Saudi Arabian
women are demanding the right to drive. The current ban, though not in fact
actually legal, prevents women from driving on the basis of “societal consensus”
and follows strict religious code. Saudi-Arabia has been known for its issues
regarding women’s rights over the years as several cases involving rape and
victim-blaming have been disclosed to the global media. Several demonstrations
have been staged before to show opposition to this edict. In May 2011 a
prominent women’s rights advocate and activist was arrested for driving. The
new protest, which involves urging women within the kingdom to get behind the
wheel, is set to take place October 26th 2013.
Saudi
Arabia is not exactly well known for their equal treatment of women. Just this
week there was also a case of a rape victim being given 200 lashings, originally
90 for the crime of being raped, and the additional amount because her lawyer
had the audacity to ask for an appeal and question the council. Saudi Arabia is
a heavily religious country, with most of its laws following the strict rule of
Islamic law. They are known for their severe guardian-ship laws, which limit
what a woman can do on her own without the explicit approval of a male guardian.
These laws are an effort to stifle the mobility of the female citizens and to
make them dependent on males for their survival. The justice set forth for violation
of these laws can vary from incarceration to public lashings. The best method
to control an individual is through deprivation of means, lacking the ability
to drive or to even ride a bike is a severe form of control. Minimizing women’s
transportation options is a show of dominance and subjugation and should be
considered deplorable. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights clearly
lists the ability to freely move about the world and travel as an inherent
human right, one that women in Saudi-Arabia are lacking. Progress is happening,
though, slowly. Women are being told that in 2015 they will have the right to
vote, and have been appointed to positions of authority now. However, the
average woman in Saudi Arabia is still dependent on others, men, to complete
tasks that she is perfectly capable of achieving on her own.
Aaron Fountain
09/27/2013
4:14 PM
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