PDA

Bekijk Volledige Versie : Saudis Outraged Over Women-Drive Proposal



Seif
04-06-05, 11:02
Saudis Outraged Over Women-Drive Proposal

By DONNA ABU-NASR, Associated Press Writer Thu Jun 2, 1:56 PM ET

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - He just wanted his colleagues in the government's legislative arm to discuss the possibility of conducting a study into the feasibility of reversing the ban on women drivers — the only prohibition of its kind in the world.

But Consultative Council member Mohammad al-Zulfa's proposal has unleashed a storm in this conservative country where the subject of women drivers remains taboo.

Al-Zulfa's cell phone now constantly rings with furious Saudis accusing him of encouraging women to commit the double sins of discarding their veils and mixing with men. He gets phone text messages calling on Allah to freeze his blood. Chat rooms bristle with insulting accusations that al-Zulfa is "driven by carnal instincts with 454 horsepower."

There even have been calls to kick al-Zulfa from the council and strip him of his Saudi nationality.

The uproar may be astounding to outsiders. But in Saudi Arabia, where the religious establishment has the upper hand in defining women's freedoms, the issue touches on the kingdom's strict Islamic lifestyle.

Conservatives, who believe women should be shielded from strange men, say driving will allow a woman to leave home whenever she pleases and go wherever she wishes. Some say it will present her with opportunities to violate Islamic law, such as exposing her eyes while driving or interacting with strange men, like police officers or mechanics.

"Driving by women leads to evil," Munir al-Shahrani wrote in a letter to the editor of the Al-Watan daily. "Can you imagine what it will be like if her car broke down? She would have to seek help from men."

But al-Zulfa contends neither the law nor Islam bans women from driving. Instead, the ban is based on fatwas, or Islamic edicts, by senior clerics who say that any driving by women would create situations for sinful temptation.

It is the same argument used to restrict other freedoms. Without written permission from a male guardian, women may not travel, get an education or work. Regardless of permission, they are not allowed to mix with men in public or leave home without wearing black cloaks, called abayas.

Some 50 women who defied the ban and drove in November 1990 — when U.S. troops were protecting Saudi Arabia during
Iraq's invasion of Kuwait — were jailed for one day, their passports were confiscated and they lost their jobs.

The driving prohibition has forced families to hire live-in drivers, who, strangely, are allowed to be alone with women. Al-Zulfa said clerics have deemed this a lesser evil than driving. Women whose families cannot afford to pay $300 to $400 a month for drivers rely on male relatives to take them around.

Al-Zulfa brought up the issue a month ago in an open session of the Consultative Council, an appointed body that acts like a parliament.

The session focused on a new traffic law, and the Council members were discussing government statistics about more than 5,000 traffic deaths each year. They also were discussing the fact that the large number of foreign drivers — about 1 million — have economic repercussions.

"I know that talking about women driving is taboo, so I decided to take advantage of our discussions to bring up the topic," said the Western-educated al-Zulfa.

Al-Zulfa, 61, said he proposed that a study be conducted to review the issue, arguing that allowing women behind the wheel would save Saudis both money and lives — since he believes women are cautious drivers.

Al-Zulfa suggested that only women over age 35 or 40 be allowed to drive and only in cities. On highways, he said, they could drive if accompanied by male guardians.

Al-Zulfa put the proposal in writing and sent it to the council's presidency so it can appoint a date for discussing it. But apparently worried about the conservatives' reaction, council head, Sheik Saleh bin Humaid, has not responded.

Despite the harsh outcry, not all the reaction has been negative.

Abdulrahman al-Rashed, a Saudi who is general manager of Al-Arabiya television, wrote in a recent column in Asharq al-Awsat paper: "It's inconceivable that in a country of 25 million, a third of them are women who wait for a driver every day to take them to school, the hospital and relatives' homes."

Many women activists also welcomed al-Zulfa's suggestion. But others lashed out at him for using the issue to project himself as a reformer.

In a strongly worded article, Wajiha al-Huweidar said Saudi women will not allow "the intellectuals to shine and their names to glitter at our expense.

"We will not permit anyone and we have not appointed anyone to speak on our behalf," she said.

