Saudi Arabian Human rights Abuses????

Question

I am interested to know, in all honesty how people feel about Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses, particularly towards women. Saudi Arabia is no better than apartheid South Africa when it comes to gender rights and religious rights. why is the world letting them continue this abuse of human rights when we stopped South Africa from doing no different a long time ago and have long since condemned their dark period of history.
And before you think i'm ignorant or racist- I'm also Muslim...but just sick to death of having to defend myself when non-Muslims think that all Muslims and Islam support this type of abuse.

Ok, people are asking: What human rights abuses? so this is small but standard list....
Freedom of speech and the press are restricted to forbid criticism of the government or endorsement of "un-Islamic" values. Public demonstrations are forbidden. Political parties are banned.
Officially all religions other than Sunni Islam are banned and churches are not allowed. In theory, the government can search the home of anyone and arrest or deport foreign workers for owning religious icons and symbols, e.g. a Bible, or rosary. Until March 1, 2004, the official government website stated that Jews were forbidden from entering the country.The 287,000 Palestinian refugees, who are currently living in Saudi Arabia, are not allowed citizenship and are often discriminated against.
Saudi Arabia's practices against women have been referred to as "gender apartheid" and "sexual apartheid".
In the legal system, women face discrimination as the criminal laws of Saudi Arabia.

An example of this is are the requirements for testifying in criminal proceedings; The witness must be deemed sane, the age of an adult, and a Muslim. The testimony of a woman is not regarded as fact but as presumption(because they are not legally sane). As a result of these laws women are particularly vulnerable in cases of assault and/or rape, as their testimony is treated as a presumption, while that of their attackers is accepted as fact
There are numerous legal restrictions of what kind of jobs women can do (as to prevent their direct contact with men).
Women are not allowed to drive or ride bicycles on public roads
Women cannot be admitted to a hospital, examined by a doctor, travel abroad or leave the house without the express permission and/or company of an immediate male relative. After their first menstrual cycle, women must cover their entire body in a long black cloak (abaaya) as according to tradition. Failing to do so results in severe punishment.

this enforcement of the veil is not Islamic and the actual full veil is only one way of practising Islamic dress.
Unlike her husband, a woman must go to court to prove her case for divorce. If the divorce is granted, she can only keep custody of her children until seven years old for a son, and nine years old for a daughter, and she can only receive maintenance payments from her ex-husband for three months. The lack of money and the limited job opportunities leaves many women destitute and heartbroken.
Women cannot walk alone even in their own neighbourhoods without the fear of being stopped and possibly detained by the Mutawwai'in, the religious police.
Although Saudi Arabia signed the 'UN Covenant for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women' (CEDAW) in September 2001, women live as third class citizens here. The world has long since stopped countries treating people pf colour as a lower class of human beings and in this way.

...so it is time that Saudi Arabia stops treating women in such a way.....
Ohhh yeah....and they are ont allowed to vote..a massive infringment on rights.

For the person who wondered how not being able to drive is an abuse of human rights.....do you think that it was ok for black people in the South of USA or apartheid South Africa to not be able to ride in buses, use public pools etc (i.e. similar infringments on rights) was not human rights abuse?????
For the person who said that they were treated with more dignity and respect than women in the west...you have no idea...being treated as a less then equal human being is not respect or dignity.

Answer 1

I've living experience, about 9 years, in KSA, I found peace of mind, security, satisfied faces and respect of all kinds of laws only here, not in my own country, Pakistan.
I've become more mature and wise as that I'm sure was not ever possible by living 9 years anywhere else in the world comparatively.
I've learnt respecting women only here in KSA.
I felt the taste of wisdom and maturity of mind everywhere in KSA, and deep thinking minds only here.
I saw the management in its real shape/meaning only over here.
My experience of living in KSA has brought big positive changes in my daily life, including my behaviour with my wife, children and other relatives of mine.

The restrictions what rest of the world feel as abuse of human rights, are actually very very important to build a dam or a fortified wall around human values, to get them secured, rather than loosing them, like such values have been lost in rest of the world, who claim freedom of sex, religion, press and free naked women in markets and showcases of red light areas.
I got birth in a Muslim family in Pakistan, but I have become a real Muslim and a real human in Saudi Arabia, that was not possible by living anywhere else in the world. (Alhamdulillah, Masha'Allah, Allahi bariklina fee)

Thank you very much of all of you.

Answer 2

I totally understand what you r getting at but you have to realize that Saudi Arabian law is more cultural. It's culture, not religion. Most people don't realize that and automatically assume that Islam is how Saudi culture is. You just have to seperate the two.
Islam belives that all ppl should be equal therefore a woman does have a right to voice her opinion, palestinians should be treated equally...
On the other hand, whe you say "we stopped south africa.." who r you referring to? If you are referring to the US, then the US should police itself, ppl are dying of hunger and there are areas where ppl live below the poverty line but the US decides to invade and "recreate" someone else's country (only cuz they will have access to a large part of land that is equipped with oil). If youre talking about the UN, they also need to look amongst other nations where ppl are dying and blood runs through the streets (palestine) and they continue to support the Isreali government.
One good thing about Saudi is that you really can live here in peace, no blood runs through the streets. They do have very strict rules but remember, most of it is CULTURE, not religion (there's a way where you dont have defend your religion)
And women can walk through the streets and can get examined by any doctor they want, I dunno why you think they can't. Women can also work in businesses and at banks. Saudi Arabia is more of a women's world, haha, seriously cuz if a man even bothers a women and she reports it he will be thrown in jail no questions asked. And i have a question for you ... why r you sooooo bothered about it? do you live here?

