US student promotes website for king

The website of support for King Abdullah.

By BARBARA FERGUSON | ARAB NEWS

WASHINGTON: A Saudi graduate student here in the US is promoting a website for King Abdullah, and hopes to gather over one million names and messages from throughout the world, for the king.

The website, which was launched on Saturday, has already gathered tens of thousands of signatures, Nada Saeed Al-Zahrani, told Arab News in a telephone interview from her school in Delaware.

Al-Zahrani said she did not create this website. Yousuf Dabbagh, the founder of the website, told reporters in the Kingdom this week that the website was created after the king recently returned to Saudi Arabia following an operation in the US, where he successfully underwent back surgery in New York City, followed by a period of convalescence in Morocco.

“I received the Web link from a friend of mine in Saudi Arabia, and she told me that three business gentlemen created this website and would like to spread it around,” said Al-Zahrani.

“I looked at it and thought we should have students in the US, and everyone else, sign the Web page and write a comment to the king expressing their appreciation for what they have received.”

“Our target is to get one million signatures. The Web page was released less than a week ago, and we just launched the appeal here last Saturday, and as of Tuesday night, we had obtained over 8,000 signatures in less than three days.”

The website also has been linked to some social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr. The site can be found at www.mykingabdullah.com.

Al-Zahrani, who is from Dhahran, has been living with her family in the US for the past two years, when she started her doctorate degree in Technology Education at the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Delaware.

Al-Zahrani has a clear idea about what she wants to do with her education when she returns to Saudi Arabia and is currently earning her second Master’s degree. Eight years ago, she said, there were not many Saudi students here in the US, “but now I hear that there are many in Ohio and here in Delaware. And their numbers are increasing.”

According to Dr. Mody Alkhalaf, Director of Cultural and Social Affairs at the Cultural Mission of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, more than 40,000 Saudi students are currently studying in the United States.

As a Saudi woman who wears the hijab, or head scarf, Al-Zahrani said there were many opportunities to speak about Islam. “People here were so interested, they wanted to talk about what happened on 9/11, and if there was any similarity between the Saudis who took part in the 9/11 attacks and other Saudis.”

Her decision to promote the website came about, she said, because “people need to know that King Abdullah has always supported, and been concerned about the well-being of his people.

“After the stock market crashed in Saudi Arabia in 2007, he gave all employees throughout the kingdom a raise of 15 percent.”

Al-Zahrani added that she wants to tell “all Saudi scholars here in the US that King Abdullah sent us here on a mission. By providing us with these scholarships, we must show the world that first, we are good Saudi ambassadors; we also need to enhance our professional skills, so we can go back and help him to develop the country and reach his goal to bring the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be truly seen as a world leader. This is the way we can pay him back, and show the world who Saudis really are.”

Comments

AHMAD DAWUD HEIDAMIA

Report abuse
I like and appreciate very much what the King has done to the Holy Sites, the additions,expansion, the improvements, the new building, the rail and all the good he has done for his people, for the pilgrims and for humanity and peace.

SHADHULY A. HASSAN

Report abuse
Great news,.......................

May Allah bless all who have contributed this website.

Every human beings in the world should know the brave and peaceful king Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Aal-Saud (RA).. I also put a humble request to the memenrs of this site to retort immediately or debate with those who have been defaming our king.

M ARSHAD

Report abuse
King Abdullah deserve more then this, He has planted so many seeds, that next generation will reap the fruit of the wonderful things he has done over the years. May Aallah bless him with health and keep his shadow on the nations. Saudis are luck to have such a sincere leader.

SHAKEEL AHMED USMANI

Report abuse
IT IS REALLY NICE TO READ THIS TOPIC REGARDING THE WEBSITE MADE BY SAUDI STUDENT TO SHOW HIS SUPPORT TO KING.MY PERSONNAL OPINION IS THAT MAXIMUM SAUDI YOUNGSTERS SHOULD SHOW THEIR SUPPORT USING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY.KING ABDULLAH IS GIFT FROM ALLAH WHO IS SUPPORTING SAUDIS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE KINGDOM AND THIS WILL AUTOMATICALLY WILL BRING CHANGE ,AS WE KNOW ACTIONS SPEAK LOUNDER THAN THE WORDS .HE DIDNOT START THIS PROJECT NOW BUT FROM THE BEGINNING HE STARTED INVESTING IN EDUCATION.THEREFORE, MY OPINION IS THAT SAUDIS IRRESPECT OF THEIR SCHOOL OF THOUGHT SHOULD NOT PROTEST AND THEY SHOULD THINK THERE IS FOREIGN HAND INVOLVED IN THIS UPRISING.ALLAH HAS GIVEN THEM EVERYTHING THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS PEACE IN THIS COUNTRY.THE CREDIT GOES TO KING ABDULLAH.INSHALLAH REGARDING CHANGE THEY ARE DOING SOME CHANGE.IF YOU COMPARE THE PRESENT SITUATION WITH THE PAST YOU WILL FIND GREAT DIFFERENCE.BUT DONT GO TOWARDS THE IMMEDIATE CHANGE .WE SHOULD THINK WISELY AND SHOULD SEE THE SOCIETY AROUND US THAT WHAT WILL HAPPEN.IT WILL START CIVIL IN THIS COUNTRY WHICH IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ANYONE IN THIS COUNTRY AND SPECIALLY TO US AS A MUSLIM.I THINK WORD DEMOCRACY IS SEEMS GOOD BUT IT IS HIDDING BIG BLOODSHED INSIDE.I REQUEST TO ALL SAUDI PEOPLE TO SUPPORT YOUR GOVERNMENT .MAY ALLAH BLESS THIS COUNTRY

C.A.VARGHESE

Report abuse
Oh! King of Arab Your Dynasty is blessed,
Because You share the bread with any one.
As you ready to dip your hands for food with fellow men
You are not selected by men,but God has you enthrone.

We salute the Arab culture of eating food together,
and habit to forgive, wishing with a smile next morning.
God finds you as fit for his mission, Your kingdom is for ever.
At the end you will be rewarded, protected by prayer of million.


Post your comment

required

required (email will never be displayed)

Please enter the following characters in the box provided (case sensitive). This helps us prevent automated programs from creating accounts and sending spam.

All comments are subject to approval

Terms and conditions

Latest comments

No schools in Riyadh, eastern region due to sand storms

its too horible in riyadh also cannot walk through the street due to sand storm and cannot driv

Jacob Karathra at Mar 26, 2011 06:14

4 comments

Makkah to have a train network

Well this is a trip I will not want to miss, Insha Allah, when its€™s up and running. The loc

NISHTHAR IDROOS at Mar 26, 2011 06:14

1 comments

No schools in Riyadh, eastern region due to sand storms

its too horible in riyadh also cannot walk through the street due to sand storm and cannot driv

Jacob Karathra at Mar 26, 2011 06:14

4 comments

Editorial: Libya’s friends

Well , certain Arab country didn't hesitate to roll out red carpet for Idi Amin or Bashir of Su

mar at Mar 26, 2011 06:14

2 comments

Alternative medicine treatment

Bloodletting is not a primitive dangerous practice in the right setting, and hemochromatosis is

Sama at Mar 26, 2011 06:13

4 comments

Severe sandstorm blankets Eastern Province

This is a fierce sand storm.It took 1.5 hrs for us to drive 50 km which normally takes 45 min.B

ravi at Mar 26, 2011 06:13

1 comments