Comments on: Celebrating womanhood in Riyadh..

By: 7b43c41ece0b

7b43c41ece0b — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:46:21 +0000

7b43c41ece0b…

7b43c41ece0b7226c8d0…

By: Logan and Brayden (the United States)

Logan and Brayden (the United States) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:12:59 +0000

Although here in the United States we have a very different perspective on women’s rights and women are now said to be equals here in the States, we can sympathize and relate to your situation. In the early 1900’s, many women had little or no rights at all here in the US. Women were not allowed to vote or do many other things that men were allowed to do. Women stayed at home and took care of the house. It’s ashame that in the Middle East the women are forced to act as basically “possessions” to the men. Of course living in the United States we may have a very skewed opinion on whats going on, so when we say this we may be very wrong. However, we do believe that unless the women enjoy acting as possessions, they should stand up for what they believe is right. We don’t quite understand why the man at the book fair felt compelled to repent for being near two women without face covers. Since it was a family day, if he felt uncomfortable with the situation, he should have not have been at the book fair. He needs to understand that women are people just like him. Yes, the women of the Middle East may face hardships at first for fighting for their rights, but in the long run it should benefit the Middle East women greatly.

By: Muneeb (Saudi Arabia/Pakistan)

Muneeb (Saudi Arabia/Pakistan) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:32:54 +0000

I have no problem with ppl living by the strictest of the interpretations of wht is in the Qu'ran. I knw some ppl who are very strict about wht they even discuss cuz they dont wanna be backbiting or gossiping, n in their presence I respect that. but when random strangers have a problem [cuz I'm sitting in a car park w/ my friends cuz all of our 'families' are in there, n trying to spend the time our way] they come w/ their Astagfor allah's I just hate them. They live their lives tht way, good for them! but why force it on me?

By: Elinor (Iran)

Elinor (Iran) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:45:21 +0000

Muneeb it is nice that you give the Islamic laws a mild explanation, I guess it all depends on the viewpoint of the person who learns about the laws. I also have read in a verse in the second chapter of the Holy Book, that there is no compulsion in the religion. In that sense people might follow as strictly as they find necessary, or as much as they can apply the laws to their life styles. I mean this is just a way of looking at religion, what do you think ?

By: Muneeb (Saudi Arabia/Pakistan)

Muneeb (Saudi Arabia/Pakistan) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:47:43 +0000

I heard a man next to me repeating under his breath (astagfor Allah) meaning Oh Allah I repent.. he was asking for forgiveness for being so close to two ladies who didn’t cover their faces, that being my friend and I!

1.Islam requires covering up modestly.. why DONT THEY UNDERSTAND THT!!

2.same when u r sitting in ur car w/ friends chilling out, watching a movie n they stand close by n KEEP on say astagfor-allah, when a man n woman talk.. [in this case LOST] YTF dont they JUST MOOVE!!

guess tht they make a woman b ashamed of her womanhood in some places,even in some outside cultures

By: Elinor (Iran)

Elinor (Iran) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:45:24 +0000

I send my Salaam to the women of Saudi, I hope to see them achieve all the more what they rightfully deserve. Happy womamn’s day to women in Saudi and women in ME and Women all over the world

By: Saudi Woman Drives to mark Int. Women’s Day - Mideast Youth - Thinking Ahead

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:37:53 +0000

[...] From Rasha’s Post “International women’s day passed unnoticed here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Almost all the women I talked to didn’t even know that the 8th of March was a day to celebrate women’s accomplishments.” [...]

By: Alice (Israel)

Alice (Israel) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:34:00 +0000

Dear Rasha,
I read your post attentively and with a lot of sadness in my heart… You say that lately you’re becoming more sensitive and that you’re fed up with such insults… I couldn’t understand you better!! – Yet, I guess you must nevertheless be “used” to such attitudes, like every woman there, you must have quite a “thick skin” to “survive” in such conditions. I couldn’t even imagine to live where and how you must live!! I was born and grew up in Europe, and for some unexplained reason I was a feminist “rebel” from the first hour – means from age 12/13 onwards. Unexplained, because my mother isn’t feminist at all, and I grew up in an uneducated environment with very small mind sets. Since I’ve been living in the Middle East (for 12 years now), I’ve experienced “covering up” myself, as for many years I covered my hair and wore religously “decent” clothes (following the rules of Judaism). I live also in close contact with Palestinian women who, for most of them, cover their hair, but not their faces. And even if I know that the Palestinian society is much more oppressive towards women, it’s definitely not as bad as what you have to deal with… I wish I could help you free yourself… I’ve left the Feminist Movement as such long ago, but didn’t change my attitude. I don’t really know how relations between Western Feminists and Muslim women are, but it seems to me that we all feel for you and would love to be able to help you in some way. Yet, I know that as a non-Muslim my/our voice would probably not even be considered as worth hearing by your extreme male-dominated society. – All this makes me sad – and all I really can say is that my deepest feelings of solidarity are with you! Hang in there – ultimately things just HAVE to change. At least, I hope so.. {hugs}