Located in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia’s culture is heavily influenced by Islam. The people’s faith guides them and their views; this, in turn, has caused many problems for the people that their religion does not favor. Such as those that aren’t in the religion, and women. Their culture is extremely oppressive, and if someone does not realize how the Saudi culture works, will find themselves, and their lives, threatened. The police are often swift and brutal; and many outspoken people are quickly silenced. There are many reasons why we should turn our gaze toward the Muslim country. In Saudi Arabia, women have little to no rights, and are often mistreated. Treated like animals, these people hide behind how they are doing nothing wrong. They are merely stating that: “The women like it,” or “it’s part of our culture, who are you to judge?” When in actuality, these are merely excuses used to cover up the ugly truth of what is occurring, the oppression of women. Another reason why people need to be more aware of what is occurring in the country, is the government’s love of holding public executions. Not only is this inhumane, but the reasons for the executions themselves are puzzling. Some people are killed merely for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or not knowing an idea in particular of the countries’ culture. Also, the means that they use to execute the people aren’t painless by any means. Not even caring to use modern methods of execution. Finally, Saudi Arabia’s people aren’t given some basic rights that we, as Americans, take for granted. The right to public speech is a common basic right that is often infringed by the Saudi government. Clearly, it is plain to see that Saudi Arabia is abhorrently s...
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..., there are other Islamic cultures in other countries that don’t deny their people basic human rights, slaughter them senselessly, and accuse them of some of the strangest crimes. Thankfully, there are people working tirelessly do what’s right, and change the world.
Works Cited
Bowman, Dylan. "Saudi Women Denied Basic Human Rights." Arabian Business. Arabian Business, 21 Apr. 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.
Cohen, Gail. "Culture Traditions in Saudi Arabia." Travel Tips. Demand Media, Web. 24 Oct. 2013. Human Rights Watch, Web. 23 Oct 2013.
"'Our Saudi Society Is Ready for Women Who Drive Cars'" DW.DE. Ed. Nancy Isenson.Civil Rights, 25 Oct. "P.a.p.-Blog." PapBlog Human Rights Etc. N.p., 4 Jan. 2012. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.
"The Religion of Peace - Islam: A Woman Is Worth Less than a Man." The Religion of Peace - Islam: A Woman Is Worth Less than a Man. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.
...ople. It is heart breaking to see how few women contribute, compare to what they can contribute to the society for the moral and prosperity of the country. Islam teaches tolerance and sacrifice for both men and women because we are one under God’s eye. Women are not the only one to learn tolerance, sacrifice and serve men. It is important for people to educate themselves and find the purpose in making this world a better place for women and children. In addition, I wish to make every woman aware of their individuality that they are worthy in and of themselves and not by the men in the society.
Things are as bad as the Muslims say they are -- in fact, they are worse. . . . There ...
Saudi Arabia is commonly known for its strict moral values and customs regarding religion and women. Gender discrimination is a global conflict but it is prevalently seen in Saudi Arabia. Gender discrimination is so poignant in Saudi Arabia because there are strict sets of moral guidelines and ideologies that Saudi Arabian culture implements on its people. Although Saudi Arabian men impose restrictions on women for the sake of upholding their cultural beliefs and family’s honor, there is no doubt that Saudi Arabian culture is male dominated and holds misogynistic views on women, but progress is being made.
Schattuck, John. “Overview of Human Right Practices, 1995,” Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. March 1996: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 10 Oct 2013.
"Universal Declaration of Human Rights." Amnesty International USA - Protect Human Rights. 19 May 2009 .
Farkhunda, a Muslim woman who lived in Afghanistan, was murdered nearly six months ago and justice has yet to be done. Farkhunda’s memorial is frequently visited but it is not likely that justice will be fully served any time soon. She had been falsely accused of burning the Koran, which led to a mob to lynch her. Since then, there have been protests by thousands of Afghans demanding justice for Farkhunda as well as bringing awareness of the violence still committed towards women today.
