No Women Drivers - Saudi Arabia
By aeiou78
@aeiou78 (3445)
Malaysia
May 24, 2011 8:58pm CST
I were surprised to read this news in our local newspaper.
A woman in Saudi Arabia was trying to ask all of the women in Saudi Arabia to drive on June 17, 2011. She posted her message in Facebook and Youtube.
Later, she was detained by the religion police.
Before, I never realized such restriction can still be happened in any corner of the world nowadays.
Definitely, I personally disagree to this restriction. But I am puzzled the main intention of such banning on women drivers.
Should they revoke this restriction ?
2 people like this
13 responses
@alcarm77 (75)
•
25 May 11
I am sorry to see that there are no Saudi Arabians or muslims taking part in this discussion. Although I am not muslim, I have heard many muslims say that many of the restrictions against women which are blamed on Islam are actually not mentioned in the Quran. Please consider that some Western women convert voluntarily to Islam, so it can't be all bad. Furthermore, some Christian religions try to keep women subordinate, so it is by no means combined to muslim countries. I would like to ask for more tolerance in this matter. Yes, it is completely wrong than women are restricted from doing anything because of their gender. But such restrictions happen all over the world and are not limited to one race or religion.
@aeiou78 (3445)
• Malaysia
27 May 11
To control and keep the women as chattels will not be an acceptable and good reason to prohibit the women from driving.
This is true.
No matter males or females, they have their liberties to do and to survive.
Females are not the puppets which are controlled by the males, don't you agree to ?
@mansha (6298)
• India
25 May 11
In Arab world its a common practice, at least thats not so in India. We do have women from muslim religion practicing purdah etc and some hindu women too but that is their own choice or their upbringing according to their religion. there is no law that prevents them from choosing a different path. Some parties do try and force moral conduct on citizens but such practices are shunned and criticized by general public.
@aeiou78 (3445)
• Malaysia
27 May 11
The rules were set by human-beings and they can be amended to suit the need of the society from time to time.
In my country, Malaysia, the Muslims can appeal for changing their religions at Sharia court.
There were few cases which were successfully approved by the relevant judges for the conversion.
With this practice, more people will easily accept the Islamic teaching as a friendly religion.
@aeiou78 (3445)
• Malaysia
27 May 11
Of course, those with chauffeurs to travel around are showing a higher ranking in the society.
But if we can drive by ourselves to travel around, we shall be more freedom, confident and joyful.
I am sure the tolerance of the women in the Saudi Arabic and the Middle East countries will end up with the revolution if their societies never consider to improve their situation seriouslt.
@aeiou78 (3445)
• Malaysia
11 Jun 11
It can not be understood at all.
By giving the excuse of Syaria rules, every Muslim female is not allowed to drive.
My country , Malaysia is a Muslim country too. But we never have such banning at all.
I feel very lucky to be here.
I hope such good living environment can prolong forever here.
@Zer0Stats (1147)
• India
25 May 11
Saudi Arabia,the centre of Islam(and many Islamic countries)is very conservative and somewhat oppressive of Muslim women and their freedom.But their educated youngsters are now,raising up their voice against these kind of rules and they know what is good and what not for their country and people.
@aeiou78 (3445)
• Malaysia
26 May 11
Education is very important to everyone.
With well education, a person can be more analytical and independent in the way they think and manage.
I guess, this is the consequences of the women in Arab Saudi whereby they start realizing their right in surviving.
@SmallFryK (115)
• United States
25 May 11
I disagree with restricting women in such ways. However, I recognize that each culture has had something simillar in place in the past. So, in Saudi Arabia, women's rights are still being fought for. Hopefully, they will step up to the times and stop suppressing their own people. However, when religion becomes involved, it takes much longer to change such things. Being intolerant to another's personal freedom seems too Neanderthol to me, and it truly makes me glad that I live in a country where women are not forced to be servant to the men in their lives.
@aeiou78 (3445)
• Malaysia
27 May 11
For us, those places are really a hell for the women.
We as the outsiders have limited of influences to their internal rules.
The future of the women in Saudi Arabic and the Middle East countries will still depend upon the effort from the women in those areas.
Presently, there is a slightly hope for the change in that region if the Afghanistan and the Iraq can start something new and innovative successfully.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 May 11
They should revoke a lot of things, but I don't see that happening any time soon.
@aeiou78 (3445)
• Malaysia
26 May 11
There isn't anything wrong for women to drive.
In fact, those women who can drive can help their families very much in their daily life.
They can have an additional skill to protect themselves too.
The rules should be revised and amended from time to time so that, those rules are still more practical and suitable to the present needs of the society.
Of course, the revision and the amendment should be expected for betterment.
@yspmyl (3435)
• Malaysia
25 May 11
Such discrimination happens everywhere in the world, and for me it is not a surprise that it happen in Saudi Arabia which many thing are tight and related to their believe and religion. There are many thing are not fare for woman and I believe this woman who started the provocation on the restriction actually showing that they are not happy about it and it is time to get rid of such old stone aged minded discriminate restriction. We all are human, so why there are different way of treating woman.
@aeiou78 (3445)
• Malaysia
25 May 11
Yes, you are right. Women were discriminated in many places, inclusive China.
With better educational system and the understanding from the society, the trend has been changed.
Women have shown their capabilities in many fields.
In certain fields, it can not be denied that women are better than men too.
Discriminating women is considered as primitive, conservative and unreasonable nowadays.
As such, I were shocked in reading this news.
@jak2010 (1550)
• Papua New Guinea
25 May 11
They should and they should realize that they are living in the 21st sentury and women have equal rights as the men. Thiis is outrageous and all the world must be against such abuse. It must be done by Saudi educated men. They should free their women and the religion is very sexist, gender biased and can not be a religion of humanity.
@aeiou78 (3445)
• Malaysia
26 May 11
Yeah ! The woman is really brave to awake all of the women about their right in her country.
They are reminded that they are in this 21st century.
They are capable, reliable, confident and so on to contribute to their societies.
They really need to change.
@rainbowink (296)
• Philippines
25 May 11
I hope their government realize that if they love their religion, they must also love the people in it. I don't see any point in restricting their women from driving and all other activities.
Kudos to that woman who voiced out her thoughts on this sad issue. Sadly, she wans't heard enough by the government but I hope the ones who have read her posts would also make further actions about this.
I'm in no way in the right position to dictate what one should do so I'd like to make it clear that, of course, this is just my opinion and answer to this discussion.
I DO NOT INTEND TO START DEMONSTRATIONS AND WHATNOT.
@aeiou78 (3445)
• Malaysia
26 May 11
In according to the news, the woman was getting more than 12 thousand supporters in the Facebook and Youtube.
ha! ha! Of course we are not capable to do anything for her because we are far away from her place.
Moreover, this is considered as the internal problem of her country.
We only can express our point of views here to aware the less of the people in this world about such silly rules.
Driving has nothing to do with morality and the religions.
I believe the God does not purposely make the women as slaves to serve the men.
@aeiou78 (3445)
• Malaysia
26 May 11
You are right.
Everyone must be treated the same no matter they are males or females.
I think the mindset of those in middle east should be changed and be modernized.
We can not tolerance such primitive, unreasonable, conservative and rigid rules to exist.
@aeiou78 (3445)
• Malaysia
26 May 11
Men are very important in a Chinese family to continue a family's generation.
But, the advance medical technology and the understanding of the Chinese society has changed their mindset nowadays.
Men and Women are both have the equal opportunity in most of the fields.
I hope the cultures in middle east countries will be changed starting from these Afghanistan and Iraq.
