Saudi Arabia Takes First Step Towards Women’s Rights
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In a huge step for women’s rights, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah appointed the first woman to the council of ministers, reports CNN. On Sunday, Norah al-Fayez was appointed to serve as the newly created deputy minister for women’s education. Fayez is a U.S.-educated former teacher, and says she is looking forward to facing the challenges which lay before her (Guardian UK).
“This is an honor not only for me but for all Saudi women,” Fayez told Arab News. “I’m very proud to be nominated and selected for such a prestigious position. I hope that other ladies, females, will follow in the future.”
The appointment of Fayez marks a large step towards the reform that King Abdullah has been promising since he took the throne in 2005. According to Saudi law, women are not allowed to drive. They are also only recognized as the property of men under Saudi property law.
Fayez was one of numerous changes in the Saudi government. King Abdullah embarked on a major reshuffling, sacking several hard-line conservatives who had not been receptive to reforms or progression. Saudi Arabia has been criticized by various human rights organizations for practicing a barbaric form of conservatism which includes capital punishment for such instances like broadcasting immoral television programs (UK Guardian).
According to Khaled al-Maeena, the editor in chief of Arab News, King Abdullah’s moves signal that his calls for reform are the real deal. “I think it means that there is going to be a march towards progress,” stated Maeena (CNN).
Fayez is looking to bring reforms to Saudi schools which have long been criticized as breeding grounds for extremism. According to the UK Guardian, King Abdullah is now showing that the kingdom itself has the capacity to reform itself.
Good step, i'm so glad to hear this. I just read this article (http://www.mindreign.com/en/mindshare/World-Politics-and-Current-Events/Honor-Killing-in-Saudi-Arabia/sl34045952bp318cpp10pn1.html#comments) and I'm glad that there is a more hopeful view out there.
Wow! Talk about progress. Now women might be allowed to learn to read. However, if they decide to drive a car, walk outdoors without an Abaya, shop without a male escort, or similar travesties against modesty, they will be stopped by the religious police and beaten in the street. If they have the temerity to get raped, they may well be stoned to death.
Progress such as this is truly a milestone (please do not take my awe as being real).
Granted that Saudi women get a raw deal. But the King can't just wave a magic wand and have an equal rights society. He has to struggle against the conservative elements and drag them all along or beat them down. This seems like a great development, athough it seems a tad slow since change has been promised since 2005.
By that sort of reasoning, were Idi Amin to have released a few prisoners from his death camps, he would have been recognized as making great strides toward freedom.
Saudi Arabia is a prime example of what one gets when government is run by religious ideology (Sharia law in their case). This is not an example of conservatism, it is an example of religious ideological oligarchy rule. Change may come but do not expect it in our lifetime.
I think this step is much larger than you admit ethwc. A women being appointed to as a deputy-minister to education indicates that the country is now viewing women as capable leaders who can actually shoulder responsibility. As a deputy minister it does put her in the public eye, which is a huge step especially when one considers that women must have escorts in a public setting. Her step, while not the turning point, is an important progressive step that is leading women to a more public, a more accepted, and a freer social life. Several years ago a women would never have been considered for any kind of leadership position.
I grant that this is an advance of sorts. However, in a desert, a glass of water may be refreshing but one will still die of dehydration. Maybe not a great analogy, but small steps mean long times to fruition.
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