Women are not allowed to leave the house without a male accompany. Saudi Arabia could be planning to relax the country’s strict male guardianship laws to allow women to leave the country without needing permission from a male relative, according to reports. Earlier this year, at least 36 countries, including all 28 members of the European Union, have signed a statement condemning Saudi Arabia’s human rights record at the United Nations Human Rights Council (OHCHR). Women will no longer require permission from a male guardian to travel abroad and can apply for a passport without authorization. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The religious authorities had long argued that male guardianship laws should prevent women from driving themselves. The Guardian, a British newspaper, thankfully can still be read without a paywall, which is how I saw a recent piece on how Saudi women have taken to battling the country’s male guardianship system via Twitter.. Twitter, as you may remember, has become an extremely powerful social network in Saudi society, as its users can remain anonymous and push for social changes like women finally … This article is such an eye opener. Under Saudi Arabia’s male guardianship system, every woman must have a male guardian who has the authority to make a range of critical decisions on her behalf. Wow! Elective surgery, particularly when sexual in nature. In January, 18-year-old Rahaf Mohammed Mutlaq al-Qunun made headlines after escaping alleged abuse at the hands of her family and barricading herself in a hotel room in Thailand. Women are not allowed to leave the house without a male accompany. That is just shocking. Share. In January 2019, British parliamentarians and lawmakers sought access to eight detained female activists in Saudi Arabia. Women often face severe oppression, abuses or domestic violence by male guardians, but have no ability to report the crime to the police as filing a complaint or a court case requires permission of the male guardians! Lasloom’s whereabouts, since returning to Saudi Arabia still remains unknown. By law, a brother, father or husband is the designated guardian, giving them the power to make a range of critical decisions on the woman’s behalf. Women are treated as possessions of their male guardians. Saudi Arabia officially lifted the ban on driving for women in June 2018. I usually keep my opinions to myself but no one has the right to dictate a person. King Fahd hospital in Al Bahah postponed amputating a critically injured woman’s hand in July 2013, because she had no male legal guardian to authorize the procedure. But five months later King Salman issued a decree allowing women to access government services without being required to obtain a male guardian’s approval. This was such a comprehensive summary that no one can ignore. We so often hear nothing about the consequences of these laws and customs, or maybe just snippets. So sad. 367. It would also be a huge fanfare for [Bin Salman’s] supposed credentials as a reformer.”. However, restrictions on women remain - most notably, the "male guardianship system… Murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, torture and violation of detained women rights activists finally alerted the International community again the rising leader of Saudi Arabia. Against the backdrop of a Saudi state that does not have a codified criminal code, this paper explores how rape is defined in Saudi courts and to what extent and how women’s rights activists have put rape on the agenda. Even here in India women are not treated as an ewual to men in most parts. Marriage and divorce and typically for any important decisions in their lives. I was always interested in the subject but there is hardly any onfo. In the absence of any penal code, it is very difficult for the International community to assess the improvements. She and the other activists were accused of treason and collusion with foreign governments. Women are treated like second class citizens in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. If a woman is detained for any reason, the police will not release her unless her guardian comes to receive her. The system also makes it difficult for women to seek help for domestic and sexual violence issues or win child custody cases. I feel so bad for those who are born into that abusive culture. She was finally rescued by a team of UNHCR representatives, and received asylum in Canada! http://www.thecozyme.com. The male guardianship system affects women’s life and existence from birth to death and has really dire consequences. The joint statement said, “We call on Saudi Arabia to take meaningful steps to ensure that all members of the public, including human rights defenders and journalists, can freely and fully exercise their rights to freedoms of expression, opinion, and association, including online, without fear of reprisals.”