Answer 3

Its not just a Saudi Arabia problem, this is every were for example now UK is stopping Muslims to were Hijab (Cover there heads) in public school, In USA you are losing freedom of speech because if you speak any thing against current govt you are labeled unpatriotic to the country and US has Gautama bay for human right abuse, Israel for illegally occupying the land and everyone see it but no one dare to say anything etc the list goes on.

Answer 4

Saudis are very special when it comes to Islam. There is no human right for women (including Muslims) and minority. Saudis allow women DIE in girls hostel suffering burn injury from fire or heart attack by denying male fire brigade or doctors to enter. They are against women driving a car or vote. Minorities are not protected, recognized, allowed to practice their religion. They think they are PROTECTING ISLAM by those acts. Maybe they are more religious than the Prophet ! However in other Islamic courtiers situation is better and more logical.

Answer 5

the government doesn't abuse women
when u see women abuse that because of her men in family not in law

"Women are not allowed to drive or ride bicycles on public roads "
So what! it's not that important,even men do not ride that!
we have a very hot weather.
and i don't think that riding a car is a big deal! for me,as a woman, i don't want 2 ride a car..most of women here have drivers,not only the wealthy people.
if she wants 2 drive just for fun,she can drive in desert.it' fun there,no one will stop her.

"Women cannot walk alone even in their own neighbourhoods without the fear of being stopped and possibly detained by the Mutawwai'in, the religious police."
WHAT!! who said that?! well,i've walked in our neighbourhood and no one stopped me. i can also walk in any place else and no one will stop me.

"Women cannot be admitted to a hospital, examined by a doctor"
i really don't know from where did u get these false informations about KSA!
we r examined by doctors,men or women but most of women feel more comfort when a woman- like them -examine them

i'm happy that u want 2 help women in saudi arabia ..but we r ok
thank u

Answer 6

I think you're absolutely correct in every respect.

The present administration has pursued the worst possible course towards the Muslim world. On the one hand they instigate war and violence to solve political problems and on the other hand cravenly refuse to criticize the ugly primativism that characterizes far too much of the Muslim world.

Of course, part of this may stem from the fact that the Christian Religious Right fanatics who dominate the American regime are little better in in attitudes towards women than the Muslim Religous Extremists who are responsbile for the situations you rightfully complain of.

Answer 7

I think you are totally wrong concerning Human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia. You should take into consideration that things dont change overnight therefore even in U.S there was a time women werent allowed to vote.

In coming years, I believe Saudi Arabia will transform its policies, but you cant impose changes with the flip of the coin. Women are respected and not harrassed like other western countries, and if you talk of women not allowed to drive well i wouldnt classify that as an abuse.

Answer 8

Wow, what a large assertion! sure Mr. Howard...Many human beings do no longer understand that Saudi Arabia is a terrorist united states of america. They sponsor Islamic extremist international extensive each and all the time. They funded Al-Qaida for some years and different international terrorists. Bush knows that, yet he has a tendency to forget approximately it. Did you apart from could recognize that Saudi Arabia protection replaced into between the main motives why Bush invaded Iraq? sure, Saddam replaced into no longer conceivable to the u . s . a . (Iraq too a procedures). Saddam replaced right into a large possibility to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Saddam needed for years to occupy the two international places, yet replaced into waiting for the right time. of direction, controlling the Oil interior the Mideast, controlling the ecu Union heavily, controlling the US greenback against the Euro, keeping Israel, installation an American base have been additionally portion of Bush's time table to invade Iraq. in spite of the indisputable fact that, thinking of the actuality that our courageous troops are death daily in Iraq, merely to guard a enthusiast, theocratic and terrorist united states of america as Saudi Arabia MAKES me quite ill. sure, Bush is sending blended messages to the Mideast international places, quite while he claims that he's in Iraq to make certain a democracy. Oh quite Bush? what approximately Saudi Arabia and different Gulf Arab international places? Are u going to shove democracy of their throat too? mmmm i ask your self!

Answer 9

ok the abuses is not only 2 woman it's for every one no one is allowed to talk and no one is allowed to do anything politicly any cop can search when ever they like and go to your personal things 2 your car wallet .......and about woman belive me they have rights more than u think for small example if any woman to any police station they belive here even if there was 10 men said against that you can also see that woman never stay in lines or nothing they are always serve them first almost all woman here have a driver and a maid to serve so who really needs that Human rights here are men

Answer 10

I'm married to a Saudi man and as a Muslim woman I agree how they treat women horribly. The women there are expected to be breeders and nothing more. Well ok they can be teachers or doctors but that's it. Also I find it wrong that if a woman divorces her husband in Saudi Arabia she loses custody of all children over the age of 6 so she has no choice but to stay in a relationship if she still wants to see her children.

Answer 11

I dont know about the abuses but read news about it. In my humble opinion and with due respect to Muslims, the problem is some loud minority of Muslims are in denial and hypersensitive when people are trying to talk about these abuses. They associate Arab/Middle East with Islam which is partially true and anything about Arab must be "right" and cannot be questioned.