Women driving: reform in KSA? Long, long way to go 19, June 2011
Posted by thegulfblog.com in Saudi Arabia.Tags: beheaded, Saudi Arabia reform, Saudi beheading, Saudi capital punishment, Saudi reform, Saudi women driving, Women drivers
2 comments
My overriding reaction to these stories of women in Saudi Arabia driving is, well, somewhat dismissive. Yes, I understand that changes can only come incrementally and I realise that this could be a highly symbolic moment.
But, to bring the discussion back to earth with something that, well, matters I note that on Saturday an Indonesian woman in the Kingdom was beheaded for murdering a Saudi woman. Of course, she was a maid. I know basically nothing more about this crime and I’ll keep my own thoughts and prejudices to myself about this incident. But in this light, does it remotely matter if a few women go driving?
I’m wrestling with my own pessimism here, I suppose. Logically evaluating the trajectory of these things and recognising that, as I note, things take time, I suppose that I realise that Saudi just has its own pace. Still, probably wrongly, I just can’t get past their sporadic acts of utter brutality and unfairness and so simply couldn’t give a hoot about some Saudi women driving around.
Update
I’ve just come across another word or two surrounding this executed maid. It seems that she was not allowed or offered consular assistance by the Saudi authorities. In a capital case. Revolting.
The same article notes that in a separate case, the Saudi appeals court overturned a three year sentence for a Saudi woman accused of torturing her Indonesian maid who was admitted to hospital with broken bones and burns to her head and face.
What can one say to this? It’s all just beyond despicable.
The Gulf blog 