Makkah: Sacred vs. Profane

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A Starbucks at the Abraj Al Bait Shopping Center in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The mall is being built directly across from Islam’s holiest site. (Tamara Abdul Hadi for The New York Times)

I came across this article in the International Herald Tribune which highlights Saudi Arabia’s $13 billion development plan for Makkah and how it is going to affect the sanctuary of Islam’s holiest city.

Now as they gaze here in their mind’s eye, and make the pilgrimage clothed in simple white cotton wraps, they will see something other than the austere black cube known as the Kaaba that occupies the spot. They will also see Starbucks. And Cartier and Tiffany. And H&M and Topshop.

The Abraj Al Bait Shopping Center, one of the largest malls to open in Saudi Arabia, outfitted with flat-panel monitors, neon lights, an amusement park ride, fast-food restaurants and a lingerie shop, is being built directly across from Islam’s holiest site.

Technorati Tags: Makkah, Mecca, Islam, Kaaba, Abraj Al Bait

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