Women in Saudi Arabia: fighting taboos. Five of the most absurd discriminatory bans on women in the world The fight for automobile rights
Iraq
Iraq is one of the countries where women have virtually no rights. Things have always not been the best with women's rights in this country, but today, with the emergence and development of the so-called Islamic State, the situation is simply catastrophic. Representatives of the fairer sex here are perceived as beings who perform the function of satisfying men and their needs, and sex jihad is a normal practice - women are obliged to provide sexual services to soldiers, and until they get tired of them. In case of refusal - execution.
Saudi Arabia
In this country, women's rights are very limited, or rather, practically non-existent. The most serious prohibitions concern, of course, communication with men - everything is arranged in such a way as to prevent a woman from meeting male representatives. The absurdity of the situation reaches the point that women are not even allowed to drive a car, so as not to create situations where she can contact a man. Moreover, if a girl is raped, the blame for the incident will fall on her.
Pakistan
There simply is not a single law that protects the rights of the female population. Almost 90% of women suffer from domestic violence. Moreover, the normal practice in Pakistan is to punish a wife for her husband’s misdeeds and sins - she can be raped, beaten, or anything else can be done to her, including murder.
Another country where women do not have rights a priori at any level. Girls are still married off without consent at the age of 10-12. It is believed that their only purpose is to satisfy all the needs of the husband, as well as procreation.
Afghanistan
It has one of the highest mortality rates among women in labor in the world, as 85% of Afghan women give birth without medical care. In most cases, women in this country do not live longer than 45 years: their only function is to give birth to a child, and after that no attention is paid to health. It is prohibited to go to the hospital without the consent of the husband.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The constant civil wars here force women to the front lines, however, despite the fact that they participate in hostilities in the same way as men, female representatives do not receive any titles or honors. Moreover, they cannot sign any document without their husband.
Sudan
In this country, women also have no rights. Women endure violence and beatings simply because they have nowhere to turn for help.
Mali
The brutal custom of female circumcision still exists here. Is it worth continuing to say that women’s rights and freedoms are not here and are not expected.
Somalia
A difficult region in which constant internecine clashes and strife make it impossible to even talk about women’s rights. Over 90% of girls lose their virginity as a result of rape at the age of 10-12 years.
India
Although this country is considered part of the civilized world, the vast majority of the population still lives by its own ancient laws, according to which a woman is a powerless creature created for the pleasure of a man. In India, girls are still married off without their consent and most suffer domestic violence. In addition, human trafficking is very common in this country and the main “product” is women. A girl here is always a less desirable child than a boy, and sometimes parents even decide to have an abortion if they find out that they are expecting a representative of the fair sex.
Guatemala
In Guatemala, violence in all its forms against women is the norm. According to statistics, every day in this country two women die at the hands of others. The worst thing is that women are so accustomed to this that they do not realize the wrongness of what is happening and do not even realize that they were created not only to satisfy all the needs of a man, but can be free, self-sufficient and confident, full-fledged individuals with their own desires and interests.
They say that in Saudi Arabia women have more restrictions than rights. They are not allowed to drive a car or leave the house.
10 things women should not do in Saudi Arabia
07:01 March 11, 2017They say that in Saudi Arabia women have more restrictions than rights. They are not allowed to drive a car, leave the house unaccompanied by a man, or attend sporting events. Moreover, most of the prohibitions are not officially stated either in secular or religious laws; they simply exist at the level of traditions. But as punishment for violating these traditions, people are often even killed.
Doing anything without the consent of a male guardian
A male guardian - most often a husband, father or brother - is the person who completely controls the life of any woman in Saudi Arabia. Without his permission, a woman cannot enter into or break off a marriage, get an education, work, travel anywhere abroad or within the country, or even undergo a planned operation. Every step, every action requires the consent or direct participation of a male guardian. Even just communicating with a neopukun man is strictly prohibited.
Doing something that could reflect on the honor of the male guardian
At the same time, a male guardian who protects and cares for a woman has the right to demand prudent behavior from her. It is believed that if the guardian loses control over the women, he will lose honor in the eyes of society. And this is very serious. If a woman spoils the honor of a male guardian with her behavior, he has the right to punish her and, in extreme cases, even kill her. Moreover, this is not just some outdated dogma. The practice of honor killings occurs every day in Saudi Arabia. In 2007, her father killed a young girl when he learned that she had been communicating with a young man on Facebook. Most conservative citizens then called on the government to ban Facebook entirely because it, they said, incites lust and causes social discord by encouraging sexual mixing. It is a great shame for a woman in Saudi Arabia to be arrested by the religious police. And they can arrest you for anything. So in 2009, two young girls, after being arrested as a result of communicating with strangers, were publicly shot by their brothers, in the presence of their father.
