Saudi Princess: What I'd change about my country.

[busydude]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17446831

A few excerpts;

On Constitution
For example, today in Saudi courts, all decisions are made according to the individual judge's interpretation of the holy Koran. This is entirely dependent on his own personal beliefs and upbringing rather than universally agreed principles or a written constitution as a guide.

Marriage Laws
Today in Saudi, a woman can ask for a divorce only if she files for what is called "Khali and Dhali". This means either she pays a big sum of money running into tens of thousands of dollars or she has to get someone to witness the reason why she is filing for a divorce - an impossible condition to fulfil given that such reasons usually are the kind that remain within the four walls of a marriage.

Another way to keep a woman in the marital home against her will is the automatic granting of custody of any children over the age of six to the father in any divorce settlements.

Education
The content of the syllabus is extremely dangerous. For one, our young are taught that a woman's position in society is inferior. Her role is strictly limited to serving her family and raising children. They are actually taught that if a woman has to worship anyone other than God it should be her husband; "that the angels will curse her if she is not submissive to her husband's needs". Girls are also strictly forbidden from taking part in any physical education. This is a result of a complete misinterpretation of the Koran. I consider these ideologies to be inherently abusive.

Social Services
The ministry of social affairs is tolerating cruelty towards women rather than protecting them. The only refuge homes that abused women can turn to are state ones. In these, women are continuously told that by seeking refuge they have brought shame on their families.

If they come from powerful families then they will be sent straight back to their homes in fear of the wrath of a powerful patriarch. As a result we have seen many cases of suicide by educated women, doctors and scientists who were sent back to their abusers.

Freedom of Movement for Women
Women in Saudi cannot get around or travel without a mahram (a kind of chaperone - usually a male relative).

At the time of the prophet, women used to have a man to accompany them but in those days Arabia was a desert literally full of pirates.

Today the only purpose of such a law is to curtail women's freedom of movement. This not only infantilises women but turns them unnecessarily into a burden on their men and on society.

Today women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive.

Let's hope she does not get chastised for this.

 

[peonyu]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17446831

A few excerpts;



Let's hope she does not get chastised for this.

She has a long uphill road to climb if she wants to change anything in her country, they are a Mosque ran nation. And Im sure she has insulted Islam in some odd way by even questioning the interpretation of the Quaran [ie- her life may now be at stake].

Besides that, I believe that the only way Muslim nations are going to ever change is through their basic power structure being changed...Any constitution that places its basis on Religion is going to be ultra resistant to change, and unfortunately almost all Muslim majority countries site the Quaran as their "holy" source of law. Even Libya and Egypt post uprising have changed to a Sharia law basis for their constitution. So those two countries imo are now on track to only REGRESS and not become more modern.

Islamic states place the power of the nation into the hands of Zealous Clerics and Imams, who are not going to change anything if it runs counter to their religious beliefs...So good luck on that "change" happening in Saudi Arabia. Im sure the only change that will happen in this particular situation is her being removed one way or another from Saudi Arabia.

 

[Albatross]

But she lives in London,would she say the same thing in Riyadh?

 

[Jhhnn]

As she offers, Saudi society isn't about Islam, but rather an extremely oppressive perversion of Islam.

And no, she can't go home again, ever.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Maybe, just maybe she did this to ensure she never has to go back to the Kingdom.

 

[Lemon law]

As she offers, Saudi society isn't about Islam, but rather an extremely oppressive perversion of Islam.

And no, she can't go home again, ever.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are being politically incorrect Jnhnn, you are simply now allowed to criticize our great ally Saudi Arabia, or mention the fact that in many Muslim nations females have equal right, don't wear veils, or burkas, they vote, and sometimes even become prime ministers of their nation. It simply gives Muslim bashing a bad name.

And don't dare mention the USA, where women have had the vote for only a century, and still has not passed an equal rights amendment.

As Dr. Henry Kissinger pointed out, oil is to important to leave to the Arabs. So get with the program, first demonize them, and then we can assert our white man's burden.

 

[OutHouse]

would have been better if it was a prince. but then again there are like 20,000 princes over there.

 

[Theb]

If she wants to go home she can just claim she was enchanted by a which, but got better. Everyone knows women can't form opinions so it had to be witchcraft.

also http://www.hulu.com/watch/1142/american-dad-worst-place-in-the-world

 

[Lemon law]

Poor argument Theb, any woman enchanted by witchcraft will always claim it was temporary, so to be on the safe side, kill them anyway. So it was in America's Salem, why change that time proven formula.

Or maybe we can site the case of some Muslim Woman's execution for the charge of witchcraft. It was fairly recent and I think it was in Saudi Arabia.

But as I looked at the actual crime, it turned out this woman was concocting phonies remedies and selling them to a large number of suckers for large sums of money. And when her believers died in droves and might have lived if they had seen a competent doctor, IMHO she should have been prosecuted. But she would have been charged under practicing medicine without a license and accessory to murder laws in other venues. A partly dubious distinction from witchcraft given the number of victims and extent of the fraud.

 

[FoBoT]

doesn't go far enough for women's rights, but they need women to speak out for things to change

 

[SandEagle]

what is she doing out of the royal kitchen?

i agree with what she says, mostly

 

[woolfe9999]

But as I looked at the actual crime, it turned out this woman was concocting phonies remedies and selling them to a large number of suckers for large sums of money. And when her believers died in droves and might have lived if they had seen a competent doctor, IMHO she should have been prosecuted. But she would have been charged under practicing medicine without a license and accessory to murder laws in other venues. A partly dubious distinction from witchcraft given the number of victims and extent of the fraud.

Nice attempt at apologia there. Maybe we should prosecute everyone who plies herbs for medicinal purposes for which no proof of efficacy exists. Or acupuncture. Or homeopathic. And then give them all the death penalty. After all, if people are led to believe that these alternative therapies work and are not getting conventional treatment, it's murder, right?

 

[monovillage]

Not my country, not my business.

 

[Zebo]

Biggest shame is keeping them covered up. Saudi women are probably most beautiful in the world imo tall and slim for the most part and looking about like Susanna Hoffs eyes and color wise. (you had to live through 80s)

Anyway it's really worse than that. If you want to read a rivitiing book there is Behind the veil also by a saudi princess
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/09..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=08G6Q9RBNK77P64R5MAR

 

[bradley]

What are her thoughts on Saudi life insurance?

 

[1prophet]

Not my country, not my business.

Is it when they embargo your oil or raise prices that it becomes your business,

or is it when they use their vast oil wealth to promote their version of Islam which the Sept 11 hijackers followed that finally gets your attention?