. Under Saudi law, all females must have a male guardian , typically a father, brother, husband, or uncle (mahram), but in 2019 this law was partially amended to exclude women over 21 years old from having a … What is their justification for treating any human worst than an animal? issued a detailed report on male guardianship in Saudi Arabia describing the activism against male guardianship as “incredible and unprecedented”. A woman can be arrested on charges of “disobedience” of the male guardians. Male guardianship is based on very oppressive and rigid social norms, might take years to abolish till women in all parts of the society receives true freedom! Hassan Ammar/AFP/Getty Images. Learn more about who can be harmed by these systems and how they operate. Nationally and internationally people started considering Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) as a reformer of women’s rights. the international pressure on the dire human rights situation in Saudi Arabia will hopefully implement the recommendations made by UPR. The world we live in is gradually evolving and one day Saudi will get it and get there. All females, girls, and women are forbidden from traveling, conducting official business, or undergoing certain medical procedures without permission from their male guardians. In another 2009 case, a father sent his daughter to a mental institution as punishment for her attempts to marry outside their tribe. In March 2019, a statement before the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, the Saudi authorities accepted the recommendations of the abolition of the male guardianship system made as part of its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in November 2018 by 18 countries. In 2008 in a reported case, a father married off his eight-year-old daughter to a 47-year-old man to have his debts forgiven. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has seen some reforms, including, among others, a ban on domestic violence in 2013. Male guardianship is based on Sharia Law, which is not a codified system of law, but more of social customs in enforcing certain prohibitions on women. Promoting Gender Equality and Women Empowerment. The ownership of a woman is passed from one man to another, typically from the father or the brother to the husband. This is a reminder of how fortunate US citizens are and our obligation to help others throughout the world gain equal footing. Saudi Arabia’s male guardianship system continues to be the greatest obstacle to women’s rights even though there have been limited reforms in the last ten years. It makes the equality issues in the US seem so minor. , with the trending slogan, “Remove guardianship and we won’t all migrate”. The ownership of a woman is passed from one man to another, typically from the father or the brother to the husband. are treated like second class citizens in Saudi Arabia. Learn how your comment data is processed. Rahaf Mohammed Mutlaq al-Qunun made headlines after escaping alleged abuse. Awful state of affairs for females in Saudi Arabia. A Clinical Researcher by profession, I am originally from India; now live in California with my family. “There is no question that the leadership, the government and the people want to see this system changed,” a Saudi royal with knowledge of the planned changes told the Journal. The Grand Mufti, Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, described the petition as a “crime against the religion of Islam and an existential threat to Saudi society”. Reforming individual aspects of the guardianship system won’t liberate Saudi women from the control of men. Her story created huge attention; the #SaveRahaf reached out to humanitarian activists, journalists, diplomats and representatives of several International States. When I come across such societies which are male dominated to this extent, I wonder when things are going to change. The issue of male guardianship laws in the Kingdom has been a hot topic of debate worldwide, including social media, and a concern for every household in the Kingdom. In Saudi Arabia, laws only become laws when they are issued as a royal decree. I write about women's rights, equality and gender based issues to create awareness and to include every body in my fight against gender discrimination. Under this system, all women must have a male guardian (wali), either a father, husband, uncle or son, sign off on what a woman can or cannot do in her life. The planned changes would also lift restrictions on international travel for men under the age of 21 without the consent of designated male family members. . The Saudi interior ministry, through which such changes would have to be implemented, did not immediately respond to the Guardian’s request for comment. The reported changes to travel rules are understood to be recommended by a government committee set up in 2017 to review the country’s often ad hoc implementation of the guardianship laws. The report, “Boxed In: Women and Saudi Arabia’s Male Guardianship System,” begins by saying: “In Saudi Arabia, a woman’s life is controlled by a man from birth until death. I would be interested in direct suggestions for how we can help this cause. Twitter hashtags #IAmMyOwnGuardian and #StopEnslavingSaudiWomen went viral as a large scale campaign. Saudi Arabia's persecution of … It allows men to track women allow or prohibit women to travel through airports! While there definitely still is a long way to go before women have equal rights in this country, the international pressure on the dire human rights situation in Saudi Arabia will hopefully implement the recommendations made by UPR. If a woman is detained for any reason, the police will not release her unless her guardian comes to receive her. But five months later, King Salman issued a decree allowing women to access government services without being required to obtain a male guardian’s approval. The request came following a report by the. I’ve read a lot of news articles lately about young Saudi women fleeing their countries because of these issues. Their witness statements carry half the weight of a man’s. This is shocking to be honest. In 2015, the Saudi government launched the, postponed amputating a critically injured woman’s hand in July 2013, because she had no male legal guardian to authorize the procedure. This incidence revived anti-male-guardianship campaign on. In the absence of any penal code, it is very difficult for the International community to assess the improvements. Last year, Saudi Arabia once again landed on the “Ranking of Freedom of the Press” published annually by, as one of the worst places for freedom of the press, coming in at 169 out of a total of 180. Around 2500 women sent telegrams to King Salman. A woman can be arrested on charges of “disobedience” of the male guardians. There has not been an official royal degree enforcing the legal guardianship system. As a male blogger focusing on women empowerment, i am shocked at these practices. However, restrictions on women remain - … Women in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to obtain passports and travel abroad without a male "guardian" to accompany them, according to a change … Thank you for bringing to light the male guardianship rule in Saudi Arabia. Her case has sparked global outrage due to the extreme and legally questionable nature of her, and the incident was described as “Canadian attempt at stirring up civil strife by inciting the Kingdom’s teenage girls to abandon social mores”. Her case has sparked global outrage due to the extreme and legally questionable nature of her extradition. Saudi women still need the permission of a male relative to make major life decisions, including marriage, divorce and obtaining a passport. Wow! Saudi Arabia has issued new laws that grant women greater freedoms by allowing any citizen to apply for a passport and travel freely, ending a long-standing and controversial guardianship policy that had required male consent for a woman to travel or carry a passport. Male guardianship is based on very oppressive and rigid social norms, might take years to abolish till women in all parts of the society receives true freedom! She barricaded herself and shared her story on Twitter appealing asylum to any other country. Saudi Arabia could be planning to relax the country’s strict male guardianship laws to allow women to leave the country without needing permission from a male relative, according to reports. Loujain al-Hathloul was one of the most prominent voices in the movement. Kippi #kippiathome. Male guardians often abuse their power. Dina Ali Lasloom, a Saudi woman who tried to flee her country in 2017 to escape a forced marriage, was detained in the Philippines. As long as men hold the power to decide, all … In January 2019, a teenager, Rahaf Mohammed, created International media attention and sensation on Social Media about the Male Guardianship in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia's male-guardianship tradition is based on a rigid, traditional view of the sexes. She was eventually given refugee status in Canada. The male guardianship system affects women’s life and existence from birth to death and has really dire consequences. The world is progressing but women in these countries are being not given the opportunity to move ahead. Bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, has implemented sweeping social and economic reforms designed to wean the country off its dependence on oil revenue since he was appointed heir to the throne in 2017. In January 2019, British parliamentarians and lawmakers sought access to eight detained female activists in Saudi Arabia. My friend in India has to suffer through the same women oppression. The joint statement said, “. The kingdom’s guardianship laws have been under renewed scrutiny this year after a series of young Saudi women fled the country seeking asylum. As dozens of Saudi women told Human Rights Watch, the male guardianship system is the most significant impediment to realizing women’s rights in … In Saudi Arabia, a woman’s life is controlled by a man from birth until death. It’s sad to see. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Saudi mainstream media has heavily criticized Canada and the incident was described as “Canadian attempt at stirring up civil strife by inciting the Kingdom’s teenage girls to abandon social mores”. Women need their guardian’s permission for: Male guardianship is based on Sharia Law, which is not a codified system of law, but more of social customs in enforcing certain prohibitions on women. The male guardianship system affects women’s life and existence from birth to death and has really dire consequences. Very difficult to read all of the injustices that happen to women. irrespective of their age, education or employment status, must have a male guardian, typically a father, brother, husband or uncle (. Women in Saudi Arabia: The Kafala and Male Guardianship Systems Join CODEPINK and Freedom Forward for a conversation about the kafala and male guardianship systems in Saudi Arabia with Dr. Hala Aldosari and Bethany Alhaidari, moderated by CODEPINK’s Danaka Katovich. While there definitely still is a long way to go before women have equal rights in this country. The stories of the women taking a stand are inspiring, I feel so sad after reading this post. Human Rights Watch issued a detailed report on male guardianship in Saudi Arabia describing the activism against male guardianship as “incredible and unprecedented”. In Saudi Arabia, every woman has a male guardian -- often a father or husband, sometimes a brother or son -- who has the power to make a range of critical decisions on their behalf. But quite ironically, the rampant arrest of women’s rights activists just before the driving ban was lifted, shocked the world. that a woman being pulled out of a room with her mouth taped shut, and her body was wrapped in a sheet. Wajeha al-Huwaider is a Saudi women's rights activist who in 2003 was banned by Saudi authorities from publishing her opinions in Saudi media and was arrested again after holding a women's rights street protest in August 2006. I certainly hope that the laws change in Saudi Arabia so that women can be provided with equality. Thank you for giving a voice to those people and make people like me aware. I am also a Certified Reiki Healer and a Certified Sexual Assault Counselor and Advocate. Experts think even though the crown prince MBS took some reformers actions and modern outlooks, activists are feeling more threatened and freedom of speech was never abused so much before. I started reading this and immediately thought how awful it is that this happens. Saudi Arabia officially lifted the ban on driving for women in June 2018. In 2015, the Saudi government launched the Absher app hosted on the Google Play and Apple App store. Saudi Arabia drew international plaudits last year when it lifted a longstanding ban on women driving. Under his leadership, the requirement of male guardian’s permissions was waved off from public services. Sources stated that she is held at the Correctional Facility for Women in Riyadh. A royal decree ended the kingdom’s long-standing ban on women driving in 2018 and women no longer need their guardian’s permission to get a job, enroll at university or undergo surgery. The Saudi government is reportedly planning this year to lift a restriction on women traveling without the consent of male relatives. But quite ironically, the rampant arrest of women’s rights activists just before the driving ban was lifted, shocked the world. The restrictions in women’s movement can be witnessed on a daily basis. Travel restrictions for women over the age of 18 are due to be lifted this year, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, quoting Saudi officials familiar with the matter. Traditionally, a woman’s male guardian from birth is her father and once she is married her guardian becomes her husband. Thanks for speaking up. The impetus to reform the travel rules had come “from the top”, another senior adviser said. Saudi Arabia’s male guardianship system treats women as legal minors, requiring them to obtain male permission to travel, marry, work and now drive. I could not live in a society like this. Such a move would have a radical impact on life in the conservative kingdom, where human rights organisations say the male guardianship system makes women second-class citizens. “If confirmed, the news marks a small and long-overdue concession to domestic and international calls on the kingdom to improve its record on women’s rights,” said Taif al-Khudary, a legal officer at the Gulf-focused legal advocacy NGO MENA Rights Group. It’s odd that this news has not come from an official announcement, but it could be a sign that internally there is an effort to leak information like this to pressure [Saudi crown prince] Mohammed bin Salman into actually making this move'.”, Hala al-Dosari, a Saudi activist and academic based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said: “If it does happen it would lead to a spike in women seeking asylum. An American woman, divorced by a Saudi … It is also one of the five countries detaining the highest number of journalists. Every Saudi woman must have a male guardian, normally a father or husband, but in some cases a brother or even a son, who has the power to make a range of critical decisions on her behalf. Women cannot travel internationally without her male guardian… , Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, described the petition as a “crime against the religion of Islam and an existential threat to Saudi society”. In late July, Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers promulgated landmark amendments to the three laws that will begin to dismantle the country’s discriminatory male guardianship system. Sources stated that she is held at the Correctional Facility for Women in Riyadh. The Guardianship System in Saudi Arabia The guardianship system is rooted in a deeply conservative reading of Shariah law. Wow! It comes as welcome news that authorities in Saudi Arabia have taken important steps toward dismantling the repressive male guardianship system, which treats women in the country as minors. Human Rights Watch, July 2016. 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