Review-The Veiled Kingdom

Review of:
The Veiled Kingdom.
Author: Carmen Bin Ladin
By Me

Once again,another interesting book sent by my mother(thanks Mum).
Although the spelling is slightly different, Carmen Bin Ladin is indeed the sister-in-law of Osama Bin Laden. The spelling being different because of Saudi custom. Although the book was written after 9-11, and in reaction to her family being portrayed as guilty through association, the book only briefly dwells on Osama.
He is of course, portrayed as a deeply religious fundamentalist, but is only mentioned in passing.
The real story is about Saudi culture and the restrictions placed on the female population, and on Carmen and her daughters in particular.
Carmen was born in Switzerland to a Swiss father and an Iranian mother.
Her subsequent marriage and life with her Saudi husband in the US, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland, and her revulsion at the life of women in Saudi form the central theme. It is a deeply personal account of her life and her struggle to fit into 'the veiled kingdom'.
Carmen doesn't attempt to vilify either her husband or Islam, rather shed some light on its practices, and explain her reasons for ultimately rejecting its restrictions-as practised in Saudi Arabia. As far as I can tell she remains a Muslim.

Having three daughters, her reasoning certainly seems understandable, especially as they have all now graduated from US universities and have their own successful lives and careers.
Carmen must be applauded for having the courage to write such a revealing insight into such a closed world, which still must come at a cost to her security.
Each religion has its fundamentalist factions, be it Christian, Jewish, or Muslim. It is not up to us, to judge other faiths, and neither does this book. What it does though, is give us a fascinating insight into an insular alien culture.
Definitely recommended.