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Countries where women are prohibited from driving. Women in Saudi Arabia: fighting taboos. You can't wear underwear

Countries where women are prohibited from driving. Women in Saudi Arabia: fighting taboos. You can't wear underwear

TASS, June 24. Women in Saudi Arabia can now drive without fear of penalties or fines. On Sunday, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's decree lifting the ban on driving for female residents of the kingdom came into force.

According to the decree, starting from June 24, Saudi motorists will become full road users. Until this day, Saudi Arabia remained the only country in the world where such restrictions were in force, and violators were severely punished.

Decree and preparation

On September 26, 2017, the Saudi monarch signed a decree giving women the right to obtain driver's licenses on an equal basis with men. At the same time, an interdepartmental committee was formed, responsible for implementing the order. Since then, the necessary legislative framework has been prepared, a system of fines has been developed, and a large-scale public awareness campaign has been held in the cities of the kingdom. By May, the first driving schools opened, and in early June the authorities began issuing licenses.

Women attended specialized master classes, forums, car shows, and driving courses organized for them. However, their interest was not limited only to cars; from now on they can also drive heavy vehicles, motorcycles and other types of ground transport.

Ahead of the lifting of the driving ban, Saudi Arabia has passed a law protecting women's rights. In particular, it is prohibited to post photographs of motorists; violators face a fine of more than $130 thousand or a year in prison. In addition, any publications, including on social networks, discrediting the honor of women in the kingdom were illegal. These measures are designed to protect female drivers from troubles during independent travel.

Changes in women's lives

Until recently, Saudi Arabia was considered not only the most closed Arab country in the world, but also the most conservative towards women. Saudi society required them to adhere to the norms of puritan Islam. The situation changed with the rise to power of King Salman and his son Mohammed.

As part of the Vision 2030 strategy, the authorities intend to increase the number of working women to 30%. The previously considered forbidden professions of taxi driver and air traffic controller have already become available to them, vacancies have opened in the police and army, and employees are being hired en masse in shopping malls and fitness centers aimed exclusively at women. In addition, the number of Saudi women entrepreneurs has increased significantly.

They say that in Saudi Arabia women have more restrictions than rights. They are not allowed to drive a car, leave the house unaccompanied by a man, or attend sporting events. Moreover, most of the prohibitions are not officially stated either in secular or religious laws; they simply exist at the level of traditions. But as punishment for violating these traditions, people are often even killed.

Doing anything without the consent of a male guardian

A male guardian - most often a husband, father or brother - is the person who completely controls the life of any woman in Saudi Arabia. Without his permission, a woman cannot enter into or break off a marriage, get an education, work, travel anywhere abroad or within the country, or even undergo a planned operation. Every step, every action requires the consent or direct participation of a male guardian. Even just communicating with a neopukun man is strictly prohibited.

Doing something that could reflect on the honor of the male guardian

At the same time, a male guardian who protects and cares for a woman has the right to demand prudent behavior from her. It is believed that if the guardian loses control over the women, he will lose honor in the eyes of society. And this is very serious. If a woman spoils the honor of a male guardian with her behavior, he has the right to punish her and, in extreme cases, even kill her. Moreover, this is not just some outdated dogma. The practice of honor killings occurs every day in Saudi Arabia. In 2007, her father killed a young girl when he learned that she had been communicating with a young man on Facebook. Most conservative citizens then called on the government to ban Facebook entirely because it, they said, incites lust and causes social discord by encouraging sexual confusion. It is a great shame for a woman in Saudi Arabia to be arrested by the religious police. And they can arrest you for anything. So in 2009, two young girls, after being arrested as a result of communicating with strangers, were publicly shot by their brothers, in the presence of their father.

Appearing on the street with exposed parts of the body

According to Sharia, to prevent a stranger from being seduced by a woman, she is obliged to cover all parts of the body in a public place, except for the oval of the face, hands and feet. But in some provinces of the country, women are required to cover their entire face except their eyes and leave only their hands exposed. However, since 2011, religious police have begun requiring women to also cover their eyes, citing the fact that they may sometimes be too “sexy.”

