Dakar 2020: Practical guideline for the Dakar: nothing about politics or signs of affection

• Dakar
  

  The figures: 12 girls and 15 million quota for working in Arabia
  

Political messages and public shows of affection are some of the restrictions imposed on the almost 600 members of the Dakar Rally to respect the “native legal guidelines of decency” of Saudi Arabia and thus not battle with the conservative host of the race.

These enrolled in the Dakar obtained, earlier than touring to Saudi Arabia, a sensible information, to which EFE had entry, with primary nation info and behavioral recommendation that urged girls to not present shoulders or knees and to abstain from any particular person from star in affection samples in public.

The doc anticipated what the pilots discovered after they arrived: an absolute Islamic monarchy, a pleasant society with the customer however whose way of life is marked by the Corn and the place an excellent half of the girls is roofed by the avenue with the Nicab, a veil that solely exposes the eyes.

As a rustic that homes the two holiest locations in Islam, that are Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque, Saudi Arabia punishes the importation, sale or consumption of pork, alcohol or any kind of drug.

DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUGS

“Medication are strictly forbidden for each women and men, and their consumption or provision may be topic to arrest and harsh penalties, together with loss of life,” warns the behavioral dialogue.

It is usually “strictly prohibited” any pornographic or wind product “of any type”, together with girls's magazines or lingerie vogue.

One other prohibition is clothes or tattoos that include specific and grotesque messages or photos based on Muslim values.

REFRAIN FROM POLITICAL MESSAGES

“Don’t put on or present any political message,” emphasizes the host of the Dakar, a rustic accused by worldwide organizations of not respecting human rights and being one of the most unequal international locations between women and men. Till a yr and a half in the past they can’t drive or journey alone exterior the nation.

In that sense, a gaggle of NGOs requested the Amaury Sport Group (ASO), a French firm that organizes the Dakar, and rally members to denounce the persecution of human rights activists and activists in Saudi Arabia on Friday, with out anybody I’ve attended that request to date.

WOMEN WITHOUT SHOWING MEN AND KNEES

The Saudi authorities really helpful that the Dakar runners “costume publicly, each women and men,” which suggests “avoiding tight clothes or with vulgar phrases or photos.”

“Particularly for girls, clothes shouldn’t be adjusted, except it’s vital for security causes. They need to put on their shoulders and knees coated in public,” mentioned the information of the Basic Sports activities Authority for a race to go. by factors the place the temperature is round 30 levels Celsius.

He even really helpful that ladies put on an abaya, a sort of broad gown of predominantly darkish coloration that solely exposes the head and fingers.

PICK YOUR HAND, AN OFFENSE

The recommendation on “avoiding demonstrations of affection in public” continues to be extra delicate, since “holding fingers or demonstrating public affection may be offensive.”

“Regardless of sexual orientation, Saudi Arabia is a primarily conservative nation wherein public demonstrations of affection can go towards public decency and be topic to detentions, as in lots of international locations in the Gulf. Most discretion and respect is suggested to everybody, “emphasizes the doc.

Additionally journalists accredited to cowl the rally from starting to finish needed to signal their adhesion to the code of conduct as an indication of dedication that they won’t have behaviors thought of offensive by the Saudi tradition.

A CULTURAL SHOCK

For the Peruvian pilot Fernanda Kanno, the solely girl in all of Latin America current on this version of the rally, the most complex factor is to suppress the signs of affection similar to the hugs between her teammates.

“We are not looking for any drawback. We need to respect the nation that welcomes us, however it’s sophisticated as a result of we now have different customs. Latinos are extra expressive. The remaining of the group is all males, and we embrace daily when leaving and arriving,” he defined. Kanno not too long ago in an interview with Efe.

In addition they have an effect on these restrictions for {couples} competing collectively in the rally, similar to the Spanish Javi Vega Y Sara Garca, who do it by motorbike, or Spanish Jordi Queralto and the czech Petra Zemankova, debuting this yr in automobiles.

In each instances, they need to be cautious when the rally enters the extra rural areas of Arabia to keep away from main issues and adjust to the native dialogue, which goals to reduce the cultural affect of the Dakar internally whereas the rally provides the nation visibility Seeking to enhance its worldwide picture.