Bron: news.yahoo.com (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050602/ap_on_re_mi_ea/saudi_women_behind_the_wheel)

Tomas
04-06-05, 15:05
Kan Bil@l hier niet eens een statistiekje plaatsen met het aantal slachtoffers van verkeersongevallen per land. Ik wil nu wel eens weten of het echt zou helpen als al die kannieparkeermutsen hun rijbewijs zouden inleveren.

mark61
05-06-05, 11:22
Geplaatst door Tomas
Kan Bil@l hier niet eens een statistiekje plaatsen met het aantal slachtoffers van verkeersongevallen per land. Ik wil nu wel eens weten of het echt zou helpen als al die kannieparkeermutsen hun rijbewijs zouden inleveren.

5000 doden per jaar voor een dunbevolkt land van 28 miljoen inwoners is nogal wat. Bij het parkeren vallen er over het algemeen bijzonder weinig doden. Maar in SA misschien meer.

BiL@L
05-06-05, 13:40
Question 7:

Is it permissible for the Muslim woman to drive in a non-Muslim country, knowing that she does not travel far, but only in her city, for her needs or to visit her parents, all this with the permission of her husband?

Answer 7:

In fact, the scholars of Islaam in this country (the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), and at their head, the scholar Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy upon him), have judged that it was not permissible for the woman to drive because of the extreme corruption that it brings, this outweighing the practical side of this issue.

It is indeed a mean that can bring the woman to fall into sin – may Allah protect us from that. Like when the veiled female driver wanders, cruises, going where ever she desires, in presence or not of her husband, and so on…until the point break, which we will not say here but that everybody knows.

Also, if the scholars have noticed the amplitude of that corruption regarding the Muslim woman living in a Muslim country, it is then very preferable for the Muslim woman living in a disbelieving country to stay away from it, because the corruption there is but more intense, and because she is even more exposed to it.

...And what about if she has an accident, what will happen to her?
In case the car breaks down, what will she do?

Nothing but suppositions, until the day she faces serious problems…
By Allah! My Sisters:

Translation of the meaning: « And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and perform As-Salaat, and give Az-Zakaat » (Surat 33, verse 33)

Also, the woman is under the responsibility of her husband, he has to spend for her; so she has to stay home and preoccupy herself with her principal function, the most worthy for a woman, which is no other than the education of her children, the education of the generation of Muslims on which lays the piety or the corruption of the community.

Indeed, if the education of the generation is taken in charge by Muslim women, then that generation can only become pious. So by them, Allah will elevate Islaam and Islaam will be honored by that.

But on the contrary, if you abandon or entrust your children to the disbelieving, perverse ignorant and astray women, know that the result will be nothing but bitter, it will be nothing but giving birth to a lost generation devoted to fail, which will bring about the lost of the community, the lost of the religion and the defeat of Islaam and the Muslims.

Also, as a reminder, the woman must know her duties which are extremely important, because the danger facing the Muslims is imminent, for both men and women. So they must “pull up their sleeves” in order to fulfill their duties towards Islaam and the Muslims, towards their families and most of all towards their children.

Every Muslim must be diligent in offering his child an education based on what is authentic, in order to try to catch up with what has already been neglected; and by that, giving back to Islaam and to the Muslims, a generation educated on the true path and possessing good etiquettes.

But, if the woman leaves her home and goes driving, she will corrupt herself and will not be protected to encounter trouble in many places. She will be pushed to neglect her children and her fundamental duties. And finally, an extreme corruption will strike the Muslims.
We ask Allah to preserve Islaam and the Muslims. Really, Allah hears our prayers.

Sheikh Rabee` (May Allah preserve him) October 2000, Joumada ath-thanee, 1421H

-

Ruling Concerning Women Driving Automobiles

All praises are due to Allah. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his Companions and all who follow his guidance. To proceed:

There have been numerous questions concerning the ruling of women driving automobiles. The response is the following:

There is no doubt that such is not allowed. Women driving leads to many evils and negative consequences. Included among these is her mixing with men without her being on her guard. It also leads to the evil sins due to which such an action is forbidden. The Pure Law forbids those acts that lead to forbidden acts and considers those means to be forbidden also. Allah has ordered the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the women of the believers to remain in their houses, to wear hijab and not to display their adornments to non-mahram males as that leads to promiscuity that overruns a society. Allah has stated,

"Stay in your houses and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance and offer prayer perfectly and give Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger" (al-Ahzab 33).
Allah also says,

"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. (al-Ahzab 59)

Yet another verse states,

"Tell the believing women to lower their gaze and protect their private parts and not to show off their adornments except only that which is apparent and to draw their veils over necks and bosoms and not to reveal their adornments except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their women or the (female) slaves, or old male servants who lack vigor, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful" (al-Nur 31).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) himself said,

"A man is never alone with a woman except that Satan is the third."1

The Purifying Law forbids all of the causes that lead to depravity. Such depravity leads to the innocent and pure women being accused of indecencies. Allah has laid down one of the harshest punishments for such an act in order to protect society from the spreading of the causes of depravity. Women driving cars, however, is one of the causes that lead to that. This is something obvious. But some people are ignorant of the laws of the Shariah and the evil ends that being lax lead to. When such evils are also accompanied by what has inflicted many of diseased hearts of love for promiscuity and the enjoyment of looking at women, it leads to people jumping into this discussion without knowledge and without any consideration of the evils that are behind it. Allah has clearly stated.

