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As some of you wonderful stunted and in some cases stopped
SDW readers may have noticed, the rights of Saudi women.
I haven’t been around for a while. According to the Encyclopedia
I believe my explanation will be of Human Rights, “sex segregation
of some interest to some of you. I is a key aspect of Islamic legal
teach English online to over 250 theory.” Men and women do not
countries. In February of 2023, I socialize together; once a woman
was invited by a long-time student gets her period, she is considered
from Saudi Arabia to come to her almost invisible. They attend school
country and meet her and her with other girls no interaction with
family. I accepted, as I had many males whatsoever. Unless they are
students from Saudi and thought I a father, brother, uncle, or a milk
could meet some of them. I planned relation. (Don’t ask, it is another
to stay in Saudi for a month and whole article in itself). This practice
spent 4 months. Long story short has been used to curtail women's
for a myriad of reasons I sold my rights. It is known as mahram and
house and moved to Saudi Arabia. is The Sharia legal notion of 'shield-
This, however, is not the subject of ing from corruption'. Moreover, it
this article, it is only a sort of intro- justifies segregation according to
duction. I have fought for women's many zealots of the Islamic faith.
and children’s rights for most of my Unfortunately, the laws are
adult life. I am presently living in a mostly unwritten, which gives
country that is not exactly known judges almost total discretion.
for either. However, things are Consequently, and not to rock the
changing! boat, they often side with tribal tra-
As fate would have it, I’ve ditions. Which in many incidents
picked a perfect time to move to declares women have no rights as
Saudi Arabia, as the country is go- far as I can ascertain. I am not alone
ing through a major transformation in this conclusion as many activists
called ‘Vision 2030.’ This ambitious like Wajeha al-Huwaider, “compare
goal recognizes that “any successful, the condition of Saudi women to
modern nation includes women slavery.”
as an integral part“ of said success. I began this article with
With that said, it may be helpful ‘Things are changing in Saudi
to learn about Saudi’s background Arabia’ and they are thanks to the
concerning women’s rights. I will present King Salman bin Abdulaziz
endeavor to present a short history Al Saud, the 25th son of King Ab-
lesson to illuminate your under- dulaziz. One of his first acts as the
standing of Saudi Arabia’s societal new ruler of Saudi Arabia was to
development as a nation. streamline the government bureau-
Saudi Arabia is a monarchy cracy, cutting out many ministers.
formed in 1932, by King Abdulaziz He declared changes would contin-
Al-Saud. It has been ruled as such ue under his leadership and he was
since 1953, by the royal family, true to his word. Changes occurred
all sons of King Abdulaziz. Saudi, in many areas such as Human
like most Arab countries, follows Rights; major changes in financial
the laws of Islam. These laws are institutions; the formation of the
taken directly from their holy book Ministry of Culture; curtailing
known as the Quran. For many the powers of the religious police,
years Saudi was governed by the and Wahhabi rules. This single act
Wahhabi school of thought; it is did more for women’s rights than
part of the Sunni Islamic religion. almost anything else. He appoint-
One could say this school of ed his 7th son, Mohammad bin
thought would be known as ‘zeal- Salman Saud as the Crown Prince
WOMEN’S RIGHTS, ots’ in most religions. in 2017, who is now the de facto
ruler of Saudi Arabia, known for his
Women's societal roles in
Saudi Arabia were and are heavily
aggressive foreign policy, ambitious
MAYBE influenced by Islamic and local economic vision, and controversial
social reforms. I would like to add a
traditions. Islamic, national, and
local laws impact women’s rights as
personal comment, he is a fox.
Prince Mohammad has
they took full advantage of their
By Carol Heath well. When Wahhabi was in power, carried out many of his father’s
reforms and has added a few of his
interpretation of the Quran and
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