I would like to suggest that Saudi businesswomen seriously consider launching a satellite television channel whose main focus would be women’s problems. At first the television station might be seen as one doing the work of a charitable society — helping women make their voices heard in order for the authorities to take action or appealing to people to extend a helping hand. A daring step like this would be a major departure from what we see on, and expect from, our television channels. Given the present situation of women, I can confidently say the station would be very successful.
One might ask how such a station could possibly serve unfortunate women who are mostly poor and who could not afford the cost of a phone call to the station to explain the problem. Since the whole idea is to help women, the cost of the call should be borne by the station.
Being a station aimed at women, the station would surely attract ads and revenue. Look at what happened recently when Saudi TV announcer Rania Al-Baz went public with the story of how she had been beaten by her husband.
The response from women viewers was overwhelming. Two women came forward to tell about their suffering at the hands of their husbands. One talked about the scars left on her body by repeated beatings and the other of how she had taken custody of her children instead of leaving them to a brutal husband. She summed up the plight of Saudi women in two words: “No law.”
What can lawyers do if there is no law to protect women from abuse, oppression, beatings and what amounts to torture? The whole country is now united in the fight against terrorism which is costing society a great deal. Abuse within the family and the violence committed against women is no less serious an issue than terrorism. The consequences of ignoring it may in the long run be even worse.
