News: 'eid sermons, male salespeople, Saddam execution

[qatarperegrine]

Three interesting stories from yesterday's Peninsula:

• Like their Christian counterparts, imams try to make the most of their sermons during the well-attended holiday services. Apparently, imams this year called for better treatment of workers and denounced religious extremism. I'm pleased.


• Qatari women are complaining that they feel uncomfortable with male salespeople in clothing stores and would prefer women clerks. Several women noted that having their clothing purchases seen by an Arab man is even more embarrassing than by a non-Arab man. We non-Arabs are in some ways a third gender in Qatar; the normal rules don't quite apply to us.


• Finally, and unsurprisingly, executing Saddam during 'Eid was widely seen as a bad move.