I was talking with a non muslim who was saying that muslim women don't have any rights. He give the exemple of muslim women not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia and i can't manage to argue that. What is the reason Behind this prohibition?
hmm ..muslim women specially saudi women are not allowed to drive because they are not allowed to travel without mahram. thats the reason if women drive ...like in other muslim coutries they are not bound to be accompanied by anyone ...they can drive on their own. but when it comes to saudi women, they have this view that if in case they encouter an accident or something there wont be an mahram with them when the police etc comes. so thats the main reason.
by the way, women in saudia are allowed to drive within the boundries of residential complexes of companies such as ARAMCO etc ... they dont have to wear veils etc there if they dont want as well ... thats the western world within an eastern islamic area.
my view, i dont consider what saudis are doing as bad ... all religions & cultures have their own limitations & requirements and you cant force your on others.
i know its bad .... but like i like in pakistan & i dont cover my head or anything but when im in saudia i do ... i cant give justification to them that because im from pakistan & its more liberal over there that i am not going to wear abayah here in saudia.
i heard saudi was the best example of free speech and application of shareeah in the world (turning a blind eye to their human right abuses..) ... .. well that's what their sheikhs say and we should obey them otherwise we be called extremists.... maybe i'm mistaken :X
Last edited by lolwatever; 07-30-2006 at 08:51 PM.
i know its bad .... but like i like in pakistan & i dont cover my head or anything but when im in saudia i do ... i cant give justification to them that because im from pakistan & its more liberal over there that i am not going to wear abayah here in saudia.
But isn't it obligatory for women to cover their heads (and possibly recommended for men)?
but when it comes to saudi women, they have this view that if in case they encouter an accident or something there wont be an mahram with them when the police etc comes. so thats the main reason.
Sister mano_the_cat, I think the reason you gave is the most suitable for this issue. I think this prohibition is a consequence of another Islamic law that don’t allow women to travel without a mahram so in case of accident, a non-mahram do not touch them. But a new question can arise here. In Bus, rail and other accident that are involved many people, how womens are assisted, only by womens?
for fishman, yes its obligatory ... but you know muslims take things for granted and this is where the culture comes in .... indian subcontinent was never so much into covering etc ... so thats what the west calls
'liberalism' & 'rights of women'.
for imrano, you are right ... bus,rails & other means of transport can cause problem.... but you know saudis dont have railway tracks throughout their country ..its only from dammam to riyadh ...means 4-5 houres drive. other than that you need buses, cars or planes to travel to other cities. within the city there is no mass transport facility like buses ..only taxis where saudi women mostly are accompanied by males(boys & kids). so, you see they dont have much problem ... they ahve their husbands to drive them everywhere ..or some have drivers(mostly pakistani, indian, srilankan or bangladeshis). what i told you the reason by women not allowed to drive in saudia is what i have been told & it does make sense .... women going outside home can be cause of 'fitnah' which occassionally happens there too and which they very efficiently curb & manage to eradicate.
by the way, i havent seen any women police there as yet ...when it will ..i would let you all know.
U have to remember that there is alot of desert and empty secluded places in saudi, if a woman was to drive n her car broke down or something n she was in the middle of no where n some guy stopped, she cud be taken advantage of, n in a secluded place who else wud be able to see her, sometimes places go without cars coming through for ages n ages. its dangerous for her, if she has a mehram with her then theres no reason why she shudnt be able to drive.
U have to remember that there is alot of desert and empty secluded places in saudi, if a woman was to drive n her car broke down or something n she was in the middle of no where n some guy stopped, she cud be taken advantage of, n in a secluded place who else wud be able to see her, sometimes places go without cars coming through for ages n ages. its dangerous for her, if she has a mehram with her then theres no reason why she shudnt be able to drive.
but that does apply in the big cities though does it?
^^ nah sis but i think saudi society is very male no?
just on arab news i think last month ther ewas the issue of men throwing their numbers to womens open windows. that in itself is harassment, and the women have a man with them.
what would happen if the women were alone?
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^^ nah sis but i think saudi society is very male no?
just on arab news i think last month ther ewas the issue of men throwing their numbers to womens open windows. that in itself is harassment, and the women have a man with them.
what would happen if the women were alone?
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