Nine things Saudi women still can't do
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RIYADH: Saudi women vote Saturday for the first time in elections but still face a host of other restrictions, among the tightest in the world.
Under Saudi policies and practices women cannot:
- Drive; Saudi Arabia is the world's only country banning women from getting behind the wheel
- Travel, without the consent of a male family member known as a guardian
- Marry, without the consent of a guardian
- Work, without the consent of a guardian
- Appear in public without covering herself in a black abaya robe from head to toe
- Receive the same amount of inheritance as a man
- Work in certain jobs
- Mingle with unrelated men in public places such as restaurants
- Divorce as easily as a man
Saudi women can:
- Vote in municipal elections, the kingdom's only polls for public officials
- Sit on the Shura Council, an appointed body which advises cabinet
- Hold the most senior corporate executive posts
- Work in government administration and an expanding number of private sector areas, including as lawyers
- Be forced to marry at a young age, as there is no legally defined minimum age
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On DawnNews
Comments (75) Closed
Dec 12, 2015 02:31pm
And men are allowed to do what they want.
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Dec 12, 2015 02:57pm
So what's wrong in that?
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Dec 12, 2015 03:42pm
Very good rules.
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Dec 12, 2015 03:54pm
All rules except driving are perfectly according to Shariah and should be implemented in every Muslim country. I wonder why not driving ?
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Dec 12, 2015 04:02pm
What is wrong with that? Today,women in the West are at the forefront of scientific research &development look at any issue of the 2 leading scientific journals [NATURE (UK) & Science (USA)], in Professions (in the UK medical colleges 60% of the students are women), CEOs of international companies, Engineering Colleges in the West, Armed forces (even in the Pak Air Force), etc. In politics a woman is likely to be the next US President. Arguably, India's BEST Foreign Minister is the current one, a woman. Women NOW excel in almost all educational fields. A society that denies 50% of her population an opportunity to contribute to it, is destined to be a failure in the modern world.
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Dec 12, 2015 04:03pm
My goodness ! These rules are liked by all viewers ! Is there any sense prevailing that the modern world moves with men and women with equal right ?
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Dec 12, 2015 04:18pm
Actually Saudis have mingled their tribal customs with Islam besides above there are lots of other things in Saudi culture which are not compatible with Islam they still have to learn many things to adopt Islam in totality with its true spirit
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Dec 12, 2015 04:26pm
In short women are slave of men with certain permissions. Amazed to see many commenters find these 'donts' perfectly alright. Wish good luck for saudi(world) women to achieve own freedom.
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Dec 12, 2015 04:29pm
is there any rule for man?
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Dec 12, 2015 04:32pm
What happens if any women decides to take an independent path according to her choice or will ?
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Dec 12, 2015 04:41pm
Educated societies don't operate on the principle that women need to be taught a lesson, when they want to live as free citizens.
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Dec 12, 2015 05:03pm
What a shame ! Is this modern era or some cave age ?
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Dec 12, 2015 05:11pm
Living in India and Pakistan is no better for women. What has improved for women? nothing.
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Dec 12, 2015 05:11pm
What is the use of a society, which simply can't respect women ? A man is born to a woman and this man simply doesn't care for a woman in the name of some law that too made by a man or some men. How can a society progress under such conditions ? It is undoubtedly assault on the liberty of women.
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Dec 12, 2015 05:14pm
After all this is a men's world.
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Dec 12, 2015 05:15pm
My Sister Najma, I feel your sadness.
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Dec 12, 2015 05:29pm
The rules imposed on women is in human, and almost barbaric.
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Dec 12, 2015 05:32pm
I have seen many countries and and proud to see no limits women Cana archive in India be it sports, science, education or political front. Way to go.
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Dec 12, 2015 05:56pm
It's a sham that these rules are made for women, women who are our mothers and sisters and daughters,. Even more shame is when some one justify them. Please wake up my brothers.
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Dec 12, 2015 06:09pm
Excellent
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Dec 12, 2015 06:20pm
@Gillani They have got the opportunity to Chauffeur Driver Cars :)
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Dec 12, 2015 06:22pm
Feel bad for the womens.
