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Revolution, Saudi Style

Posted June 17th, 2011 by Lesley Hazleton
Is this what a revolution looks like in Saudi Arabia?
As the AP reports on what’s been happening today as Saudi women get behind the wheel in coordinated civil disobedience — and on what they risk by doing so — here’s a taste of the flood of messages of support on Twitter.
—-
@lisang:
Saudi women defy the ban on driving today. Follow #women2drive for unfolding events. Here‘s Amnesty’s report.
—-
@amnesty (Amnesty International):
We are in solidarity with #Women2Drive as they peacefully defy violations of their rights today!
—-
@SamAtRedMag:
#ff @saudiwoman for up to the minute tweets on #women2drive
—-
@daliaziada:
I support Saudi women to drive their cars and most importantly to drive their lives! #women2drive
—-
@GEsfandiari:
We are all Saudi women today #women2drive
—-
@accidentaltheo (me):
May this be just the beginning.
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File under: feminism, Islam, Middle East | Tagged: Tags: Amnesty International, civil disobedience, driving, Saudi Arabia, women, women2drive | 9 Comments
  1. rivrpath says:
    June 17, 2011 at 10:33 am

    It is down to the root thing – men’s power over women whether it is driving a car or abortion. And everything in between.

  2. Lamiaa says:
    June 17, 2011 at 11:58 am

    I lived in Saudi for 3 years and on the door of every mosque there is a long poster with fatwa at the top being the one denying women the right to drive in the name of religion. I have read my Quran and there is nothing in there that belittles the freedom of women in any form. I used to cover my head not knowing it was based on fatwa as such. I read the Quran and found it say “covers” should conceal parts of the body not “head covers.” Many things unfortunately are legislated in the name of God and God is innocent of these crimes against women. I stopped believing in man made interpretations. What you did Lesly with your explanation of “heaven” and how male interpretors have imposed their sexist thought doesn’t deviate from many forms that we still have to deal with as women brought up in the region. I’m Egyptian and no longer believe in these male dominated laws. I believe in The God of Muhamed, Jesus and Moses. The one who created us all equal. I pity those men for what they have done they brought war upon us, stifled the lives of women and worst of all they completely misunderstood God.

    • Lesley Hazleton says:
      June 17, 2011 at 1:46 pm

      Amen.

    • aboalhasan says:
      June 18, 2011 at 8:30 pm

      Sooory.. Lamiaa you mixed the truth with mistakes.. Really, you have read (alnoor) chapter
      وليضربن بخمرهن على جيوبهن
      or you just say that when wrtting cmmnts?

      Other point, where are those long poster?

      The men in saudi arabia are save thier women. And if women drive cars that not mean our real problems were finished.

      Again and again, this is an intorior issue not a global.

  3. aboalhasan says:
    June 18, 2011 at 8:20 pm

    At the end, they fail. Next time all people will help women to drive. But this time it is BIG fail 😛

    • Lesley Hazleton says:
      June 19, 2011 at 10:53 am

      You sound so pleased. But you are wrong. Ideas cannot be repressed for ever. The number of women driving on Friday may have been in the dozens instead of the thousands, but wake up and smell the roses: soon it will be in the thousands and hundreds of thousands. It seems clear enough that a large percentage of Saudi women no longer want to be ‘saved’ by men, and much prefer the idea of doing the ‘saving’ themselves. Then, perhaps, the women will do better than the men at tackling the mountain of other problems you refer to in Saudi Arabia. They certainly can’t do much worse.

    • rivrpath says:
      June 19, 2011 at 12:28 pm

      What are you afraid of? How is a woman not driving honoring Allah? It is sad that you take joy from the sorrow of others.

  4. Lamiaa says:
    June 21, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    Dear Aboulhasan, the verse you wrote doesn’t state women should cover their heads it states they should use their covers over defined body parts there is no mention of heads any where and I personally don’t think common issues are internal. I believe issues relating to woman should concern women and women only should be consulted in matters that concern them. unfortunately we live in a world where interpretation is an exclusive arena for men or few women who walk in the footsteps of men and are deprived of speaking for themselves. I believe Allah gave men, women and all creatures abilities to use them and live a productive easy life but man is stifling the lives of women putting restrictions on the breath they take. I know it is hard to accept ideas that challenge conventions but you are given a tongue then you are meant to speak..

  5. outspokenthug says:
    September 30, 2011 at 4:27 am

    Women in Islam have equal rights as that of a man. There is no single verse in The Glorious Quraan which states females are inferior to men. They should be given equal rights in each and every field.
    But its sad to know that people nowadays, in the name of religion, make and impose rules as per their understnding and their wish.

    And mr. Aboulhasan, do not mention the verse of The Holy Book if you dont know the meaning of it. Coz little knowledge is very dangerous!

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