Jean P Sasson - [Princess 02] (30 page)

"Almost fifteen years," I told her.

"I have committed a grave sin," Tahani confessed. "For many years I have asked God to take her uncle from this earth!"

We had heard that Sameera's uncle was wrinkled and frail, and that knowledge had given us hope that after his death, Sameera would return to us.

I sarcastically commented, "We should have known that such a one could not be depended upon to die soon enough."

Over the years, many had tried to win Sameera's release, saying that her sin did not merit eternal earthly punishment, but her uncle felt that he alone knew the wishes of God, and his harsh verdict had not been lifted.

Sameera had been brilliant, beautiful, and sweet in temperament. What nature had given her, cruel fortune took away. As a result of her uncle's unbelievable cruelty, Sameera died, completely alone, locked away in the darkest of rooms, kept from any human contact for fifteen long years.

Tahani began to sob, her cries chopping through her words. It took her many moments to reveal that Sameera had been buried on this day. Her auntie confided that despite her emaciation, Sameera was still beautiful when wrapped in the white linen shroud in which she would appear before God.

How could we bear the pain of her cruel death?

Choking back sobs, I tried to remember a verse from Khalil Gibran on the question of death. I first whispered it, and as my memory of it returned, I slowly raised my voice, until all could hear me.

"Only when you drink from the river of silence, shall you indeed sing. And, when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And, when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance."

My sisters and I joined hands, remembering that we were as a chain-strong as the strongest link, weak as the weakest link.

As never before, we belonged to a sisterhood more powerful than that of our own blood. Never again would we sit back and wonder at the cruelty of men and the obscene arbitrariness of innocent female death brought about by men's evil.

I said, "Let the world know that the women of Saudi Arabia are gaining strength in the knowledge that they are right."

My sisters looked at me one by one, and for the first time I knew that each of them understood why I do the things that I do.

At that moment I promised myself that somehow the moral order of our world would be changed, and right would triumph someday.

The great human rights movement for women in Saudi Arabia has just begun and it will not be defeated by men of indoctrinated ignorance.

The men of my land will grow to mourn my existence, for I will never cease to challenge the evil precedents they have allowed to prevail against the women of Saudi Arabia.