Thursday, October 15, 2009

Change in the Arab Middle-East


CNN

The Arab Middle East teaches minorities some tough life lessons and shapes them in ways that might surprise you. While the effect of a conservative patriarchal society is expected to keep people under the thumb of tradition, culture and tribal and religious beliefs — sometimes too much oppression and control yields opposite results.

Having lived in several parts of the Middle East as a child, I learned that a woman doesn't exist except as someone's daughter, sister, wife or mother. Her opinion is not required, her emotions don't count and she has no rights whatsoever – except those granted to her by a male.

With a few recent exceptions, an Arab woman's testimony is not accepted in court. Most Arab women can't travel outside their countries without permission from a male guardian, and most Arab women still can't give nationality to their children. In Saudi Arabia women are not even allowed to drive cars. A popular Arabic saying describes it best: a good woman "has a mouth that eats but not one that speaks." [...]

2 comments:

  1. "With a few recent exceptions, an Arab woman's testimony is not accepted in court"

    Well, this is also true for jewish law...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, well CNN is worried about little things like bombs, so they don't say things like the Koran encourages men to beat their wives if they suspect them of having bad thoughts. Many take this quite literally as well. I have had three homes with Arab/Palestinian neighbors. You could set your watch by the sounds of domestic violence. Husband gets home from work, and begins the beatings.

    Call the police and they will tell you that they can't interfere, otherwise the Palestinians will claim it as a human rights violation that Israel is interfering with the free practice of their religion.

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