Leave special “women’s” areas in public places

There is pronounced gender segregation in Saudi Arabia. It affects all women, whom male guardians try to limit as much as possible from the surrounding society and any contact with unfamiliar men. Any special events take place with the separation of men and women. Most houses in the country have separate entrances. Moreover, any man, except the owner, is prohibited from entering the women's part of the house. All public places are also divided: shopping centers, amusement parks, beaches, public transport, educational institutions. Moreover, quite often, schoolchildren of two sexes study not just in different buildings, but also at different times, so that they do not overlap with each other in any way. Violation of the principles of gender segregation, especially by women, is considered a crime.

Work where she likes

Let's start with the fact that for women in Saudi Arabia any hired work is not encouraged at all. From early childhood, girls are taught that their main role is to give birth and raise children, support the family hearth, and take care of the family. A woman, of course, can work, but only in places specially designated for women and not in all areas of activity. You can work as a doctor, nurse, teacher. But this is only if you have managed to get a suitable education first, which is also extremely difficult to do. In addition, a woman in Saudi Arabia can get any job only with the permission of a male guardian.

Attend open sporting events

Despite the fact that there are women's sports teams in the country, they are not allowed to participate in any more or less significant sports competitions. Until 2008, Saudi Arabia was the only country in the world that did not represent women at the Olympics. Saudi girls do not receive any sports education in schools, and they have extremely limited access to other sports facilities. But women are strictly prohibited from attending open sporting events.

Drive

The movement of women around the country is already very limited. Without the accompaniment of a male guardian, they are not even allowed to leave the house, not to mention any trips or travel. Women are prohibited from driving; they are not issued state driving licenses even if they have a foreign license. Most Saudi scholars and religious leaders consider it a sin for a woman to drive a car. For example, Professor Kamal Subhi claims that if women in the country are allowed to drive cars, in ten years there will be no virgins left. And another influential Sheikh Saleh Lohaidan once said that if a woman drives a car, she may give birth to a child with birth defects. To be fair, it is worth noting that the ban on women driving is widely violated in rural areas of the country.

Use public transport

As a rule, Saudi Arabian women cannot use public transport. Firstly, because it is not safe from the point of view of contacts with strangers. Secondly, many transport companies generally do not transport women. Although, some trains have special sections with a separate entrance, located at the end of the trains, especially for women.

Choose your spouse

Despite the fact that in 2005 the religious committee officially banned the practice of forced marriages, the contract between the groom and the father of the bride is still considered mandatory. The situation is further complicated by the fact that there is no minimum age for marriage in the country. Most senior religious leaders believe that a girl is suitable for marriage from the age of 9, and a boy from 15. They also believe that a girl must be married off before puberty. There can be no talk of any conscious choice of a spouse here. In addition, this practice has an extremely negative impact on women's education. Girls who entered into an early marriage (before 16 years of age) then, as a rule, no longer receive a full education and, accordingly, cannot work. Do not forget that polygamy is officially permitted in the country. A man is allowed to have up to four wives.

Leave prison early

And here's where things get interesting. In Saudi Arabia, religious police can arrest a woman for literally anything. For example, for “dressing incorrectly”, for communicating with a stranger. And even if a woman is a victim of rape, she can be punished with a prison sentence for not covering her body enough or for knowing the future rapist. At the same time, there is a tradition in the country that a prisoner can be released early if he memorizes the Koran, or receives a pardon from the king on the occasion of a holiday or coronation. But female prisoners are deprived of such privileges. Moreover, even after the full term of imprisonment has expired, a woman can only be released from prison with the permission of a male guardian. And it often happens that guardians insist on increasing the sentence, or even abandon women altogether. And then they are forced to sit in prison for many years.

A case that occurred in 2015 received wide publicity when a woman caught her husband committing adultery with a maid and secretly filmed the couple kissing on video, after which she published it on the Internet. This woman herself now faces imprisonment and a fine of 87.6 thousand euros for “insulting the honor and dignity of her husband.”

Tochka.net and forbeswoman will tell you more about this.

Women are prohibited from driving a car, going to court, inheriting property, or even leaving the house without a man's permission. This is not an excerpt from a hundred-year-old history book, but the real state of affairs in many countries where religion and local traditions still greatly restrict the rights of the fair sex.

