realclearworld Newsletters: Mideast Memo
This week, hundreds of thousands of Muslims from all around the world will journey to the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca to participate in the annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the pillars of the Islamic faith. Every Muslim is required to make the trek to Mecca at least once in their adult life, body and bank account willing.
Once there, Muslims must circumambulate seven times counterclockwise the black cuboid structure at the center of the Grand Mosque of Al-Masjid al-Haram, called the Kaaba. This iconic act, known as tawaf, will be performed this week -- perhaps even hover-boarded -- by as many as 3 million Muslims from Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and all across the Middle East.
The Hajj, like any event of its size, has become a logistical and security nightmare for Mecca's Saudi custodians. The kingdom has deployed 100,000 security personnel to safeguard the Grand Mosque and the many pilgrims who will traverse its inner walls, or mataf.
Earthly accommodations and conveniences are also available during the Hajj, much to the chagrin of the more traditional participants of the annual pilgrimage. In addition to a $60 billion expansion of the Grand Mosque, tall towers and massive development projects can be seen sprouting up around Mecca and its immediate environs, spurring some to derisively refer to the old trading city as "Mecca-hattan."
Many Western comforts can be found in Mecca these days -- amenities include fast food, shopping, and, apparently, hoverboards. While convenient for some, such lavish provisions may put a strain on the vast majority of pilgrims, many of whom journey from poor countries to fulfill their religious obligation in Arabia.
"[T]he moment a Muslim decides to make the pilgrimage, he is at the mercy of the commercialization of this religious duty," writes Madawi Al-Rasheed, a visiting professor at the London School of Economics. "From visa fees imposed by the Saudi government to transportation and accommodation charges, pilgrims are a source of income to both the Saudi government and service providers. The Saudi government prefers to call pilgrims ‘guests of God,' but these guests pay a high price. It takes some Muslims a lifetime to save for this important journey; many may never have enough resources to make it."
The conflict between devotion and development was highlighted earlier this month, when a construction crane near the Grand Mosque collapsed, killing more than 100 people. However, the Saudi government's quick repudiation of the responsible construction firm, the Binladin Group (yes, that Bin Laden), one of the largest construction firms in the country, sent signals to some observers that it mightn't be business as usual in the kingdom.
"Although unquestionably tragic," writes analyst Fahad Nazer, the recent "crane accident seems to have marked a turning point in how Saudi officials respond to accidents in Mecca. Unlike past incidents, the Saudi government confirmed the incident relatively quickly and was forthright about the high number of casualties."
Indeed, as the world's Muslim population continues to grow, the Hajj pilgrimage offers the Saudis an annual platform for promoting business and investment opportunities inside the country. Riyadh, moreover, is looking to invest billions over the next decade into public transportation, seeing it as a critical cog in its efforts to diversify the oil-dependent economy.
All of this is occurring against the backdrop of massive upheaval and violence across the Middle East. And while the so-called Islamic State garners much of the global media attention, the Hajj, with every passing year, provides Mecca's Sunni standardbearers an opportunity to juxtapose Islam and modernity, and shine a more positive -- and peaceful -- light on the faith.
Around the Region
Can trade keep Iran in line? Iran experts Jamsheed and Carol Choksy take a look at the brass tacks:
"Iran's government has long been planning for re-entry into the global markets. In 2002 its majles, or parliament, passed the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act which allows 100 percent ownership and transfer of profits by non-Iranian companies. Gradually, the Islamic Republic has also accepted world intellectual property and copyright conventions and treaties. On August 11, Iran's Monetary Council and Central Bank issued regulations permitting global banking in free trade zones at Kish, Qeshm and Chabahar.
"Estimates suggest the government in Tehran could allocate an additional $4.8 billion from new revenues toward its defense budget. American and Israeli analysts and politicians fear that flush with new cash the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would further deploy its overseas clout through military and terrorist actions. Still entangled in regional wars, the IRGC seems to be planning business ventures with foreign corporations which may temper its violence."
Waiting for a windfall. And the Iranian government, as it turns out, is desperate for cash. The Financial Times' Najmeh Bozorgmehr reports from Tehran:
"The economic situation is so grave that even the expected unfreezing of more than $100bn in Iranian assets in foreign banks under the nuclear deal will do little to help, according to economists."
[...]
"Mr Rouhani's government lacks the resources needed to boost domestic industry by itself, economists say. Even as depleted oil revenues constrain its budget, Tehran remains obliged to pay IR480tn ($16.6bn) annually to individuals to compensate for a cut in energy subsidies, a populist measure inherited from former president Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad."
The economics of defeating ISIS. Author and Syria analyst Hassan Hassan details the effects the air campaign against the Islamic State is having on Syria's poor:
"The air strikes disrupted a functioning war economy that predated ISIL. After the collapse of the Syrian state in much of the country, people relied on local resources to stay alive. In eastern Syria, cheap oil allowed farmers to operate engines to pump water from the Euphrates river to irrigate farm lands. Poorly-refined oil would also be used to operate heavy vehicles for transport and agricultural uses. Whole families and even armed groups worked in primitive refineries or protection of oil tankers. The oil-related businesses revitalised local markets and helped ensure basic needs such as electricity and water."
[...]
"The situation has become much worse as the campaign has intensified over the months. One can hardly blame parents who find themselves forced to send one or more of their children either to Europe, despite the risks, or to [ISIS]."
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