Princess (2 page)

As Princess Sultana often tells me, there is much to be done when it comes to the lives of women, not just in Saudi Arabia, but all over the world. It is up to us, individuals with the freedom to express our beliefs, to help these women in any way we can.

The trilogy about a feisty Saudi princess has changed lives across the globe in creating awareness and change. Students have written to tell me that their universities now offer more courses for women’s issues. Mothers are doing their part by raising sons to look upon their sisters as equals and to treat all women with respect. I am overjoyed to see that Princess Sultana’s life has struck a chord with women of every age and nationality, stoking the desire for change and transforming that desire into action.

Working together, we can make a huge difference in the role of women worldwide. I urge you to join Princess Sultana and me in our cherished goal of living in a world where every female has the right to a life of dignity.

I would like to tell readers that Princess Sultana spoke with her publisher and me during the past week. She is delighted that her story is now going digital.

As a writer, and as a friend, I am proud to be the voice for Princess Sultana.

Jean Sasson
March 2011

The following is a personal letter from Princess Sultana, translated from French to English

My dear readers,

Years have passed since the world learned of my life. I am humbled by the enormous care and concern you have had for me and other women like me. I thank you from my whole heart.

As I write these words, I am smiling with contentment that you are about to read the story of my childhood and early marriage. Since I was a young girl, unloved by my father, and tortured by a cruel older brother, I longed for the opportunity to tell the entire world how too many young Saudi girls live lives clouded by sadness or anger that their brothers are greatly loved while they, as females, are merely endured.

Remember this, I have lived my life as a princess, and still I have had few options. My father only loved his sons. I wanted to be loved by my father, but nothing I did or said made the slightest change in his indifference toward me.

Although uneducated, my parents were of the royal family, so I was provided with many things, such as education, and ample food, and beautiful gowns and jewels. I was surrounded by love given freely by my mother and my older sisters. The females in my family tried to protect me from my unkindly father and my cruel brother, but my own mischievous personality created many problems.

Although much good is now coming to women in Saudi Arabia, and for that I am so very happy, there are still young women in our country who are forced to become the 3rd or 4th wife of old men. I personally know of young women who have been instantly divorced after being afflicted by a serious illness. Some of these women are mothers and their terrorized children are taken from their arms to be raised by another woman. I know of young girls who have been put to death by members of their own family, often for nothing more than perceived misconduct.

I know too many tragic stories. You will learn these stories in the three books about my life, and the lives of the women I know.

You may ask: How does such cruelty continue in an oil-rich country so wealthy that every citizen should be educated and enlightened? I believe that most men in my land want to rule everyone around them, and in particular, to rule the women in their lives. Such actions are assisted by men of religion who purposely twist the words of our beloved prophet, Prophet Muhammad, (May Allah shower His blessings upon him and grant him salvation) for the sole purpose of keeping women in a subservient position.

I do thank God that that Saudi women are beginning to see genuine and good change.

For this we praise Allah and also thank our wise king, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Finally there is hope in our land, although there are some uneducated and cruel men who still treat their daughters and wives as property to dispose of as they will. As we Saudi women make advances, we need to look out of our closed world and see what is happening all over the world. Many women need our help. Our first step is to educate all females, so that they might take charge of their economic life. Our second step is help men to see that without strong and independent women, the world suffers.

As I learn more about the status of women worldwide, I have made the surprising discovery that women the world over are ill-treated by men. Some young girls from Laos and Cambodia and Thailand are forced into the sex slave trade. Female babies in China can be left on hillsides to starve. Midwives in India sometimes are paid to snap the spines of infant females, because the family only wants sons. Even American women can be murdered by jealous boyfriends or husbands.

I am often sorry that I know such things, for this knowledge makes me ill with grief.

I know that this is what we must do:

We must all work together to bring change to this earth.

We must persist until every female child is welcomed as joyously as a male child.

We must devote out time and energy to educate all our children, females as well as males.

We must support all women in their endeavors to help others. When you harm a woman, you harm the whole world.

I pray for Allah’s good blessings upon this quest.

Princess Sultana Al-Saud

Updated in November 2010

Facts on Saudi Arabia

OFFICIAL TITLE:
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

AREA:
864,866 sq. miles

INDEPENDENCE:
23 September 1932 (unification)

CLIMATE:
Harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature

POPULATION ESTIMATE:
28,686,633 (including 5,576,076 non-nationals workers)

GOVERNMENT TYPE:
Absolute Monarchy (Al Sa’ud family)

POLITICAL PARTIES AND LEADERS:
None allowed

CONSTITUTION:
Governed according to Shari’a (Islamic Law)

LEGAL SYSTEM:
Based on Islamic law, although several secular codes have been introduced. Commercial disputes are handled by special committees.

RELIGION:
Muslim 100% (Does not allow other religions to be practiced)

LANGUAGE:
Arabic (English often used in business transactions)

LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH:
male: 66.11 years; female: 69.51 years

CURRENCY:
1 Saudi Riyal (SR) = 100 halalah

EXCHANGE RATES:
Saudi Riyals (SR) per US $1–3.7450 (fixed rate since June 1986)

ECONOMY:
Oil based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world. The country ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC.

BOOKS BY Jean Sasson

Non-Fiction:

The Rape of Kuwait

Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia

Princess Sultana’s Daughters

Princess Sultana’s Circle

Mayada, Daughter of Iraq

Love in a Torn Land: A Kurdish Woman’s Story

Growing up Bin Laden: Osama’s Wife and Son Reveal their Secret World

For the Love of a Son: One Afghan Woman’s Quest for her Stolen Child

Historical Fiction:

Ester’s Child

To learn more about author Jean Sasson and the subjects of her books, log on to:
www.jeansasson.com

The story of Princess Sultana is true. While the words are those of the author, the story is that of the Princess. The shocking human tragedies described here are factual.

Readers should know that names have been changed and various events slightly altered to protect the well-being of recognizable individuals.

In telling this true story, it is not the intention of the author or of the Princess to demean the Islamic religion.

Introduction

In a land where kings still rule, I am a princess. You must know me only as Sultana. I cannot reveal my true name for fear harm will come to me and my family for what I am about to tell you. I am a Saudi princess, a member of the Royal Family of the House of Al Sa’ud, the current rulers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As a woman in a land ruled by men, I cannot speak directly to you. I have requested an American friend and writer, Jean Sasson, to listen to me and then to tell my story. I was born free, yet today I am in chains. Invisible, they were loosely draped and passed unnoticed until the age of understanding reduced my life to a narrow segment of fear. No memories are left to me of my first four years. I suppose I laughed and played as all young children do, blissfully unaware that my value, due to the absence of a male organ, was of no significance in the land of my birth.