Appearing on the street with exposed parts of the body
According to Sharia, to prevent a stranger from being seduced by a woman, she is obliged to cover all parts of the body in a public place, except for the oval of the face, hands and feet. But in some provinces of the country, women are required to cover their entire face except their eyes and leave only their hands exposed. However, since 2011, religious police have begun requiring women to also cover their eyes, citing the fact that they may sometimes be too “sexy.”
Leave special “women’s” areas in public places
There is pronounced gender segregation in Saudi Arabia. It affects all women, whom male guardians try to limit as much as possible from the surrounding society and any contact with unfamiliar men. Any special events take place with the separation of men and women. Most houses in the country have separate entrances. Moreover, any man, except the owner, is prohibited from entering the women's part of the house. All public places are also divided: shopping centers, amusement parks, beaches, public transport, educational institutions. Moreover, quite often, schoolchildren of two sexes study not just in different buildings, but also at different times, so that they do not overlap with each other in any way. Violation of the principles of gender segregation, especially by women, is considered a crime.
Work where she likes
Let's start with the fact that for women in Saudi Arabia any hired work is not encouraged at all. From early childhood, girls are taught that their main role is to give birth and raise children, support the family hearth, and take care of the family. A woman, of course, can work, but only in places specially designated for women and not in all areas of activity. You can work as a doctor, nurse, teacher. But this is only if you have managed to get a suitable education first, which is also extremely difficult to do. In addition, a woman in Saudi Arabia can get any job only with the permission of a male guardian.
Attend open sporting events
Despite the fact that there are women's sports teams in the country, they are not allowed to participate in any more or less significant sports competitions. Until 2008, Saudi Arabia was the only country in the world that did not represent women at the Olympics. Saudi girls do not receive any sports education in schools, and they have extremely limited access to other sports facilities. But women are strictly prohibited from attending open sporting events.
Drive
The movement of women around the country is already very limited. Without the accompaniment of a male guardian, they are not even allowed to leave the house, not to mention any trips or travel. Women are prohibited from driving; they are not issued state driving licenses even if they have a foreign license. Most Saudi scholars and religious leaders consider it a sin for a woman to drive a car. For example, Professor Kamal Subhi claims that if women in the country are allowed to drive cars, in ten years there will be no virgins left. And another influential Sheikh Saleh Lohaidan once said that if a woman drives a car, she may give birth to a child with birth defects. To be fair, it is worth noting that the ban on women driving is widely violated in rural areas of the country.
Use public transport
As a rule, Saudi Arabian women cannot use public transport. Firstly, because it is not safe from the point of view of contacts with strangers. Secondly, many transport companies generally do not transport women. Although, some trains have special sections with a separate entrance, located at the end of the trains, especially for women.
Choose your spouse
Despite the fact that in 2005 the religious committee officially banned the practice of forced marriages, the contract between the groom and the father of the bride is still considered mandatory. The situation is further complicated by the fact that there is no minimum age for marriage in the country. Most senior religious leaders believe that a girl is suitable for marriage from the age of 9, and a boy from 15. They also believe that a girl must be married off before puberty. There can be no talk of any conscious choice of a spouse here. In addition, this practice has an extremely negative impact on women's education. Girls who entered into an early marriage (before 16 years of age) then, as a rule, no longer receive a full education and, accordingly, cannot work. Do not forget that polygamy is officially permitted in the country. A man is allowed to have up to four wives.
Leave prison early
And here's where things get interesting. In Saudi Arabia, religious police can arrest a woman for literally anything. For example, for “dressing incorrectly”, for communicating with a stranger. And even if a woman is a victim of rape, she can be punished with a prison sentence for not covering her body enough or for knowing the future rapist. At the same time, there is a tradition in the country that a prisoner can be released early if he memorizes the Koran, or receives a pardon from the king on the occasion of a holiday or coronation. But female prisoners are deprived of such privileges. Moreover, even after the full term of imprisonment has expired, a woman can only be released from prison with the permission of a male guardian. And it often happens that guardians insist on increasing the sentence, or even abandon women altogether. And then they are forced to sit in prison for many years.A case that occurred in 2015 received wide publicity when a woman caught her husband committing adultery with a maid and secretly filmed the couple kissing on video, after which she published it on the Internet. This woman herself now faces imprisonment and a fine of 87.6 thousand euros for “insulting the honor and dignity of her husband.”
They still exist in different countries of the world. Here are some unusual, funny, and sometimes downright strange laws from around the world.
1. In Saudi Arabia, women are prohibited by law from driving.
2. In the city of Mobile, Alabama in the USA it is considered illegal throw confetti or spray an aerosol serpentine.
3. In Dubai, having an extramarital affair can result in a prison sentence of more than a year.
4. In the Philippines, you can be charged for picking on someone unfairly.
Laws of other countries
5. There are two states: The Philippines and the Vatican, where divorce is considered illegal.
6. It is prohibited by law in Thailand. step on money.
7. In Singapore, selling chewing gum is punishable by a fine of $1,000. Spitting gum is also illegal and may result in arrest.
