsuo1,

Not much "mellow" about this drama, I'd say. That poor guy must be going through hell.

Regards,
John

cassava · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 175

There seems to be some confusion about how the Canadian government functions. Whereas the Americans, from what I have heard, have some written, documented obligation to get their citizens out of situations such as the one in which Sheikher finds himself, in Canada the government has only a moral obligation to do so. It is quite possible that Sheikher could be released in a few days, but that would simply be a stroke of luck.

Various people will have to work closely with Sheiker on this problem or else he could kept locked away for a long time. First, they will have to find out the Canadian province and political riding in which Sheiker lived. National elections were recently held in Canada, so the political representative might be new. Sheiker's problem should be explained to this rep with a plea to bring the matter to the attention of the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs should be the one to handle the ball and to contact the Canadian Ambassador to the KSA who should then be able to obtain Sheiker's release.

All this sounds simple, but unfortunately such is not the case. Sheiker might not know the name of the riding in which he would normally vote. Many Canadians don't, until it is time for elections. In addition, some Canadians confuse the ridings of provincial and federal elections. Furthermore, even if a plea on Sheiker's behalf reaches the office of the PM, the PM's rep might simply tell the supplicant to go and take a hike.

On the other hand, the PM might learn of Sheiker's case, decide that it could become an unnecessary embarrassment for his government, pick up the phone, contact the Canadian Ambassador in KSA and tell him to settle the situation immediately. In that case, Sheiker could be out in two days.

What will eventually happen? I do not have a clue. Anybody's guess is as good as mine. However, if I knew Sheiker and were advising him, I would tell him to relinquish any stubborn, defiant, dogmatic attitude that he might currently hold regarding his rights. He has to learn to eat humble pie, "convert" to Islam if he thinks it will help his cause, apologize to all and sundry, express his love and admiration for the Saudi people until his jailers and all around him become heartily sick and tired of his sycophantic comportment. They will be happy to see the last of him. Hypocrisy and unctuous behaviour can work wonders in certain kinds of difficult situations.

Nevertheless, Sheiker should be made to understand, if he doesn't know this already, that the Canadian government will not rock the boat in a case such as his. He is going to have to play his part. If he is lucky, he will be out very soon. If he is unlucky, he could be incarcerated for a very long time.

JohnCB · Joined: 28 Oct 2010 Posts: 59 Location: Los Angeles

I find it disturbing that a man would demand to consult a king over a teaching/salary dispute.

johnslat · Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 12:31 pm Post subject:

Dear JohnCB,

"I find it disturbing that a man would demand to consult a king over a teaching/salary dispute."

After the Supreme Court ruing, all that was left was an appeal to the king. While I agree that sheiker carried this dispute too far, the fact remains that according to Saudi law he was well within his rights to do so. And, having spent a lot of time in the Kingdom, I strongly suspect that he was the aggrieved party.
However, being in the right isn't really relevant in a place where the only thing that matter is how much wasta one has.

I'd say sheiker is guilty of excessive idealism - rather like Don Quixote. But in the Kingdom, the windmills are exceedingly dangerous.

Regards,
John

JohnCB · Joined: 28 Oct 2010 Posts: 59 Location: Los Angeles

I agree.

tatsuo1 · Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 75

johnslat · Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 6:50 pm Post subject:

Dear tatuso!,

That was my poor attempt at a pun, soap operas being melodramas.

While I totally agree that it's highly unlikely for anyone's government and/or embassy to even make an attempt to intervene on one's behalf when one is overseas, heck, it can't hurt - and who can say with certainty that it can't help? It may indeed be "tilting at windmills," but as a windmill, at least the Canadian government is a harmless one.

Regards,
John

tsumetai mizu · Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 12

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/PrinterFriendly.cfm?Params=M1ARTM0012840

William Sampson's story from a few years back shows just how bad things can get. A nightmare for sure.

tatsuo1 · Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 75

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

If he had any sense he would leave KSA when he gets the chance. Forget litigation, courts and tribunals. GO HOME !

RUBALKHALI · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 71 Location: DESERTSTORM

Children of the sun:

I just received a personal Email from SHEIKHER. He is finally FREE from what he descibed as a

johnslat · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 2:48 pm Post subject:

Dear RUBALKHALI,

That's very good news. I hope he's physically and psychologically OK, but I suspect that the mental trauma, at least, may be hard to recover from.

And I also hope he doesn't plan on going back there again.

Regards,
John

RUBALKHALI · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 71 Location: DESERTSTORM

SAUDI I doubt...but back in the Gulf region most probably. So expect another sequel from another destination. And the beat goes on...

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I'm so glad to hear it. I hope he takes a year or so off to heal mentally and emotionally.

VS

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

Excellent

He must have breathed a sigh of relief like never before when he felt the wheels go into the well of that flight out of there.

Please extend my congratulations to him. I hope he thoroughly enjoys his time at home.

MEB Cool