Quote:
Originally Posted by Reuniontrio View Post
You've got to sympathize with her, more than almost anyone else in that family. She moved to Dubai and converted to Islam before she was old enough to understand the ramifications of what she was doing. I wonder what, if any, conversation occurred between her and the adults in her life. The only person who had a real, personal interest in her in Dubai also has over 20 children and is trying to run a city-state. I have often wondered what exactly she would do. Attend university and pursue a career? Marry an Emirati who was completely culturally different from the men she knew growing up and live in a state of semi-purdah that would be foreign to her? Stay single and spend her days shopping?
It has probably taken her awhile to recognize some key facts:
1. Her numerous siblings have already formed alliances by age, being brought up together, having a mother in common, NOT having a mother in common, interests, personality traits and any number of other reasons.
2. The sisters closest to her in age are all from the so-called senior wife and seem to associate almost exclusively with each other, in a way that feels a bit creepy at times. In a family that adores babies, they have never even been photographed with their two youngest siblings nor with their oldest sister's children. Their mother, often portrayed as some sort of saint, is surely pulling the puppet strings on this, which is understandable since she has very few other outlets for power.
3. Females in the family fade into purdah with age.
4. There are two children in the family with European Christian mothers and they clearly bear the brunt of some sort of racism or prejudice by the tribe and possibly the family. If they didn't, Marwan would be a public figure and potential heir in the family. There's absolutely nothing wrong with him and he seems to have a better grip on himself than several of his brothers.
5. Speculatively, since Muslim women do not marry non-Muslim men, Mahra is in a very precarious position as she chooses a mate. She has virtually nothing in common with an Arab man and everything in common with a European man. She should not have converted in my opinion. She could have retained her native religion and culture and still have enjoyed an anonymous but supportive relationship with her dad.
Hello. Very detailed and interesting post.. Yes i sympathised with her because she is Greek and I'm Greek also. She also could be my daughter. So i m very interested about her story. Of course we know only what the Dubai diplomacy wants us to know, but they give us a glimpse of opinion.
The first question is WHY she moved at the age of 18 in Dubai? Was it a request of her father? If yes, i presume that since you accept to suddenly appear in full light as the daughter of a Muslim ruler, could you stay non MUSLIM?
Muslim posters feel free to reply to my question. My personnal opinion is NO, but I mught be wrong.
This girl in an tender age before the majority, changed everything in her life.
From an unkown middle class young girl (even with a good bank account) she suddenly changed social level and country. Even only these modifications are not easily bearable. Imagine a teen from Spain of Italy suddenly becoming a Princess of the United Kingdom! Not easy.
In top of that, she did a full immersion into another country, another civilization and another religion. All this a the age when her other mates dream to party and to shop.
Was she aware about the problems to face? I presume not herself, but her mom? Difficult to say. Mrs Grigorakos is a greek from diaspora, mainly brought up in USA and UK. International citizen, she might having underestimated the situation. Maybe she thought that this move to Dubai was similar to move to Spain ot Italy.
As for the Dubai family integration. I sincerely do not think that Sheikha Mahra expected to become close to her Dubai siblings, i believe both parties do not care for eachother.
Finally we should not be ashamed to talk about a very important reason:money. She is the daughter of a very very rich man. We do not know how he behaviored financially with her before. Of course, he was supporting to her, but as actually the UAE have an aura of excessive money and luxury, living iN the spot and being one of the official heirs of such a fortune, certainly is appealing. Even a young girl, and certainly the adults around her can be fascinated.
Finally the interesting point is that apparently there is no clash with her dad. Sheikh Mohammed seem modern. I do not think that a Saudi ruler would give such freedom to his young female kid.