8. In 2012, China passed a law requiring adult children to visit their parents frequently. They are also prescribed satisfy the spiritual needs of parents.
9. In South Carolina, USA there is a law prohibiting " funny marriage proposal", according to which no person over 16 years of age is allowed to propose unless he intends to do so.
10. In Iowa, USA, a man with a mustache should not kiss a woman in public.
11. In the UK, it is illegal to handle salmon under suspicious circumstances.
12. In Virginia, USA husband has no right to push a woman out of bed.
13. In the UK, pets are prohibited from mating with any pet from the royal house.
14. In the state of Utah, USA, the husband is responsible for the actions of his wife, provided that he is near her at the time of these actions.
Laws of the countries of the world
15. In some parts of India, a man who has debts may propose to his wife until the debt is paid.
16. In Greece, anyone who wants to get married must publish an announcement about the marriage in a newspaper or on a notice board in the city hall.
17. In France it is considered illegal to marry a dead person.
18. In Hong Kong wife is legally allowed to kill her husband, if she discovers that he is cheating on her. However, she would have to kill him with her bare hands.
19. Illegal in the UK drive a cow while intoxicated.
20. In Florida, USA, it is prohibited to fart in a public place after 18:00 on Thursdays.
21. By law, any whale or beluga caught in Great Britain is the property of the Queen.
22. In Samoa It's illegal to forget your wife's birthday.
23. In Turin, Italy, dog owners must take their dogs for walks at least three times a day.
Funny laws of countries
24. In Honolulu, Hawaii It is forbidden to sing loudly after sunset.
25. In the state of Victoria in Australia It is forbidden to change a light bulb unless you are a qualified electrician.
26. In Bangladesh, children aged 15 and older can be sent to prison for using cheat sheets on exams.
27. In the state of Florida, USA, divorced or widowed women are prohibited from skydiving on Sunday afternoon.
28. Forbidden in Switzerland flush the toilet after 10 pm evenings.
29. In China there is a law according to which a person must be smart to enter university.
30. Illegal in France call the pig Napoleon.
In Saudi Arabia, women's rights are very limited, so such bans do not surprise anyone there. Regarding the question of why women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, there are several reasons.
Law banning female driving in Saudi Arabia
Interestingly, there is actually no law here that would prohibit women from driving a car. But at the same time, they are not given a driving permit, even if they have a foreign license. As a result of this, the appearance of a woman on the road is considered a violation, for which punishment is required.
Interesting fact: On November 6, 1990, twenty brave women decided to protest by driving into the streets of Riyadh. As a consequence, the women were detained and released only after their guardians signed an agreement that their charges would never drive cars again. The women were also punished for a month by having their passports taken away, fired from their jobs, and banned from communicating with the press.
Why can't women drive in Saudi Arabia?
In order to satisfy those interested, more than one reason for this ban was given:
- in Saudi Arabia, women are required to cover their faces, and driving a car involves revealing it;
- If she receives her license, the woman will want to lead a more active life, as a result of which she may forget about home and family.
- participation in road traffic involves constant interaction with people, including strangers, which is considered bad manners in this country.
- women will fill most of the road, which will limit men and prevent them from driving cars on their own;
- sitting in a car is harmful to women's health, which increases the risk of having sick children.
The current king of the state said that he is not at all against seeing women on the road, but this will happen when society is ready for such global changes.
It is interesting that in suburban areas you can already see many female drivers who, despite the prohibitions, move freely on an equal basis with men. Over time, residents are sure, the authorities will sign a law that will allow women to be given rights.
They say that in Saudi Arabia women have more restrictions than rights. They are not allowed to drive a car, leave the house unaccompanied by a man, or attend sporting events. Moreover, most of the prohibitions are not officially stated either in secular or religious laws; they simply exist at the level of traditions. But as punishment for violating these traditions, people are often even killed.
Doing anything without the consent of a male guardian
A male guardian - most often a husband, father or brother - is the person who completely controls the life of any woman in Saudi Arabia. Without his permission, a woman cannot enter into or break off a marriage, get an education, work, travel anywhere abroad or within the country, or even undergo a planned operation. Every step, every action requires the consent or direct participation of a male guardian. Even just communicating with a neopukun man is strictly prohibited.
