Posted on 06/30/2003 3:29:28 PM PDT by JustPiper
JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia, June 26, 2003 (AP)--Eight Saudi women appeared on a groundbreaking television program Thursday to criticize previously taboo subjects such as the right to drive, unemployment and political participation among women.
Wearing headscarves of red, blue and yellow - instead of traditional black - the participants complained about their lack of jobs, opportunities and public voice in this conservative kingdom, where women have less freedom than in most other Muslim nations. "We are handicapped in terms of personal freedom. We even need permission from a male guardian to get our identification papers," pediatrician Suad Jaber said on the program, "Saudi Women Speak Out." The show is part of an opening up of Saudi media since Islamic militants detonated vehicle bombs in Riyadh on May 12, killing 25 bystanders, and fought a deadly gun battle with police in the holy city of Mecca earlier this month. The attacks deeply disturbed the country and forced the government to allow greater freedom in the media.
Siham Fatani, a professor of English at King Abdul-Aziz University in Jiddah, said the television program was unprecedented.
"This was something new," Fatani said. "It never happened before. It was the first time Saudi women were given a chance to give their opinion publicly like that. Not everyone reads the papers, but everyone watches television."
Abeer Mishkhas, a columnist, says the liberalization is also part of an effort by the Saudi government to improve its image abroad.
"Saudi Arabia is trying to show the world that there's more to us than terrorism and religion," said Mishkhas, a female editor at the Arab News newspaper. "We are given more freedom to discuss things. We can now criticize government ministers and government policies."
Owing to the country's strict interpretation of Islam, Saudi women are not allowed to drive, travel without permission of a male guardian, work alongside men or appear in public unveiled.
"Rights are not given. We have to ask for them," computer programmer Alia Banaja said on the two-hour program.
Maha Fitaihi, wearing a red and yellow scarf and a brightly colored long dress, criticized the lack of women in the Shura council. The government-appointed body advises the king and is the closest thing Saudi Arabia has to a parliament.
"There are no women in the consultative council or even in the government's discussions about the employment of women," said Fitaihi, a social worker.
Since the show was broadcast Wednesday evening, and again Thursday afternoon, the phones of the participants have not stopped ringing."I've gotten 70 to 80 phone calls and messages since yesterday," Fitaihi said. Two were from satellite channels wanting interviews, she said. Samar Fatani, another participant, said she received many calls from women who criticized the participants for not being more outspoken.
"This is just a feeler, a first step. We need to take things slowly so it doesn't backfire," said Fatani, who is not related to Siham Fatani, the professor.
Women came together to watch the program on the Saudi-owned satellite channel Orbit. For three days beforehand, women publicized the show by word of mouth and text messages on cell phones. "A program on Saudi women Wednesday. Watch it. Circulate this to everyone you know," a typical message read.
"While we were watching the show, everybody was calling everybody," said Siham Fatani, who watched the program with her family.
One participant, a divorced mother of two, spoke of the plight of divorcees and widows.
"Some of us need to work. I wish more attention was given to the divorced and widowed women in society," said Zein Darandari, a banker.
"Driving is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity," said Samar Fatani. "Some people have a hard time making ends meet and have to borrow money to afford drivers," she said.
Fitaihi, the social worker, said there were many important issues the show did not cover, such as domestic violence and divorce laws.
"I hope we have more shows like this. We need to be able to speak out and be heard," she said.
Progressive Saudi women argue that in order to advance, they have to take part in decision-making.
"We need institutionalized reforms. They need to be official. Women need to be active participants in all the ministries and all the government sectors that deal with women and family law," Fitaihi said.
No ---but you can't just lay around and wait for them to be given to you. You sometimes must demand they be given to you. Our Founding Fathers didn't just think the King of England was going to wake up one day and decide to play fair. American women didn't get their rights all in one day ---for one it is the women who raise the children ---even in Arabia ---they set the tone, these Arab women raise their sons and allow certain backward thinking. The hand which rocks the cradle....
This just in:
Saudi authorities report finding the headless bodies of eight Saudi women being fed to vultures on the outskirts of Riyadh today. Since the heads are missing, and Saudi women are not allowed to have fingerprints, police are unable to identify the remains. In an impassioned plea to the citizenry, Internal Security Chief Abu Ben-Baboo called on Saudi males to "Come claim these women if they belong to you. They are making a bad smell on our city."
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