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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

[chottala.com] 'Saudi monarchy repressing women'



'Saudi monarchy repressing women'
Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:38PM GMT
Interview with Ali al-Ahmed, director of IGA
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In Saudi Arabia, dozens of female activists have launched a campaign called "my right, my dignity", aimed at ending the discrimination against the Saudi women including the driving ban.


Meanwhile, a Saudi activist who has defied the kingdom's prohibition on women driving will be put on trial.

Press TV has interviewed with Ali al-Ahmed, Director of IGA from New York, to share his opinion on this issue.

Press TV: Speaking about the discriminations against Saudi women, what more can you tell us about that discrimination inside Saudi Arabia?

Al-Ahmed: Well women in Saudi Arabia are still treated as the property of their male family members and they cannot decide. Many of the rights that women around the world and in region enjoy such as the right to have surgery, women in Saudi Arabia if she needs surgery or enters hospital she needs permission from their husband, father or son. The woman in that country cannot obviously drive, cannot decide where to go because the father or the guardian is in charge of that and decides even if she can get married or not.

So you are talking about the status of women, the personal agency women is not there for Saudi women and the Saudi law forces them to be subject to their male family members. And in addition to that, this announcement about allowing women to vote in 2015 is really meant to try to stop the protest that is going to happen by women, to participate in elections as full members, and it is also trying to cover up the abuses of women in that country. Women in that country cannot even play sports. You see, in your country in Iran they are allowed to play sports and to have federations. In Saudi Arabia, women will go to jail if they drive or if they try to play any kind of sports or try to marry the person that they love. So this is the situation that continues to be very bad for them.

Press TV: The things you are referring to about the kinds of discriminations that women inside Saudi Arabia are facing right now when you say they are not allowed to marry the person that they like, that they are viewed as a property for the male members of society, now is that something you think that is too much inherent in Saudi society to change? Or is it because you think that Saudi Arabia, up until now, has not been under enough scrutiny from the international community, maybe, or from international human rights organization to try and talk over or rather discuss a solution for the situation there for women?

Al-Ahmed: Obviously, the international community has not brought any pressure on the Saudi monarchy to allow to give rights to women. Let's just look at Bill Clinton, the former president of the United States praising king Abdullah for his reforms. The same thing was authored by the State Department and the White House. For what reforms, I do not understand? They believe that the people of the region are ignorant or something. You have a situation for women that is the worst situation for women in the world.

Around the world, in Muslim countries, women are able to convey themselves as personal, they have their personal agency. They are allowed to become drivers, to become ministers, to vote, to participate. In Saudi Arabia, that is not the case.

So to praise this monarchy for something that is minute, really, this enhances and allows the monarchy to continue to discriminate against women and it prolongs the suffering of women in Saudi Arabia. So anyone, any Western leader or government who praises the Saudi monarchy for any steps on women rights or women rights in general, what they are doing, they are becoming partners to the abuse of the people in Saudi Arabia.

Press TV: We are hearing now of the "my right", "my dignity" campaign launched by the women inside Saudi Arabia. Now do you think that the fundamental changes that you were speaking about to be enforced in Saudi Arabia can be possible and can happen under the current ruling monarchy in Saudi Arabia even if it is to save face for the international community or do you think that bringing about these fundamental changes requires very much more fundamental changes in the ruling system of Saudi Arabia?

Al-Ahmed: Obviously, the situation of women in Saudi Arabia is a direct result of the shape and the characteristic of this regime. So that must change, political change must happen in order to allow women to participate fully and to become a normal member of society, unlike the situation that they are in, it is one of the most horrific situations for the women around the world.

AHK/JR
 
Related:

The woman, identified only as Shema, was found guilty of driving in Jeddah in July. Women2drive, which campaigns for women to be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, says she has already lodged an appeal. In recent months, scores of women have driven... Full Article at Rantburg

  1. Saudi Woman Faces Flogging For Driving

    One of the women, Najla Hariri, told Reuters: "They called me in for questioning on a charge of challenging the monarch on Sunday... I signed a pledge not to drive again, although my driving was a result of necessity not an act of defiance." In 1990,... Full Article at International Business Times

  • "We have many problems that need to be addressed immediately." In Washington, National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said it recognized the "significant contributions" women have been making in Saudi Arabia. The move, he continued, would give... Full Article at Manila Bulletin

    1.  