Many Western analysts even compare the state of women's rights in some Muslim countries with apartheid or discrimination against blacks in the United States until the middle of the last century. We are talking, in particular, about the countries of the so-called Black Africa, which is located south of the Sahara and in the Muslim countries of the Middle East.

These are the data of the Gender Inequality Index, which is compiled annually by the UN, analyzing the situation of women in 148 countries. In this case, factors such as access to education for women, the opportunity to work, political and social rights, independence in the courts and police, and many others are taken into account.

And the worst situation with women’s rights is in Yemen, which ranks last, 148th in the ranking. In front of him are Afghanistan and Niger. Saudi Arabia, Congo, Liberia, Central African Republic, Mali and Sierra Leone.

Forbes has collected the most shocking bans for women that are still in effect in these countries.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has regularly made global news over the past few years as the only country in the world where women are prohibited from driving. Local activists have been holding protests for several years now, driving around cities in cars and presenting petitions to the king, which has resulted in them being fired from their jobs, forced to pay huge fines and even imprisoned.

Interestingly, there is no special law in the country that would prohibit women from driving. But women are simply not given licenses, and those issued to them abroad in Saudi Arabia are invalid.

However, the majority of people with higher education in Saudi Arabia are women, and 15% of women are employed. The ban gives rise to many absurd situations - for example, working or studying women have to hire a personal driver, which costs a lot of money. From time to time, cases make the news when a woman who drove a car to the hospital due to poor health is forced to immediately pay a fine and write a receipt promising never to drive again.

In 2013, a new embarrassment occurred in Saudi Arabia - religious cleric Sheikh Saleh al-Lohaidan said that driving a car is harmful to the ovaries, so women should not drive.

Saudi Arabia, Yemen

In some Muslim countries, women cannot leave the city, the country, or even leave the house without the permission of the mahram - the guardian. A guardian can be a close male relative - husband, father, brother. It is interesting that after the death of the husband and father, in the absence of brothers, the son becomes the guardian.

The presence of a guardian is also necessary if the woman wants to go to court, the police or other authorities. At the same time, there is no official institution of a guardian in Saudi Arabia, and the government assures that there is no such practice in the country.

There have been several cases of women who have not undergone critical operations after a car accident, waiting for permission for the operation to be given by the victim's father or brother, because her husband had just died in the same accident, received great attention in the country.

Mali, Congo, Liberia, Swaziland

In many Muslim countries there is a law according to which a woman receives half as much inheritance as a man.

Mali also has a law that states that a man is entitled to all of his wife's property, even if the couple has a prenuptial agreement that states that each will only retain rights to their own property.

In many countries of Black Africa, for example, in Liberia, there are actually two types of law - civil and traditional. Although women have the constitutional right to inherit land and other property, under traditional law, which applies in smaller towns and rural areas, women have no inheritance rights at all. Moreover, a woman cannot even inherit her husband’s property after his death - everything goes to his relatives.

In Swaziland, women not only cannot inherit property, but they cannot even sign any documents themselves or manage their husband’s property.

Some countries in sub-Saharan Africa, such as Sierra Leone, granted women inheritance rights as recently as 2007, but local human rights groups say the law is still not in effect in many parts of the country.

Yemen, Mali

In many Muslim countries, a woman's testimony in court is not equivalent to a man's testimony. To compete with the testimony of a man, you need the testimony of not one, but two women. And in some cases, the woman’s testimony is not accepted at all. For example, a woman cannot testify in court in cases of adultery, libel, theft and sodomy.

It is also not easy for women to go to court. For example, in Yemen, in order to sell or buy property, a woman must bring two men to court to confirm her identity. And the words of these men must be confirmed by four more men. It is desirable that these are relatives. Thus, in order to resolve the issue in court, a woman must appear there with six representatives of the opposite sex.

In Mali, when going to court for divorce, a woman must pay the equivalent of $60 just to accept the application. In poor Mali, this amount is too significant for most residents. However, such payment is not charged to local men.