Doing something that could reflect on the honor of the male guardian
At the same time, a male guardian who protects and cares for a woman has the right to demand prudent behavior from her. It is believed that if the guardian loses control over the women, he will lose honor in the eyes of society. And this is very serious. If a woman spoils the honor of a male guardian with her behavior, he has the right to punish her and, in extreme cases, even kill her. Moreover, this is not just some outdated dogma. The practice of honor killings occurs every day in Saudi Arabia. In 2007, her father killed a young girl when he learned that she had been communicating with a young man on Facebook. Most conservative citizens then called on the government to ban Facebook entirely because it, they said, incites lust and causes social discord by encouraging sexual confusion. It is a great shame for a woman in Saudi Arabia to be arrested by the religious police. And they can arrest you for anything. So in 2009, two young girls, after being arrested as a result of communicating with strangers, were publicly shot by their brothers, in the presence of their father.
Appearing on the street with exposed parts of the body
According to Sharia, to prevent a stranger from being seduced by a woman, she is obliged to cover all parts of the body in a public place, except for the oval of the face, hands and feet. But in some provinces of the country, women are required to cover their entire face except their eyes and leave only their hands exposed. However, since 2011, religious police have begun requiring women to also cover their eyes, citing the fact that they may sometimes be too “sexy.”
Leave special “women’s” areas in public places
There is pronounced gender segregation in Saudi Arabia. It affects all women, whom male guardians try to limit as much as possible from the surrounding society and any contact with unfamiliar men. Any special events take place with the separation of men and women. Most houses in the country have separate entrances. Moreover, any man, except the owner, is prohibited from entering the women's part of the house. All public places are also divided: shopping centers, amusement parks, beaches, public transport, educational institutions. Moreover, quite often, schoolchildren of two sexes study not just in different buildings, but also at different times, so that they do not overlap with each other in any way. Violation of the principles of gender segregation, especially by women, is considered a crime.
Work where she likes
Let's start with the fact that for women in Saudi Arabia any hired work is not encouraged at all. From early childhood, girls are taught that their main role is to give birth and raise children, support the family hearth, and take care of the family. A woman, of course, can work, but only in places specially designated for women and not in all areas of activity. You can work as a doctor, nurse, teacher. But this is only if you have managed to get a suitable education first, which is also extremely difficult to do. In addition, a woman in Saudi Arabia can get any job only with the permission of a male guardian.
Attend open sporting events
Despite the fact that there are women's sports teams in the country, they are not allowed to participate in any more or less significant sports competitions. Until 2008, Saudi Arabia was the only country in the world that did not represent women at the Olympics. Saudi girls do not receive any sports education in schools, and they have extremely limited access to other sports facilities. But women are strictly prohibited from attending open sporting events.
Drive
The movement of women around the country is already very limited. Without the accompaniment of a male guardian, they are not even allowed to leave the house, not to mention any trips or travel. Women are prohibited from driving; they are not issued state driving licenses even if they have a foreign license. Most Saudi scholars and religious leaders consider it a sin for a woman to drive a car. For example, Professor Kamal Subhi claims that if women in the country are allowed to drive cars, in ten years there will be no virgins left. And another influential Sheikh Saleh Lohaidan once said that if a woman drives a car, she may give birth to a child with birth defects. To be fair, it is worth noting that the ban on women driving is widely violated in rural areas of the country.
Use public transport
As a rule, Saudi Arabian women cannot use public transport. Firstly, because it is not safe from the point of view of contacts with strangers. Secondly, many transport companies generally do not transport women. Although, some trains have special sections with a separate entrance, located at the end of the trains, especially for women.
Choose your spouse
Despite the fact that in 2005 the religious committee officially banned the practice of forced marriages, the contract between the groom and the father of the bride is still considered mandatory. The situation is further complicated by the fact that there is no minimum age for marriage in the country. Most senior religious leaders believe that a girl is suitable for marriage from the age of 9, and a boy from 15. They also believe that a girl must be married off before puberty. There can be no talk of any conscious choice of a spouse here. In addition, this practice has an extremely negative impact on women's education. Girls who entered into an early marriage (before 16 years of age) then, as a rule, no longer receive a full education and, accordingly, cannot work. Do not forget that polygamy is officially permitted in the country. A man is allowed to have up to four wives.
Leave prison early
And here's where things get interesting. In Saudi Arabia, religious police can arrest a woman for literally anything. For example, for “dressing incorrectly”, for communicating with a stranger. And even if a woman is a victim of rape, she can be punished with a prison sentence for not covering her body enough or for knowing the future rapist. At the same time, there is a tradition in the country that a prisoner can be released early if he memorizes the Koran, or receives a pardon from the king on the occasion of a holiday or coronation. But female prisoners are deprived of such privileges. Moreover, even after the full term of imprisonment has expired, a woman can only be released from prison with the permission of a male guardian. And it often happens that guardians insist on increasing the sentence, or even abandon women altogether. And then they are forced to sit in prison for many years.
A case that occurred in 2015 received wide publicity when a woman caught her husband committing adultery with a maid and secretly filmed the couple kissing on video, after which she published it on the Internet. This woman herself now faces imprisonment and a fine of 87.6 thousand euros for “insulting the honor and dignity of her husband.”
