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According to Human Rights Watch “There are no women's rights organizations in the kingdom, and no women members in the appointed 120-member Consultative Council, which serves as an advisory body to the executive branch of government. The government's highly publicized ratification in 2000 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women has not resulted in specific initiatives to promote and advance the rights of Saudi women on an equal basis with men. In fact, Prince Nayef, the interior minister, said famously in January 2001 that public discussion of women's rights was "out of the question," and that "such a debate would be useless and produce a hollow exchange of ideas." At a press conference on April 26, 2001, Prince Nayef confirmed that the government was not considering lifting the ban on women driving. "It is not possible, and there are no studies on the subject at all," he said.” Source:
“On a sunny Thursday afternoon Sarah who is a 30 plus young lady went out to the supermarket to buy a few things. While she was walking along the isle she slipped on a waxed cardboard left due to negligence on the supermarket floor. She fell on her back hitting her head to the ground causing her to lose consciousness for a few seconds. Oh.. I forgot to mention that this little incident happened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia just in case you were wondering..
Now going back to the story.. As Sarah was regaining consciousness.. She overheard a woman bystander arguing with the supermarket manager as she was being wheeled out of the supermarket. The lady was asking the manager to call for paramedics for help. The manager explained to the woman that he CAN’T, it is not accepted for paramedics to drive a SINGLE woman without a male guardian (Sarah being a woman alone). The lady offered to take Sarah to the closest emergency room. Sarah thanked her politely and left on her own driven by her own chauffeur to the hospital emergency where she was diagnosed with a concussion, two hairline fractures in her vertebra and a fractured finger. She has been put to bed rest for a couple of weeks and might need surgery to correct a fracture." Source
Where are the neocons who were running around screaming “human rights”, “freedom” to support attack on Iraq but completely ignore what is happening to women in Saudi Arabia? Where is the Hollywood glam squad who preach us about strength of a woman and how they would love to help those in need? I mean hello! Ever heard of Saudi Arabia?The rape trial of 19 year old girl, where the victim was sentenced to prison time and 200 lashes prompted me to write this, I am guilty too of ignoring situation in the Kingdom for so long, whose budget in part(tiny tiny part) is funded by me(through gas prices). I am paying them to torture women, keep them as slaves, my money goes towards the salary of the judge who ordered this teen victim get 200 lashes.
How many of you out there share my outrage? Today, I guess there are many who are pissed off on Saudi Arabia but the sentiment slowly fades away, until another big incident is reported. In the mean time, Saudi women continue to suffer.
Doesn’t this show that our priorities are totally out of line, we have become a shallow world with attention span and memory of a gold fish?
CNN, Fox News, news papers (national and local) all were crazy when Ellen DeGeneres cried over a dog on TV, now where is the outpouring of anger over the sham rape trial in Saudi Arabia?
I have asked lot of questions already, now let me try and answer some of them.
Saudi Arabia does not figure into necons’ radar because of a) oil, b) Saudi Arabia’s help in maintaining influence in Middle East and fight against terrorism c)close relationship with the Saudi Royal family.
If you are waiting for the celebrity glam squad, to say or do something, don’t hold your breath. This is not a glamorous cause. Unlike Ellen’s dog or poverty in Africa, women’s in Saudi Arabia don’t get the press and media attention in the US. Yes, the case against Taliban was highlighted by Hollywood feminists but that was at least 10 years after the Mullah’s were in control and telling women they can’ get out of the house with an escort.
About our short attention span, well we are a fickle bunch. With all the “news” and “alerts” about Britney Spears, high gas prices, housing market crash, who has the time to worry about women in Saudi Arabia??
And our media, thank heavens for internet. If we had to depend solely on main stream media for news we would still believe that Iraq war happened for a good cause.
Don’t count on media, leaders to take up these issues, if you care make your voice count. Hopefully it will give rise to movement. That is what I have learned.