      1. Saudi Woman Sentenced To Lashes After Defying Driving Ban
        NPR 3 hours ago
         

      2. This comes less than 48-hours after King Abdullah's announcement that Saudi women would be able to participate in municipal elections and be appointed to the Shoura Council. Two other women from the driving campaign have also been summoned for... Full Article at NPR 



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      [chottala.com] Saudi woman faces flogging for driving - Court sentenced a woman to 10 lashes for challenging a ban on women driving !!!!



       

      "A Saudi court has sentenced a woman to 10 lashes for challenging a ban on women driving in the conservative Muslim kingdom, Amnesty International said."

      Saudi woman faces flogging for driving

      Posted September 28, 2011 06:07:36

       

      A Saudi court has sentenced a woman to 10 lashes for challenging a ban on women driving in the conservative Muslim kingdom, Amnesty International said.

      The sentence was reported two days after Saudi King Abdullah granted women the right to vote and run in municipal elections.

      He also promised to include them in the next all-appointed consultative Shura Council in 2013.

      "Flogging is a cruel punishment in all circumstances but it beggars belief that the authorities in Saudi Arabia have imposed lashes on a woman apparently for merely driving a car", Philip Luther, an Amnesty regional deputy director, said in an emailed statement.

      "Allowing women to vote in council elections is all well and good, but if they are still going to face being flogged for trying to exercise their right to freedom of movement, then the king's much trumpeted 'reforms' actually amount to very little."

      Two other women are also believed to be facing charges related to driving, the Amnesty statement said.

      Najla Hariri, one of the women facing charges, told Reuters: "They called me in for questioning on a charge of challenging the monarch on Sunday ... I signed a pledge not to drive again, although my driving was a result of necessity not an act of defiance."

      Under Saudi Arabia's strict Islamic laws, women require a male guardian's permission to work, travel abroad or undergo certain types of surgery.

      There is no law banning women from driving, but there is a law requiring citizens to use locally issued licences while in the country.

      Such licences are not issued to women, making it effectively illegal for them to drive.

      'Upset and disturbed'

      In May, as pro-democracy protests swept the region, some women in Saudi Arabia called for the right to drive.

      A campaign dubbed Women2Drive issued calls on social media such as Twitter and Facebook to challenge the ban.

      Some women posted on Twitter that they drove successfully in the streets of Jeddah, Riyadh and Khobar while others said they were stopped by police who later let them go after signing a pledge not to drive again.

      On May 22, Manal Alsharif, who posted a YouTube video of her driving in the streets of Khobar, was arrested. She was later released but her case proved a deterrent for many women.

      "I am very upset and disturbed... I believe that this is a message which intends to tell women that they will not get all their demands," said Naila Attar, an activist and one of the women who organised the campaign Baladi (My Country), calling for Saudi women to have the right to vote.

      "We are now working on a petition to the king ... asking him to stop the lashing order," she said.

      Reuters

       
       

      Saudi woman faces flogging for driving


       
      ABC Online - 1 hour ago
      "Allowing women to vote in council elections is all well and good, but if they are still going to face being flogged for trying to exercise their right to ...
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      Saudi woman faces flogging for driving - Amnesty International ...

      uk.reuters.com/.../uk-saudi-women-driving-idUKTR... - United Kingdom
      4 hours ago – JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - A Saudi court has sentenced a woman to 10 lashes for challenging a ban on women driving in the ...
    2. Saudi woman faces flogging for driving - The Daily Star

      5 hours ago – Saudi woman faces flogging for driving: Amnesty ... a woman to 10 lashes for challenging a ban on women driving in the conservative Muslim ...
    3. Saudi Woman Faces Flogging For Driving

      2 hours ago – Under the Saudi's conservative laws, women needed the permission of a male guardian to work, to marry, to divorce, to travel abroad, and to ...
    4. Saudi woman faces flogging for driving | Stuff.co.nz

      A Saudi court has sentenced a woman to 10 lashes for challenging a ban on women driving in the conservative Muslim kingdom, Amnesty ...
      Saudi woman faces flogging for driving: Amnesty - chicagotribune.com
    5. 3 hours ago – JEDDAH , Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - A Saudi court has sentenced a woman to 10 lashes for challenging a ban on women driving in the ...
    6.  


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      RE: [chottala.com] Why requires CTG Administration in Bangladesh?



      Why requires CTG Administration in Bangladesh?  

      In Democracy system constitution is constituted by ParliamentMembers (Law Makers) elected on mass people mended for

       

      a)     The government administration,

      b)    The judicial department and

      c)     All other organization performs their functions.

       

      And according to constitution   

      i)              Government administration

      ii)            Judicial department and

      iii)           Any other organizations are not regal authority for changing and making rules of law in constitution.  

      But in Bangladesh Supreme Court is cancelling constitutional rules of law saying that rules of law are unconstitutional unlawful and illegal.

       

      It means politicians in Bangladesh are

      i)              knowledge less or not proper knowledge  educated

      ii)            not understand lawful politics  and not have  knowledge to make lawful constitution

      iii)            and so  

      iv)           They are not efficient to make rules of law in constitution and  not efficient to  lead Bangladesh  administration  lawfully

       

      So these circumstances say Bangladesh should rule

      Under control of Supreme Court Judges

       CTG administration    

      1)     to provide lawful knowledge education for educating the  politicians  to understand  lawful politics and  to be lawful  good law makers

      2)     to  establish lawful administration

      3)     to do trial against corruption, nonsense talk,  illegal and unlawful  activities of politicians and others

      4)     to provide child care quality knowledge education nation wide  to all children for creating them as  future quality wise citizens in Bangladesh

      Under Supreme Court control CTG Administration must continue in Bangladesh until politicians be

      A)            proper knowledge  educated to understand to make Lawful rules of law and

      B)            proper efficient to lead Bangladesh Administration

       

       



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      [chottala.com] নীলফামারীর ধর্মীয় শিক্ষক !



       

      নীলফামারীর ধর্মীয় শিক্ষক!

       

      নীলফামারীর ধর্মীয় শিক্ষক!

      নিউজডেস্ক, বাংলাদেশনিউজ২৪x৭.কম

      বিশুদ্ধ বৈজ্ঞানিক পদ্ধতিতে কোরআন শিক্ষা সোসাইটির নীলফামারী জেলা পরিচালকের বিরুদ্ধে ছাত্রীর সাথে অনৈতিক কর্মকাণ্ডের অভিযোগ উঠেছে। অভিযোগ মতে, ওই কোরআন শিক্ষা সোসাইটির পরিচালক ও সদর উপজেলার সোনারায় ইউনিয়নের বাণীয়াপাড়া গ্রামের তছির উদ্দীনের ছেলে বুলবুল হোসেন মুন্না (২৭) পার্শ্ববর্তী গড়েয়া শিক্ষা কেন্দ্রের এক দরিদ্র ছাত্রীকে বিয়ের প্রলোভন দেখিয়ে তার সাথে অবৈধ সর্ম্পক গড়ে তোলেন। এক পর্যায়ে ছাত্রীটি ৩ মাসের অন্তসত্তা হয়ে পড়লে শিক্ষক বুলবুলকে সে বিয়ের চাপ দেয়।

      সে বিভিন্ন তালবাহানা করে কালক্ষেপন করতে থাকলে মেয়েটি তার অভিভাবকের কাছে ঘটনাটি প্রকাশ করেন। এ ব্যাপারে মেয়ের অভিভাবকরা স্থানীয় ইউপি চেয়ারম্যানসহ এলাকার গণ্যমান্য ব্যক্তিদের কাছে অভিযোগ দেন। এ নিয়ে গত শনিবার রাতে বাণীয়া পাড়ার গ্রামের ফজলুল হকের বাড়িতে এক গ্রাম্য শালিশ বসলেও সেখানে বুলবুল ও তার পরিবারের কেউ উপস্থিত হয়নি।

      এ ব্যাপারে মোবাইলে শিক্ষক বুলবুলের সাথে যোগাযোগ করা হলে বলেন ভাই এটা পত্রিকায় দিয়েন না আমি আপনাদের সস্মান করব। উল্লেখ্য এর আগেও অন্য এক ছাত্রীর সাথে একই ঘটনা ঘটিয়ে টাকার বিনিময়ে পার পায় শিক্ষক বুলবুল।

      -বাংলাদেশনিউজ২৪x৭.কম, জাআ, জের, এসএকে


      http://bangladeshnews24x7.com/

       http://bangladeshnews24x7.com/district-news/rangpurdivision/167-nilphamari/41442-2011-09-27-17-15-22.html

      E-mail: info@bangladeshnews24x7.comeditor@bangladeshnews24x7.comnews@bangladeshnews24x7.com .



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      Re: [chottala.com] Occupy Wall Street Police Abuse : Watch the YouTube Videos .....



       

      Police Brutality !!!!!!<PoliceBrutality3778901068_faa3df7699_o.jpg> 
       
      Wall Street March

      Occupy Wall Street Protest Escalates On Eighth Day (VIDEO)

       
      <OCCUPYWALLSTREET-large570.jpg>
      Police carry away a participant in a march organized by Occupy Wall Street in New York on Saturday Sept. 24, 2011. Marchers represented various political and economic causes. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)

      First Posted: 9/24/11 06:23 PM ET Updated: 9/24/11 08:19 PM ET

      Tensions are rising at the Occupy Wall Street protest, currently in its eighth day, as organizers for the protest claim that 80 have been arrested. Eyewitness accounts report that "dozens" have been arrested. Police would not confirm the exact number. Videos and eyewitness accounts show violent clashing between protesters and the police.

      WNYC reports that "of the dozens arrested, most were for disorderly conduct, obstructing vehicular and pedestrian traffic, resisting arrest and, in one case, assaulting a police officer, the police said."

      The skirmish escalated in Union Square Saturday afternoon, as Twitter users report a huge influx of police officers. This video, below, appears to show female protesters being penned and maced by police officers:

      Arrested For Talking to a Cop

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNyMr6VmGJo&feature=player_embedded

      09 21 2011 Police forcefully grab a young man! #occupywallstreet

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu8mlfBrpy8

      "I CAN'T BREATHE!" - Police Shoving at 10:30AM at Liberty Plaza #occupywallstreet

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck5fgzK24hg

      Occupy Wall Street Police Abuse

       
      Occupy Wall St. women arrested for asking not to be manhandled by police.
       
       
      Occupy Wall Street VIOLENCE... Are We Free?
       
      Occupy Wall Street Police Abuse
       
      PEACEFUL FEMALE PROTESTORS PENNED IN THE STREET AND MACED!- #OccupyWallStreet
       
      Occupy Wall Street Police Abuse
       
      UNEDITED - COP KNEE ON THROAT 9/24/2011 #OCCUPYWALLSTREET
       
      <PoliceKneesOn_throat.JPG>
       
       
      Source:
       
       
      Related:
       
       
      <PoliceBrutality1.JPG>
       
       



      __._,_.___


      [* Moderator�s Note - CHOTTALA is a non-profit, non-religious, non-political and non-discriminatory organization.

      * Disclaimer: Any posting to the CHOTTALA are the opinion of the author. Authors of the messages to the CHOTTALA are responsible for the accuracy of their information and the conformance of their material with applicable copyright and other laws. Many people will read your post, and it will be archived for a very long time. The act of posting to the CHOTTALA indicates the subscriber's agreement to accept the adjudications of the moderator]




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      [chottala.com] Re: [notun_bangladesh] Occupy Wall Street Police Abuse : Watch the YouTube Videos .....



       

      Police Brutality !!!!!!<PoliceBrutality3778901068_faa3df7699_o.jpg> 
       
      Wall Street March

      Occupy Wall Street Protest Escalates On Eighth Day (VIDEO)

       
      <OCCUPYWALLSTREET-large570.jpg>
      Police carry away a participant in a march organized by Occupy Wall Street in New York on Saturday Sept. 24, 2011. Marchers represented various political and economic causes. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)

      First Posted: 9/24/11 06:23 PM ET Updated: 9/24/11 08:19 PM ET

      Tensions are rising at the Occupy Wall Street protest, currently in its eighth day, as organizers for the protest claim that 80 have been arrested. Eyewitness accounts report that "dozens" have been arrested. Police would not confirm the exact number. Videos and eyewitness accounts show violent clashing between protesters and the police.

      WNYC reports that "of the dozens arrested, most were for disorderly conduct, obstructing vehicular and pedestrian traffic, resisting arrest and, in one case, assaulting a police officer, the police said."

      The skirmish escalated in Union Square Saturday afternoon, as Twitter users report a huge influx of police officers. This video, below, appears to show female protesters being penned and maced by police officers:

      Arrested For Talking to a Cop

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNyMr6VmGJo&feature=player_embedded

      09 21 2011 Police forcefully grab a young man! #occupywallstreet

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu8mlfBrpy8

      "I CAN'T BREATHE!" - Police Shoving at 10:30AM at Liberty Plaza #occupywallstreet

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck5fgzK24hg

      Occupy Wall Street Police Abuse

       
      Occupy Wall St. women arrested for asking not to be manhandled by police.
       
       
      Occupy Wall Street VIOLENCE... Are We Free?
       
      Occupy Wall Street Police Abuse
       
      PEACEFUL FEMALE PROTESTORS PENNED IN THE STREET AND MACED!- #OccupyWallStreet
       
      Occupy Wall Street Police Abuse
       
      UNEDITED - COP KNEE ON THROAT 9/24/2011 #OCCUPYWALLSTREET
       
      <PoliceKneesOn_throat.JPG>
       
       
      Source:
       
       
      Related:
       
       
      <PoliceBrutality1.JPG>
       
       



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      [chottala.com] First step for Saudi women's rights - BBC analyst



      25 September 2011

      First step for Saudi women's rights
       
      By Caryle Murphy Saudi analyst
       

      Women face restrictions is all aspects of Saudi life

      King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz's announcement that women are theoretically to be given the same opportunities for political participation as men is potentially the most important advance for Saudi women's rights in decades, and underscores the king's reformist stature.

      The new opportunities offered by the king seem groundbreaking. But, some observers say, in practice they may be limited by restrictions imposed by the Saudi interpretation of Islamic law.

      Those restrictions include the guardianship system under which women need permission from a male relative to participate in public life.

      Still, the royal declaration made in a speech before the Shura Council, an advisory body of appointed members, was hailed as historic by many Saudis, both male and female.

      "I haven't been able to take my breath," said Hatoon al-Fassi, a university professor and women's rights activist in Riyadh.

      "We're so excited. We believe it's the response to our demands, the first step in our long struggle to get our rights."

      "I'm very happy about it," said Mohammed al-Zulfa, a former member of the Shura, who has long sought greater freedoms for Saudi women.

      "The king knows what the silent majority thinks and today he told them: 'I know what you are thinking and I'm saying it now.'"

      Ovations

      King Abdullah's reformist stance, especially in regard to women's rights, has been evident since he ascended the throne in 2005.

      Continue reading the main story

      "Everyone is excited here at this big news and implementation is going to happen at the right moment" Osama al-Kurdi Shura Council member

      In his short speech on Sunday, interrupted by several standing ovations, he made this crystal-clear. Muslim women, he said, had given "opinions and advice since the era of Prophet Muhammad".

      The king added: "Because we refuse to marginalise women in society in all roles that comply with sharia, we have decided, after deliberation with our senior clerics... to involve women in the Shura Council as members."

      The king said women's participation in the council would begin in the next session, in about 18 months' time.

      In addition, he said women would "have the right to nominate themselves" as candidates in elections for municipal councils and to vote in those elections when they are held in four years' time.

      Women, however, will not be allowed to vote in the current municipal council elections, which start on Thursday and will be held over several days. More than 5,000 men are competing as candidates in that poll.

      'Real Islam'

      The delayed implementation of the royal decree is likely to dampen the initial enthusiasm and excitement of many women.

      But current Shura member Osama al-Kurdi said: "You have to look at the positive side of things. Women have waited [for their rights] since the early 1960s when they first began being educated. Everyone is excited here at this big news and implementation is going to happen at the right moment."

      Continue reading the main story

      "We are waiting for the right to drive a car" Khulood al-Fahad Saudi businesswoman

      Sociologist Khalid al-Dakhil praised the decisions as "good steps in the right direction".

      But, Mr Dakhil added, the moves "don't live up to the expectations of people at this time" which aim to have the Shura become an elected body with powers similar to a parliament.

      He said it is likely that ultra-conservatives "will be out of their minds" with anger at the king's announcement.

      But, anticipating this, the king placed his decision squarely within sharia law and Islamic history. "He's doing this in accordance with real Islam, as we know it," said Mr Zulfa. "Real Islam is getting women's rights and being full members of society."

      Undoubtedly, King Abdullah's decrees will be seen as a consequence of the pro-reform movement that has rumbled through the Arab world this year.

      The uprisings in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, Syria and Bahrain have rattled Riyadh, which has sought to dampen discontent among its citizens by disbursing financial benefits.

      However, a growing slice of Saudi society still wants political and economic reforms, especially an end to corruption. It is likely that the king had this slice in mind when he made his announcement on Sunday.

      Driver's seat?

      It is also possible that the recently launched grassroots campaign to have the ban on women drivers lifted may have encouraged the king.

      That campaign, which began in June, is continuing as individual women take to the wheel to do errands.

      One of the campaign's supporters, Khulood al-Fahad, 33, a businesswoman and women's rights activist in the Eastern Province, says the king's speech caught women off-guard.

      "We are all surprised by this today because we are waiting for the right to drive a car," she said. "We didn't expect this."

      Ms Fahad says the royal decree only brings closer the day when Saudi women will be able to drive, because it makes the ban even more untenable.

      A Saudi woman, she observes, will soon be able to sit in the Shura, "but she can't drive her car?" However a royal decision on that, Ms Fahad believes, "will not take more than a year" to emerge.

      Caryle Murphy is a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC. She worked in Saudi Arabia as a freelance journalist in 2008-2011.

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