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Dec 12, 2015 06:26pm
Although there are some exceptional rules for Saudi women, but these woman are living luxurious life, the western woman and Muslim women in 3rd world countries can even imagine.
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Dec 12, 2015 06:28pm
@Gillani because every woman should be given the freedom to decide whom she wants to marry,where she wants to travel,what she wants to study and receive equal inheritance from her parents
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Dec 12, 2015 06:29pm
@Najma Hisham India isn't that bad..bt yes lots of scope for improvement
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Dec 12, 2015 06:42pm
ksa will come to senses once they run out of oil and that time is not very far.
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Dec 12, 2015 06:52pm
When we claim that injunctions are valid till last day. Then the wrong restrictions should be reviewed to bring them in plausible shape. Instead of rigidity.
When a woman has not equal share than man. It is right as she also receives one share from her parents and other from husband that equals to man.
While claiming equality in every sphere of life is not possible even in the countries which are given for example. Both man and woman has separate fields of work. One can not take other place.
She works in certain circumstances for livelihood while she is not bound to work but man is required to do so.
Driving is a very simpl.
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Dec 12, 2015 07:19pm
This is,nothing but ego problem Of the man .should see the amitabh bachan and jay bachan evergreen movie abhimaan.
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Dec 12, 2015 07:22pm
The luxuries these so called educated women have are spiteful. Spend your life in a respectable manner rather than as slaves
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Dec 12, 2015 07:33pm
We keep saying, Pakistan is this, and Pakistan is that... atleast we are not Saudi Arabia.
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Dec 12, 2015 07:38pm
@Bitter Truth everything. Men and Women are equal. Period.
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Dec 12, 2015 07:39pm
@Gillani Are you living in cave era? Men and Women are equal.
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Dec 12, 2015 07:41pm
Shameful and ridiculous.
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Dec 12, 2015 07:45pm
Let the women make all their own rules. No nation can progress without their women working hand in hand. Show me one developed nation were the women are not educated. Education is the key. Educate the women and alleviate poverty
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Dec 12, 2015 07:49pm
Saudi has to learn a lot from Indonesia, the most populous muslim country in the world. Religious faith is a private thing. They dont dictate it on anybody. Their neighbour another muslim country Malaysia has the same tolerant and inclusive . A long way to go for countries like Saudi, Iran and many other countries in Middle east.
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Dec 12, 2015 07:49pm
It is all about men's mindset in certain countries, and surprisingly in many cases, women's mindsets also complement the men's. So these things would look strange to outsiders like us, but I think most of arab women would be perfectly comfortable with their lives.
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Dec 12, 2015 08:04pm
Amazed at some of the comments here... I really hope they were attempts were at sarcasm. Women are equal to men in every way, there must be no question about it if we are to develop as a constructive society.
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Dec 12, 2015 08:13pm
Shameful that an adult woman, as capable and intelligent as any mam in her life, should have to get "permission" to live her life. What kind of sharia is this?
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Dec 12, 2015 08:49pm
No Gender equality in Islamic countries.
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Dec 12, 2015 08:54pm
It's their local matter, should be left for Saudis to decide. Are u guys suggesting world should invade the kingdom to liberate women according to their standards.
Everyone should try to put their own house in order then town city country...
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Dec 12, 2015 09:23pm
@anshul ; But women are safe in Saudi Arabia. No case of brutal rape in moving public bus or car, never.
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Dec 12, 2015 09:24pm
Well non-Saudi men are worse than Saudi women in terms of rights.
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Dec 12, 2015 09:30pm
Clearly, all the people agreeing with the idiotic restrictions on women in saudi arabia, are suffering from an acute case of inferiority complex
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Dec 12, 2015 09:41pm
Real golden rules to protect & respect women from all walk of life.
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Dec 12, 2015 11:11pm
@ali No, we are suggesting that Saudi Arabia put a vote to just the women on what rules they would consider fair to be governed by.
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Dec 12, 2015 11:47pm
@Mr. President
Agreed. All those commentators who think there is nothing wrong with these rules are unsurprisingly men. No word from women folks here. Let me say then as a Pakistani woman, I am glad that I was not born in SA. Pakistan is no heaven for women but atleast we do not have such misogynistic and suffocating rules here.
