Layla, a 45-year-old Saudi woman, wanted to renew her expired passport and so went to the Passport Department with her 50-year-old brother. At the department, the officer asked Layla for a bunch of papers. He wanted her father’s death certificate, her divorce papers and a power of attorney for her brother — although her brother was the one renewing the passport.

When she asked why divorce papers were required, the officer replied: “You don’t have legal authority over yourself so why are you talking? Your presence is not needed. Next time let only your legal guardian come here.”

He then asked for another paper that proves Layla is divorced and so she said to him: “My expired passport says that I’m divorced.” The officer retorted: “And how do I know you haven’t remarried?”

Layla tried to speak to the officer as a rational wise mature woman, but this was useless. She had to hide behind her brother and accept the bitter reality. If she did not, then the angry official would find hundred excuses not to complete her papers.

To have authority over oneself is a luxury that allows one to make the right decisions and become a responsible individual. Layla’s papers will soon be completed and she will be able to renew her passport. However, she could not get over the fact that in spite of being 45 she is still treated like an underaged child. How can she accept the fact that she has no authority over herself?

Layla is a mother of two young men who are contributing to Saudi society. As a single mother she has followed up on their paperwork in governmental bodies; she has taken an interest in their education and has managed her finances very well. However, she is treated as a teenager and forced to deal with life through another man.

Who taught that officer — and others of the same mentality — to make such statements? Are there any regulations that allow this type of treatment? Or is it a tradition to degrade women? It seems that most men are more concerned with establishing their superiority and dominating society.

The problem is that even if there is a group of educated and rational people who respect and understand women, they end up losing their distinguished traits when exposed to society. They are categorized as weak and unmanly for allowing women to be their partners and not slaves.

Another young woman went to the airport — accompanying her mother — to catch a flight abroad. She had written permission from her father stating his approval for his daughter to travel by herself. He was on a business trip outside the Kingdom. The police officer asked her: “How do I know that this paper is not fake?” He then insisted on not allowing her to travel. When she tried to get some sense into his head, he provided her with the perfect solution. “Go find yourself a Saudi male guardian,” he told her. She of course missed her flight.

Sometimes I blame society, sometimes I blame the law and sometimes I become perplexed. How can I stop one of my friends from migrating to another country where she is able to earn respect as a human being regardless of her gender? How can I convince her to stay when I’m suffering profoundly knowing that women — who were respected, trusted and praised by the Prophet (peace be upon him) in their ability to give advice and help during wars — are being degraded in the name of protection?

Why does the public sector insist on hiring narrow-minded individuals who reject situations that they are not programmed to deal with? What would the Passport Department think if these were the experiences of their wives, daughters and mothers?