A UN panel recently criticized the way in which Saudi Arabia protects women’s rights. Now, Saudi Gazette runs an article noting how Saudi women are responding to that report. Refreshingly, they tend to see it as a guide to reform rather than a negative criticism. They seem to agree that the concept of guardianship, for instance, is the result of society’s misunderstanding of religion and point to how women in early Islamic days needed no such ‘protection’. One person quoted says that she does not argue with inheritance laws because men have greater obligations put on them than women. Interesting piece.
Saudi Women respond to UN Questions on Rights
Maha Sami AboulolaJEDDAH – SAUDI businesswomen on Saturday spoke up in defense of Islam but blamed the society for the country’s questionable record on gender-equality.
Saudi officials were questioned on Thursday by a UN expert panel on women’s rights about numerous infringements on gender-equality that occur in Saudi Arabia, according to an account of the UN meeting published in Geneva on Friday.
Reacting to the questions raised by the 23-member UN committee of experts – most of them women – on Saudi norms that give men the right to twice the inheritance women are allowed, and make women obliged to have a “Mehram” (male guardian) accompany them for many of life’s daily tasks, Dr. Amira Kashgari, an outspoken voice for Saudi women’s rights, told Saudi Gazette: “Islam gave woman her rights 1,400 years ago but now we don’t have these right just because of the society.”
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is an expert body composed of 23 experts on women’s issues from around the world, mandated to watch over progress for women in countries that signed the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which as of 2000 includes Saudi Arabia.
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January:20:2008 - 17:05
Some of the arguments in this article fall short of answering the main question which is women’s freedom. Yes you can find many women in Saudi that have understanding husbands allowing them to be business women and travel freely, but can only do so with approval. This is not just a social issue as it is enforced by law. A woman can not be free or equal, if permission is required.
Sometimes these articles make the situation look better than reality by only quoting women that have a good situation. The ones that are in bad situations can not be interviews, because they are not permitted to do so.
January:20:2008 - 22:57
Good point Saudi. Obviously those who are free to be out of the house and speak are those being interviewed. Guardianship sounds very ‘nice’ when one is married to a kind, open minded husband. Given the alternative, it can be a literal prison.
I will comment on the inheritance laws for women. I’ve always admired them. In the Western laws, a woman can be literally written out of a father’s will with no questions asked. At least with the Sharia’ah she is guaranteed her rights.
January:21:2008 - 02:32
The testimony also said “the laws of the Kingdom require redress for a woman if she is subject to discrimination or injustice.”
I am still waiting for payment for my children and their friends who were poisoned at a particular place that is not even inspected for health and sanitation.
Can you imagine that places for women and children are not even inspected for health and sanitation unless there is a problem?
I approached both the US embassy and the UN for funds for a great business model to help empower women. We were denied funds. The basis for the denial wasn’t a poor business model, but rather lack of funds????? Meanwhile the U.S. has given people money for silly things! We will find our way somehow, but this just goes to show how serious everybody is in this regards to helping “empowering” women?
I won’t give up and will find my way somehow.
January:21:2008 - 02:53
Under most state laws, anyone–excepting a spouse–can be written out of a will. Depending on which state, a spouse is guaranteed either 1/3 or 1/2 of the estate. Children don’t deserve anything in particular. It’ up to the testator to decide what they should get.
Bill Gates, for instance, is leaving his kids (a boy and a girl) less than 1% of his billions.
January:21:2008 - 03:24
Islamic law also allows some freedoms in writing a well to change the division of inheritance form the standard one established by Sharia’. I think this has some limitations. I am not an expert in this area, but I remember my grandfather altered his inheritance so my aunt, his only surviving daughter, received an equal share of his estate to that of her brothers.
January:21:2008 - 09:22
It can also be avoided by dispersing the estate prior to death, leaving very little in the estate proper. This requires not only planning, but acknowledging that one will die. That’s not easy to do for most people.