During the Apartheid years in South Africa, the world rallied against apartheid and eventually put it to the sword.

The Free World (the west) has always been quick to condemn countries that suppress basic human freedoms. The baic rights to freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of movement, freedom of thought, religion and conscience, freedom of choice of marriage partner and others are all rights that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia heavily suppresses - and particularly with regard to women.

I visited that Country recently and i must say that i was absolutely outraged at the level of gender - apartheid going on in that country. Women are altogether nothing but slaves, oppressed more intensely than blacks in South Africa ever were.

Women are not permitted to drive (Denial of Freedom of Movement).

Women are not permitted to go out in public without being supervised by a male relative (Denial of Freedom of Movement and Right to Privacy).

Women are forced to cover themselves from head to toe (Denial of Freedom of Choice, thought, Conscience).

Women are not permitted to travel without written permission from their husbands (Denial of Freedom of Movement).

Women are not allowed to talk to any man who is not a family member (Denial of Freedom of Association).

Women are forbidden to testify in judicial proceedings save where corroborated by a man (Denial of Fair Hearing).

Women are not permitted to chose their own spouses (Denial of Right to Chose Marriage Partner).

And many more.

When i see the manner in which the United States makes much noise about countries with supposedly poor human rights records, but keeps mum about the gender apartheid and institutionalized denial of womens rights in Saudi Arabia, i am utterly disgusted.

Rather than condemn such, you find Barack Obama going to kneel in front of the Saudi King. A champion of female oppression.

This is being posted on the Religion Section on account of the unfortunate fact that these anomalies in Saudi Society arise principally from the interpretation or application of Islamic Ethos.

Is the oppression of women and Denial of their civil rights in Saudi Arabia something that arises from Islamic Teaching?

I hope we can address this issue without Fanatism.

@poster

its an unfortunate

Deep Sight:

When i see the manner in which the United States makes much noise about countries with supposedly poor human rights records, but keeps mum about the gender apartheid and institutionalized denial of womens rights in Saudi Arabia, i am utterly disgusted.

  Firstly, why should the USA be obligated to speak out about it? Quite often if America condemns an injustice, the rest of the world accuses her of meddling, if she doesn't they complain she remained indifferent because she stands to gain nothing. Most of the time America is damned if she does and damned if she doesn't.

Secondly, I think in a general sense, the world views human rights kinda seperate and different from women's rights. I know I do.

Thirdly, wasn't it recently in Sudan where some educated women were trying to campaign against head covering or something but a good portion of the traditional women came out against them? saying something to the effect of "we don't want these new modern ways"? Many times it seems they themselves are comfortable in the status quo and seem unwilling to fight for their own rights.

Is the oppression of women and Denial of their civil rights in Saudi Arabia something that arises from Islamic Teaching?

Well lets see, it cannot be a mere coincidence that women rights are practically non-existent in practially all Islamic countries can it? The evidence is overwhelming that Islam as a religion actively oppresses its women - systematically and unapologetically.

Just stumbled on this