Saudi Women’s Rights? You’ve Come A Long Way Baby!

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has announced that Saudi women will be granted the right to vote, and the White House is beaming with joy! Abdullah went on to say, “We refuse to marginalize the role of women in Saudi society and in every aspect, within the rules of Sharia.” (Notice the qualifier there.) He went on to say, “Balanced modernization, which falls within our Islamic values, is an important demand in an era where there is no place for defeatist or hesitant people.” (Again, notice the qualifiers, “balanced modernization” which “falls within our Islamic values.”) [Source]

The White House is beside itself with joy now that the king has taken this monumental step in recognizing women’s rights, but don’t you think their celebratory stance is a bit premature? To begin with, Saudi women will not be able to vote for another four years. A lot can happen in four years my friend. A lot. In addition, they will only be able to participate in local elections. Let us not forget that Saudi Arabia is not a democracy. It is a monarchy. The king is not elected. Any local "elections" that the Saudi women may be able to participate in (remember, this “right” doesn’t take effect for four years) are meaningless because the monarchy has the final say. And even if they still retain this new found “right” in four years, their husbands and fathers (or other male head of house) can still deny them right to leave their home to vote or run for local office, as women in Saudi Arabia are still considered to be the property of their husbands or fathers (this includes the child brides Saudi men are allowed to take)

The fact of the matter is, that Saudi Arabia is far from being a bastion of women’s rights. In fact, their view of “balanced modernization within [their] Islamic values” is right out of the stone ages. In Saudi Arabia women are still beaten, still maimed, still disfigured, still hung, still stoned, still shot, and still beheaded. That aspect of Saudi “balanced modernization” hasn't changed one bit in the last 1400 years. So although everyone is clapping and slapping Saudi Arabia on the back for its "reformed thinking," my BS meter is pegging in the red over this.

Women's rights? Yeah. You've come a long way baby!

 

Saudi Arabia is still a wahabbi controlled country ruled by a monarchy and governed by shariah law, and as such is still an anti-women’s rights, anti-human rights, anti-freedom, anti-liberty, and anti-America country. This whole thing is nothing more than a public relations scam designed to make people forget the truth about them, and start thinking what a wonderful group of people they are. Sorry to burst your bubble folks, but you need to put the party favors away.