Saudi Arabia has been voted onto the UN women’s rights commission last week. On the same day, Majlis Al Shoura members rejected a proposal to establish sports colleges for women 76:73.
No, this is not a joke, seriously. Along with other 48 countries Saudi Arabia will promote the role of women in societies and defend their rights. Hmm, seriously, how?
It took me a bit to make sure I have read the news item correctly and not missed anything that lead me to misunderstanding any parts or the whole of it. Yes, Saudi Arabia has been elected by the UN to defend and promote women’s rights.
How? If we look at Saudi Arabia’s human right records it leaves lots of questions that can be argued about. Whether the laws are all implemented equally, Sharia is applied correctly, or many different questions.
On women’s rights there is no argument that defends Saudi Arabia’s record nor room for arguing that the record is clean. Human dignity is not preserved in Saudi Arabia. That is a fact reflected in Saudi behaviour among each other and with others. To me it is an indicator of lack of tolerance and respect, main pillars of Islam. This brings us back to the argument that whether Sharia is implemented correctly, remains doubt-able.
Women rights is a separate chapter, it is a thesis in the book of Saudi Arabia. The religious “department” in the Saudi society is divided into 2 parts; those who do the rules and those who gain from that control given by those rules and enjoy it. They claim they follow Islam which they seriously do not. Their interpretation of the many rules in Quran and Sunnah (the Prophet’s guidance to his fellow Muslims) has and is being done in a cut and paste format, forgetting the gap of 1439 years between the time it was sent/given to Muslims and our days now.
Taking out all meanings of the surrounding circumstances at the time of the Prophet forcing their implementation into modern times lifestyle, neglecting circumstances that surely would ease many of the rules which equals living like Mormons – with all my respect to different beliefs. Interesting is that they have not looked at the different rules women had in those times and their cut and paste format on that. Women at the time of Prophet Muhammed were warriors, functioned as controllers for finance (translation: finance minister).
On women rights, who in those times had guardians for protection? It is purely a game of power and control. It is an ego booster with religious justification.
Now I do believe in positive energy and giving pushes to those on the right track. But sorry what track has Saudi Arabia been on to be proven right or doing something for women? If the UN meant the latest women announcement of women in senior positions at Tadwul stock market, SAMBA and Al Arabi Bank, right and the thousand women before them who deserved more appreciation? What about the signature of my male guardian, has that been removed? What about abuse of power by the guardian? What about a civilised and respectful interpretation for women rights in Islam as it should and not wanted to be? Can I be a human being who can decide for herself please and not feel like a minor just because I am woman.
This is what the UN supported. With this nomination the UN and all members who voted for it supported the Saudi government and religious party’s beliefs that they are right in their treatment of women and an example the world can learn from.
This design does not help the women case in Saudi Arabia in any way. The day of nomination was a black day for women’s right and for all human rights.
I tried my best to find an angle that proves me wrong and give me hope that such an election will make things better. Sadly, I could not.