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Dec 12, 2015 11:59pm
@Fawzia Well said.
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Dec 13, 2015 12:10am
@Sivaram Pochiraju
It''s not a shame, but you will not understand it.
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Dec 13, 2015 12:47am
Hope for the best even American women started voting some 80 years ago..
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Dec 13, 2015 01:14am
. You mentioned the nine things Saudi Women can't do. You failed to mention the nine things Saudi women don't want to do.
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Dec 13, 2015 02:06am
@Kamal Pasha : No men are not allowed to what they want. There are thing for men "Do" and "Don't". Islam is strick for both men and women. Don't get wrong.
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Dec 13, 2015 02:07am
@Atam Vetta : This article is not talking about "Westren Women". It is about "muslim women."
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Dec 13, 2015 02:09am
@faryal : Yes, there are lots of rules for men too.
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Dec 13, 2015 02:10am
@P Datta : Yes, she can. There is freedom in Islam, You obey or not you have choice.
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Dec 13, 2015 02:12am
Their country, their rules.
Everyone else should mind their own business.
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Dec 13, 2015 02:24am
Saudi citizens and vote? hahahahaha
Can't stop laughing... Joke of the year :)
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Dec 13, 2015 05:19am
@Najma Hisham I don't know where in India you are from. I am from South and I can tell you I was brought up just the way my brother was in fact my parents gave me more freedom as they believed my brother to be naive. And things did improve a lot for women(for example, equal property rights)
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Dec 13, 2015 05:21am
@Huzaifah Not really 25% saudis(not immigrants) live in poverty. All don't own oil. And would you choose money over freedom? women make same choices.
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Dec 13, 2015 06:20am
So, @Divergence you "think most of arab women would be perfectly comfortable with their lives". On that basis, so too were cavemen and women, until they found advancement and enlightenment, and so forth through the millennium.
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Dec 13, 2015 06:42am
@ali yes I am
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Dec 13, 2015 07:18am
So what's the problem. Its their country and their laws. Are these against the feminism? ?
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Dec 13, 2015 08:06am
@GNR :Oh yes, they are human, but NOT humane!
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Dec 13, 2015 08:07am
@Huzaifah
>Although there are some exceptional rules for Saudi women, but these woman are living luxurious life, the western woman and Muslim women in 3rd world countries can even imagine.
In general and simple word it is called 'Sone ka pinjara'.
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Dec 13, 2015 08:26am
@ali : Yes, and then the rest of the world!
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Dec 13, 2015 12:09pm
this is insane.
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Dec 13, 2015 08:31pm
@Huzaifah : Very few women are living luxurious lives, if you go to poor parts of saudia, you would understand that not everyone is rich in Saudia.....
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Dec 14, 2015 01:21am
@Kamal Pasha : Men & Women are abide by the Saudi's Law.
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Dec 14, 2015 01:49am
@Kabeer : KSA and Kuwait are only two countries practicing pure ISLAMIC judiciary system in the whole wide world. As for their laws, it should be respected and followed like any other country while visiting KSA.
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Dec 14, 2015 01:52am
@faryal : Men have their rights as women do too.
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Dec 14, 2015 02:19am
@kkk : watching too many movies has ruined societies so much already.
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Dec 14, 2015 07:26am
@SHAHEEN CHANGEZI But lots of rape of housemaids in employers' homes, most of which goes unreported, due to fear of imprisonment or deportation.
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Dec 14, 2015 08:44am
@Mohammad ; Glad there are sane voice left ..
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Dec 14, 2015 12:44pm
@faryal
"is there any rule for man?"
Yes, a man can not have more than 4 wives.
Don't you think that is somewhat harsh on men?
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Dec 14, 2015 02:13pm
I feel ashamed to see that some people in today's age defend the don'ts for women. This is not Islam, these are tribal rules framed as Islamic and part of shariah. I am a Muslim but I don't believe in these caveman rules. Both men and women are independent and compliment each other, no one need the permission of the other gender to live or operate in the world.
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Dec 14, 2015 06:00pm
@Najma Hisham ...Don't talk about India...Talk about Pak as you are from there
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