Lebanon, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Syria

In almost all countries, children born from a marriage between a citizen and a foreigner have the right to the citizenship of either parent. But not in Arab countries. Thus, the presence of an Arab mother and a father who is a citizen of another country is not a basis for their children to obtain Arab citizenship. The children of such women are treated as foreigners, even if they live in the mother’s country. Thus, they are not entitled to local social assistance, must pay school fees, cannot inherit property or even engage in certain professions. At the same time, having an Arab father and a foreign mother guarantees obtaining citizenship of an Arab country. This discriminatory law was repealed in Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen and even Saudi Arabia only in 2012. However, nothing has changed in Lebanon, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Syria.

They still exist in different countries of the world. Here are some unusual, funny, and sometimes downright strange laws from around the world.

1. In Saudi Arabia, women are prohibited by law from driving.

2. In the city of Mobile, Alabama in the USA it is considered illegal throw confetti or spray an aerosol serpentine.

3. In Dubai, having an extramarital affair can result in a prison sentence of more than a year.

4. In the Philippines, you can be charged for picking on someone unfairly.

Laws of other countries

5. There are two states: The Philippines and the Vatican, where divorce is considered illegal.

6. It is prohibited by law in Thailand. step on money.

7. In Singapore, selling chewing gum is punishable by a fine of $1,000. Spitting gum is also illegal and may result in arrest.

8. In 2012, China passed a law requiring adult children to visit their parents frequently. They are also prescribed satisfy the spiritual needs of parents.

9. In South Carolina, USA there is a law prohibiting " funny marriage proposal", according to which no person over 16 years of age is allowed to propose unless he intends to do so.

10. In Iowa, USA, a man with a mustache should not kiss a woman in public.

11. In the UK, it is illegal to handle salmon under suspicious circumstances.

12. In Virginia, USA husband has no right to push a woman out of bed.

13. In the UK, pets are prohibited from mating with any pet from the royal house.

14. In the state of Utah, USA, the husband is responsible for the actions of his wife, provided that he is near her at the time of these actions.

Laws of the countries of the world

15. In some parts of India, a man who has debts may propose to his wife until the debt is paid.

16. In Greece, anyone who wants to get married must publish an announcement about the marriage in a newspaper or on a notice board in the city hall.

17. In France it is considered illegal to marry a dead person.

18. In Hong Kong wife is legally allowed to kill her husband, if she discovers that he is cheating on her. However, she would have to kill him with her bare hands.

19. Illegal in the UK drive a cow while intoxicated.

20. In Florida, USA, it is prohibited to fart in a public place after 18:00 on Thursdays.

21. By law, any whale or beluga caught in Great Britain is the property of the Queen.

22. In Samoa It's illegal to forget your wife's birthday.

23. In Turin, Italy, dog owners must take their dogs for walks at least three times a day.

Funny laws of countries

24. In Honolulu, Hawaii It is forbidden to sing loudly after sunset.

25. In the state of Victoria in Australia It is forbidden to change a light bulb unless you are a qualified electrician.

26. In Bangladesh, children aged 15 and older can be sent to prison for using cheat sheets on exams.

27. In the state of Florida, USA, divorced or widowed women are prohibited from skydiving on Sunday afternoon.

28. Forbidden in Switzerland flush the toilet after 10 pm evenings.

29. In China there is a law according to which a person must be smart to enter university.

30. Illegal in France call the pig Napoleon.

They say that in Saudi Arabia women have more restrictions than rights. They are not allowed to drive a car or leave the house.

10 things women should not do in Saudi Arabia

07:01 March 11, 2017

Doing anything without the consent of a male guardian

Doing something that could reflect on the honor of the male guardian

At the same time, a male guardian who protects and cares for a woman has the right to demand prudent behavior from her. It is believed that if the guardian loses control over the women, he will lose honor in the eyes of society. And this is very serious. If a woman spoils the honor of a male guardian with her behavior, he has the right to punish her and, in extreme cases, even kill her. Moreover, this is not just some outdated dogma. The practice of honor killings occurs every day in Saudi Arabia. In 2007, her father killed a young girl when he learned that she had been communicating with a young man on Facebook. Most conservative citizens then called on the government to ban Facebook entirely because it, they said, incites lust and causes social discord by encouraging sexual mixing. It is a great shame for a woman in Saudi Arabia to be arrested by the religious police. And they can arrest you for anything. So in 2009, two young girls, after being arrested as a result of communicating with strangers, were publicly shot by their brothers, in the presence of their father.