Many Saudis have started to cast votes on a website to nominate King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Website www.votefornobelprize.com has asked people from the Middle East and Africa (MEA) to nominate the person whom they think most deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, with King Abdullah currently receiving more than 100,000 votes, which is more than any other candidate. Five nominees have been chosen from different MEA countries: King Abdullah, Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Misned, Chairman of Qatar's Board of Education, Science and Community Development and the wife of the Emir of Qatar; Dr. Albert Dagher, Professor of Economics at Lebanese University; Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, and Majeda Al-Roumi, well-known Lebanese singer who has recorded many popular songs on the theme of peace. Many Saudis and non-Saudis have sent e-mails to their friends asking them to vote for King Abdullah, and a number of Internet forums have posted links and have invited people to vote for him. Websites have pointed out that King Abdullah deserves to win the Nobel Peace Prize because he is well-known as the humanitarian king, who, as a man of peace, has initiated constructive dialogues between faiths that allow peoples and nations to rediscover their shared ideals, combat evil and provide mankind with a just, secure and prosperous future. Haifa'a Khalid, Saudi journalist and creator of the Saudi Divorce Initiative website, voted for King Abdullah because of his effective role in supporting Saudi women and oppressed families.” He deserves to win the Nobel Peace Prize because of his efforts to support Saudi women. Women have received many of their rights because of him and we look forward to his support in the future.” Abdul Aziz Al-Etaibi, a Saudi student at King Abdulaziz University, voted for King Abdullah because of his efforts to gather together the leaders of Arab countries to develop a strategy that would end the Israeli attacks on Gaza. “A very important step was taken when King Abdullah called together Arab leaders to find a solution to the Gaza problem,” she said.