Although the United Sates and Saudi Arabia present the United States and Saudi Arabia’s relationship as excellent, there are actually two nations who have bitter disagreements but who allies through oil. The only thing that has held this alliance together is the US dependence on Saudi oil. The United States has felt and still fells that it is a necessity to have bases present in the Middle East to protect oil, and silently to protect Israel. The relationship began in 1933 when Standard Oil of California signed an agreement with the Saudi government. In 1943 FDR affirmed that the defense of Saudi Arabia was a vital interest to the United States and moved troops into the region. Future presidents would emulate this declaration and mobilization of troops to Saudi Arabia. Again in 1945 Abd al Aziz, the Saudi king, and FDR would cement this alliance, on a US warship in the Suez Canal. Soon after, airfields were constructed at Dhahran and other spots over Saudi Arabia; beginning a long tradition of US military facilities in Saudi Arabia. Abd al Aziz was the first of his line of successors to meet with US presidents. The relationship was only strengthened with the onset on the Cold war, as the US used the bases in Saudi Arabia as potential air force launch sites to the USSR and constructed more military facilities. In 1941 Harry S. Truman made another assertion of Americas protection and alliance with Saudi Arabia to Abd Al Aziz. Truman stated that “support for Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity and political independence was a primary objective of the United States.” (Countrystudies.com) Another stipulation of this pact was that the US established a permanent military training mission in the Saudi Arabia. That mission lasted until 1992. Soon after the pact between Truman and Aziz was agreed upon the US-Saudi relationship would endure its first major disagreement. On May 14th, 1948 Israel was declared an independent state in the former Arab dominated Palestine. Israel’s independence was backed the United States. Saudi Arabia refused to acknowledge the country of Israel and to engage in any relations with them. The Saudis concerns of the Israel-US relationship were reinforced in the 1970’s and 1980’s when the US sold arms to Israel, but refused to sell arms to Saudi Arabia. In some cases congressional leaders refused to sell arms to Saudi Arabia on the grounds that Saudi Arabia might use them against Israel.
The first religion and its views on women that will be discussed in this essay is Islam. Islam is a religions founded in Saudi Arabia almost two thousand years ago, by the prophet Muhammad. In fact, Muhammad dedicated much attention towards women in the Koran, the holy book of Islam. However, even though much was dedicated to women in the Koran, it was not dedicated to them in the sense of equality. Women in Islamic culture were apparently much lower on the totem pole than men, "The men are made responsible for the women, since God endowed them with certain qualities, and made them the bread earners...If you experience opposition from the women, you shall first talk to them, then [you may use such negative incentives as] deserting them in bed, then you may beat them (129)." Excerpt...
The place of women in Saudi society is determined by a deeply conservative culture, vindicated by a narrow interpretation of religion, and enforced by law. That place it would appear is at home, subservient to and legally dependant on their male guardian. Saudi society suffers from pervasive segregation along gender lines and women's freedom of movement is impeded, forcing them to rely on male chaperons.
... words of Princess Sultana about the many abuses of women in Saudi Arabia. Women in Saudi Arabia's only purpose is sex, and the production of male children. Other than that they are seen as invisible and incompetent. They are given no identity at birth and their deaths are unaccounted for. Saudi women are also forced to cover up their beautiful faces with veils and abaayas. Women of royalty also get treated just as horribly as the lower class women. Jean Sasson did an excellent job of conveying Princess Sultana's pain, aggravation, and grief. Through this book readers will know of Princess Sultana's hopes and dreams of equal treatment for Saudi women. Princess is a well supported and informative book that will teach it's readers the mistreatments of women in Saudi Arabia.
...gely by religious values: Conservative dress, conservative literature, and conservative behavior. Freedom of political and religious expression is not allowed, and diversions like dancing, or movies, activities are almost nonexistence in Saudi Arabia. As it has been for centuries, the cultural and political life of Saudi Arabia continues to be expressed in terms of Islamic principles.
As a tourist, you can only visit Saudi if you have a business passport. Women tourists have to wear an abaya (a black dress similar to that of a burkha) even if she isnt a follower of the norms and culture of Islam, it’s a law. Explicit videos are banned there. Women citizens have to be covered in balck head to toe. Its tradition, and even if they want to they can’t change it. Tourists have to abide by the rules for ‘protection’ and also for respect to anothers country. Most of the male citizens there have never seen women wearing immodest clothes and if they do- it might lead to adverse
You might have heard at some time or the other that Islam teaches that women are "inferior" and "unequal" to men. Women are described as weak, inferior, inherently evil (it is the nature of woman to promote fitnah (mischief)), we have deficient intellectual capabilities and are spiritually lacking. Furthermore, these evaluations have been used to claim that women are unsuitable for performing certain tasks, or for functioning in some ways in society.
To understand the situation in Saudi Arabia better, you need to know about the social traditions and how people live. Saudis believe women are not supposed to reveal their bodies and only reveal their faces. That is because Islam says so. However, more and more teenagers in public, even in the highways, are harassing women which led to the establishment of the religious police. Religious police's role is simply to make sure no one harasses any woman and the roads stay safe.