"Say: The things that my Lord has forbidden are illicit acts, whether committed openly or secretly, sins [of all kinds], un-righteous oppression, joining partners [in worship] with Allah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge" (al-Araf33).

Another verse in the Quran states,

"Follow not the footsteps of Satan. Verily, he is to you an open enemy. [Satan] commands you only what is evil and sinful, and that you should say against Allah what you know not" (al-Baqara 168-169).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

" I have not left behind me any temptation more harmful for men than women."2

Hudhaifah ibn al-Yamaan said, "The people used to ask the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhe was salaam ) about good but I used to ask him about evil out of fear that it may reach me. I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, we used to be living in the Times of Ignorance and Evil. Then Allah brought this good [to us]. Will there be after it evil again?' He said, 'Yes.' I said, 'After that evil, will there be good again?' He said, 'Yes, but it will be tainted.' I said, 'How will it be tainted?' He said, 'There will be a people who would guide without guidance, you will approve of some of their deeds and disapprove of some others.' I said, 'Will there b evil after that good?' He said, 'Yes, there will be callers from the gates of the Hell-Fire. Whoever responds to them shall be flung into it.' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, describe them to us.' He said, 'They will be from our own people and speak our language. I said, 'What do you order me to do if I should come across the time?' He said, 'Stick to the community of the Muslims and their leader.' I said, 'Suppose they do not have a leader or community?' He said, 'Then separate yourself from all of those factions, even if you have to eat the roots of trees until death comes t you while you are in that state."' Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim

I call upon every Muslim to fear Allah in his speech and action and to be wary of the trials and temptations. Also, be wary of those who call to such things. Everyone must remain far away from that which brings about Allah's anger or leads to it. Each must take every precaution from those callers that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhe was salaam ) has spoken about in this noble Hadith. May Allah protect us from the evil of temptation and trials and its people May Allah protect for this Nation its religion and repel the evil of those callers to falsehood. May Allah bless and guide all the Muslims to what pleases Him and what is best for them and their success in both this life and the Hereafter. He is the One who is in Control of that and Able to do that.

And may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions.

Shaikh ibn Baz
Islamic Fatawa Regarding Women pgs 309-313

Mark
05-06-05, 13:57
Ik ben voor, als dit in Nederland werd ingevoerd zouden alle files direct verdwijnen.

tr_imparator
05-06-05, 15:10
Geplaatst door BiL@L
[B]

not permissible for the woman to drive because of the extreme corruption that it brings

wat moet ik me hierbij voorstellen? extreme corruption?



...And what about if she has an accident, what will happen to her?
In case the car breaks down, what will she do?

schadeformulier invullen? gezond verstand gebruiken..? in een ziekenhuis belanden..? en een niewe Porsche aanschaffen?

Wat wilt de Koran van de man?

Tomas
05-06-05, 15:29
Geplaatst door mark61
5000 doden per jaar voor een dunbevolkt land van 28 miljoen inwoners is nogal wat. Bij het parkeren vallen er over het algemeen bijzonder weinig doden. Maar in SA misschien meer.

Soms wordt er iemand direct neergeschoten bij irritant inparekeren, maar het is heel goed mogelijk dat 80% van alle dodelijke ongelukken indirect door onderdrukte ergernis over het inparkeren worden veroorzaakt. Wie weet. 5000 doden op 28 miljoen arabieren vind ik wel meevallen. We hebben het hier wel over arabieren namelijk.

BiL@L
05-06-05, 15:40
Geplaatst door tr_imparator
Wat wilt de Koran van de man?
http://www.islamway.com/books/2//THE_NOBLE_QURAN_with_recitation.pdf

Rabi'ah.
05-06-05, 18:01
Geplaatst door Tomas
5000 doden op 28 miljoen arabieren vind ik wel meevallen. We hebben het hier wel over arabieren namelijk.

:moe: