Saudi women rated least free in Arab world
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Saudi Arabia received the lowest rating on women’s freedom in a new survey released at the World Economic Forum 2005 - Jordan.
The survey, conducted by the Freedom House, is the first comparative assessment of women’s rights in 17 nations in the Middle East and North Africa.
It found a “substantial deficit of women’s rights … Women are at a profound disadvantage in practically every institution of society, the criminal justice system, the economy, education, health care and the media.”
“Only three countries — Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia — scored above average in some areas of women’s rights, while Saudi Arabia received the lowest scores,” the study found.
“While women in the region have made substantial gains in education, none of the countries evaluated meets internationally recognized standards for women’s rights protections,” the study said.
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12 Comments on “Saudi women rated least free in Arab world”
What does “women’s freedom” mean today ? Tunisia is N°1 yeah, we’re da best
I remember a very famous action of the leader Burguiba who take off the hijab of an old woman live in tv … today women aren’t allowed to wear hijab in public administration or they’ll be fired … Are they talking about this “women’s freedom” ?
Good question. what is freedom?
I may not know what freedom is but I know it when I see it.
Women’s freedom means that if a woman chooses to wear or not to wear the veil, she will not be judged or deprived from anything that is considered her right otherwise.
Lima good point, in France women are not allowed to wear the veil … have you ever seen someone talking about France and women’s freedom ?
First, you won’t know what freedom unless unless you are deprived from it.
In France women ARE allowed to wear the veil, but they’re not allowed to in public schools which is a wrong decision in my opinion. However it affected less than a thousand muslim girls who used to wear a veil in french schools.
The same thing applies to women in some muslim countries like Tunisisa or Turkey. On the other hand many women are forced to stick to isalmic clothing in many parts of the gulf and Iran.
I wonder why is all this fuss about forcing hijab, the spread of hijab and banning hijab. I think it all has to do with the ability of man to control women and their rights, their right to wear it or leave it, in addition to its symbol which sometimes becomes political more than religious.
To me it’s a piece of cloth.
saudi women are the least free in arab world?!!
says who? I lived in saudi and anumber of other
arab countries..i would say women in yemen
and the west bank are the real least free.
Freedom has nothing to do with clothing. I’m with Hareega, you don’t know what it is until you are deprived of it. It is the right to be considered a 100% human being, to have a voice, to be able to make decisions and to be respected regardless of gender.
Interesting to note that Saudi women, on the whole, are very well educated. I think I read somewhere that some 51% have college degrees. What a waste that this large section of the workforce is being held back. Take a look at the active roles Saudi women play in many places in the West and you will know they have a huge potential that is completely wasted.
What Freedom are You talking about?? Is it the type of freedom that has run in the ground? , that has long done away with the basic human morals?, is it the type of freedom that is found in the West? which do u speak about.. It is sad to read the comments by some of my very own muslim bros & sisters… It is obvious that you have no correct understanding of Islam concerning the teachings of the Phrophet Muhammad! Allah says in the Quran “O you prophet tell the beleiving women to draw over themselves their Jilabeeb so they may be known as righteous women!!” Ask Your self do u know better or does Allah know better! “Lakum deenukum waliya deen!” Return to the Truth..! Refer Your Affairs to the TWO sources!