JEDDAH, 21 February 2005 — In a packed session on both the men and women’s sides of the partition, a Saudi ad hoc panel substituting for the official speaker, who failed to arrive, lifted the session with spark and verve in their open-ended discussion.

Dr. Nouha Al-Hakim, HEC School of Management from the University of Paris, was the official speaker of “Embracing Womanhood” yesterday afternoon at the Jeddah Economic Forum.

Instead an ad hoc panel was formed from four members, two men and two women: Dr. Ghazi Binzagr, the president of Arabian Stores Co., Ltd., Adel Faqeeh, JCCI chairman, Dr. Lama Al-Sulaiman, specialist in biochemical nutrition and Dr. May Dabbagh, Ph.d in experimental psychology from Oxford University. The session moderated by Dr. Siham Al-Suwaigh, Dean of the College of Education, Royal University for Women, provided a rare interactive and positive dialogue between women and men between both participants and attendees.

Each panel-participant presented their ideas after a brief self-introduction. Dr. Lama Al-Sulaiman mentioned how for centuries many have viewed women’s issues as problems rather than just issues and that a change of attitude and approach was required.

In Dr. May Dabbagh’s introduction she highlighted elements derived from the focuses of her study such as the collective experiences of women, the obstacles, challenges that come their way but also the factors that aid them in the working world.

She spoke about social support that at times could come through as emotional support either by peers or a partner.

Dr. Ghazi Binzagr encouraged everyone to remember that times are changing, something “our wise religion recognizes”. He urged all to stick to the fundamentals of our wise religion while also stating that it was time to re-examine some of people’s interpretations of our religion without changing the fundamentals.

He also said how some issues such as driving were not only about change but stemmed from economical necessities: The majority of Saudi women — not represented by those attending — could not afford drivers whereas those present mostly could.

His remark was met with strong applause from both sides of the partition.

Faqeeh spoke of Khadija bint Khuwailid, the first wife of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and a model Muslim businesswoman. He cited her as an example for all to follow.

During discussions and question time, Mohammad Badawood, a prominent businessman, said there were other issues related to women that were more pressing than the issue of driving. He stressed on legal issues concerning women and her legal status.

Dr. Lama Al-Sulaiman responded by initially agreeing that women’s legal matters were more important but added, addressing Badawood and other males present, “You talk while looking through a window while we are actually living the situation.”

Again another strong round of applause rang in the Hilton hall.

The session was getting livelier by the minute with many attendees from adjacent sessions joining in. But with a tight JEF schedule to follow, the interactive dialogue had to be brought to an abrupt close with many not getting their word in.

It was a rare spectacle of interactive, productive, mature dialogue between Saudi men and women.

Binzagr’s following comment was met with the strongest and longest round of applause when he said: “The voice of women need to be heard by men, and men’s voices need to be heard by women.”

And that is exactly what happened in this session.