Saudi labour minister, wife under fire

An outspoken Saudi columnist has launched a virulent attack on the Gulf Kingdom’s labour minister and his wife, describing him as a mere businessman and his wife as the actual minister.

Saleh Al Shihi, one of the best known columnists in Saudi Arabia, made the critical comments during an interview aired by the local Daleel satellite TV station last Friday, according to the Saudi Arabic language daily Anbakum.

It said Shihi described Labour Minister Adel Faqih as a “mere businessman, not a minister” despite repeated interruptions by the TV presenter.

“I think this is a beautiful description for the minister and I wonder who speaks for the Labour Ministry…is it the minister or his wife - businesswoman Maha Fathi…..I still recall that a week after he was named minister of labour, his wife went out to speak about the ministry’s plans,” Shihi said.

Shihi, who writes in the mass circulation Alwatan Arabic language daily and other Saudi newspapers, is one of the most outspoken columnists in the Kingdom.

He had been suspended from writing twice when he criticized Saudi oil minister Ali Al Nuaimi and transport minister Jubarah bin Eid Al-Suraysiri.

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