Stalemate on ‘mahram’ condition continues
Najah Alosaimi; 28/8/08
Manal Al-Quais, a 23-year-old Saudi, won a scholarship from the King Abdullah Scholarship Program to study nursing in Canada. There’s only one problem: She can’t find a close male relative to go with her for the entire duration of the study; they have their own families and responsibilities to attend to. Recently, two key governmental departments have initiated a debate on how women in Manal’s situation can take advantage of Saudi Arabia’s national scholarship program. The Higher Education Ministry will not lift the requirement that these students bring a guardian (a close male relative or husband) in order to study abroad, while the governmental Human Rights Commission (HRC) disagrees on the importance of the “mahram” accompanying the students.
See: http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=112174&d=28&m=7&y=2008
The good Saudi woman and the car
Jaheerah Bint Abdullah Al-Masaad; 28/7/08
A young Saudi girl drove her brother’s car and was caught in the act. Notice, I have not made any reference to a “crime.” Necessary action was taken against her. What was the necessary action in this case? This involved interrogating the “wrongdoer.” Notice again I have not made any reference to a “criminal.” Her guardian was summoned and was made to pledge that she would not repeat this “act.” She was set free and went home.This news item, which was recently published in some newspapers, was not the first of its kind. Similar news items have been published, indicating there is an increase in the number of cases of women driving cars. So this story will not be the last.
See; http://www.arabnews.com/?page=13§ion=0&article=112124&d=28&m=7&y=2008
Tags: Cars, Education, Saudi Arabia, Womens Rights