Indonesian Singer in Saudi Arabia Expresses Trust in Government Amidst Houthi Tensions

Indonesian singer Fitri Carlina has shared her experiences regarding the security situation in Saudi Arabia, where she has been residing with her husband. She spoke about the heightened tensions between Yemen's Houthi group and Saudi Arabia during her stay. Carlina mentioned that she coincidentally returned to Indonesia when the drone conflict involving the Houthis was at its peak, thus ensuring her safety. "When the Houthi drone conflict was hot yesterday, coincidentally I had already returned to Indonesia. So he (her husband) was safe," she stated. She expressed full confidence in the Saudi Arabian government's ability to manage security issues. "I surrender and fully trust the Saudi Arabian government for the security of citizens. The government there also strictly prohibits its citizens from recording, distributing videos, or talking about national security issues like that," Carlina revealed. Carlina acknowledged that living and working in the Middle East comes with its own risks. She explained that in the event of an attack, airspaces are typically closed temporarily. "Even if there is an attack, the airspace will usually be closed temporarily. I realize this is already a risk of working in the Middle East, so I can only pray more and hope the war ends quickly," she added. On a different note, her life in Jeddah has also provided her with opportunities to perform Umrah (minor pilgrimage). She and her husband have been living in an apartment in Jeddah since last year, which is conveniently located about an hour's drive from the Umrah sites. This proximity allows for easy round trips for Umrah. She mentioned performing Umrah up to three times last month and once already this month. Living in Jeddah has long been a dream for Carlina, as she wished to have more opportunities to perform Umrah. She feels this convenience is purely a divine blessing and calling from Allah, not due to any personal merit.