JEDDAH: Interpol is looking for two Saudis — a former Jeddah mayor and former president of a sports club — who have been convicted in cases related to the 2009 flash floods here.
The ex-mayor was sentenced to seven years in prison while the sports official was jailed for three years. The Kingdom sought Interpol's help after both of them jumped bail, local media has reported.
The rulings against them are final as they have been upheld by the Jeddah Administrative Court of Appeals.
The two, who were released on bail, left Saudi Arabia and have refused to return even as their lawyers have contested their convictions.
The prosecution called on Interpol to arrest the two so they can start serving their prison terms in the Jeddah General Prison. Up to 322 people have been slapped with charges of wrongdoing in the Jeddah floods case.
Interpol help sought to arrest Jeddah flood convicts
Interpol help sought to arrest Jeddah flood convicts
France, Saudi collaborate on space for artists in Riyadh
- L’Institut francais, Riyadh Art will open La Fabrique on Feb. 22
- ‘New cultural chapter’ between the nations, says France envoy
RIYADH: L’Institut francais in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Art, an initiative of the city’s royal commission, have announced the opening of La Fabrique, a space for artists, on Jan. 22.
The project is based in the Riyadh Art Hub in JAX District and will enable Saudi and French artists to create, experiment, and bring their visions to life, according to a press release from the organizers.
La Fabrique also offers the public a rare opportunity to witness creative production including movement performances, digital and immersive arts, photography, music, cinema, cuisine and poetry.
At its core, La Fabrique fosters artistic exchange between French and Saudi artists, fostering new encounters, shared practices, and co-creation.
The initiative is aligned with the vision shared by French President Emmanuel Macron and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who have placed cultural cooperation at the heart of the renewed Saudi-French strategic partnership.
Anchored in the ambitions of Vision 2030, La Fabrique is a part of Riyadh’s transformation into a major international cultural hub.
Developed in cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, the project strengthens the long-standing cultural dialogue between the two nations, the press release stated.
Patrick Maisonnave, ambassador of France to Saudi Arabia, said: “La Fabrique embodies the spirit of a new cultural chapter between France and Saudi Arabia.
“By bringing our artists together, we are not only sharing techniques and traditions, we are opening a space where imaginations meet, new forms emerge, and creativity becomes a bridge between our two societies.
“This initiative reflects our belief that artistic dialogue is one of the most powerful ways to build understanding, trust, and a shared future. It stands as a concrete example of France’s contribution to the ambitions of Vision 2030.”
