Kuwaiti singer Shamail was arrested in Saudi Arabia by the Islamic police while she was sitting at a grand hotel in Riyadh discussing new plans with a poet for her upcoming album. The singer was seized on the spot and taken to a women's prison for being in the company of a man who is not her husband and not wearing the proper Islamic dress.
According to Sayidaty magazine, Shamail denied being arrested and being in the company of anyone, but rather she was stopped by the Islamic police who questioned her for not being covered properly and sent her to the police station to sign a paper that states she will not move around the kingdom unless she is dressed right. The singer stressed that she was not upset with what had happened but rather grateful for that instance helped find her way and commit herself to God and Islam. Shamail said that she now covers herself, and while at the police station a man spoke to her about the teachings of Islam and the benefits of dressing conservatively.
She added that she began attending religion classes on a daily basis and while in Saudi she attended the religious pilgrimage "Umra". Shamail had at that time realized that life is too short to waste on matters that may make you loose the chance of going to heaven and therefore decided to end her music career, saying singing is not worth her loosing the afterlife for.
Shamail now seeks to enlighten all those close to her to follow the same path. She contacted her record company and broke the contract for she will not be able to continue. She stressed that the decisions she has made have changed her life completely but to the better and she does not regret anything. –Albawaba.com
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
