In the wake of the growing violence that is threatening Saudi society today, Princess Hissa Al-Shalaan, wife of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, has launched a nationwide campaign. Conducted by the Human Rights Commission, the campaign aims to educate women about their legal rights and to offer legal and social assistance to the victims as well as to provide centers to care for abused women. Meanwhile, Princess Adela bint Abdullah, deputy chairperson of the National Family Safety Program, opened a seminar in Abha titled, “The role of judicial and security institutions in fighting family violence.” Researchers concluded that the lack of awareness about rights is the main problem. They stressed the problem lies in the individuals who violate religious teachings and follow aberrant customs and traditions.
Such initiatives are highly appreciated, and the fact we are finally confronting our problems and admitting our ills is very encouraging. It is about time that we abandoned a lifestyle blocking progress and development. We need to recognize that the reason the Saudi family is suffering is due to the fact that a large segment of our society still insists on holding on to old customs and traditions, and they refuse to modernize or adopt a more progressive way of life. The Saudi family is threatened by the failure of the society to adapt to economic needs that dictate that young married couples both need to work in order to afford a more comfortable lifestyle for the mother and children. It is no longer acceptable for the man alone to enjoy a life of luxury while ignoring the needs of his own family. Male-dominated families are oblivious to the rights of women to enjoy the same privileges afforded the menfolk. Society still debates the rights of women to work, their rights to travel and their rights to conduct business. There are even cases when women are not allowed to leave the house in the company of a relative or friend without the permission of the man of the house.
There are many families that forbid their women to show their faces and assert their identity and take a leading role in providing for the family. There also are many families that impose this backward, segregated lifestyle within the one family — not allowing a husband and wife or brothers and sisters to enjoy a family event or an outing together. All these social norms create a lot of unhappy mothers, wives and sisters and bored and angry children. It also creates conflicts and broken homes. In order to enhance the quality of life in the Saudi family, there needs to be a change in the mindsets of people who hold negative attitudes toward women and resist both change and progress.
The government has also failed Saudi families by enforcing laws and regulations that breed nothing but unhappiness, and discrimination against women is the source of a lot of misery for the women of this country.
A woman by law cannot work without the consent of her father or husband; he can stop her from work and choose where she may or may not work. By law, a woman cannot travel without the consent of a male guardian; he can stop her from attending a conference or spending her vacation with family and friends. Banning driving for women and not providing proper public transportation is another kind of abuse. It is unfair and uncivilized to neglect women and children and keep them prisoners in their own homes awaiting male family members who have long working hours, to take them out for a breath of fresh air or a visit to the doctor or a meeting with family and friends. The law that prohibits women from conducting their own business without a male guardian is a human rights violation. It allows the male member to rob and dominate her business and dictate his own rules thus depriving her of financial independence and the freedom to excel and prosper; moreover, the lack of entertainment for the family as a whole has deprived Saudis of a lot of family joy and happiness.
The government imposes a ban on fashion shows and music concerts in all women organizations and in public events. Teenage boys are banned from entering malls, and girls are banned from entering the stadiums to watch soccer matches. Sports for girls also are banned, and the lack of exercise among women has led to the high rate of obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and depression. Our youth are bored, and they are loitering on the streets. There are not enough sports facilities or parks, and movie theaters are nonexistent.
These restrictions have been imposed by religious rulings that adhere to a rigid interpretation of Islam and a large segment that refuses to acknowledge modernity or celebrate life.
Meanwhile, the president of the Association for Family Protection in Jeddah outlined several reasons behind family violence, including mental illness, drug abuse, alcoholism, poverty, unemployment, lack of religious values and ignorance. Unfortunately, these problems have not been addressed and have never been given the attention they deserve. As a result they continue to threaten many Saudi families that remain miserable and unhappy without any laws and regulations to protect them from their abusers. Moreover, the abusers themselves are not provided with adequate facilities and institutions for treatment and rehabilitation. As a result many forms of violent behavior remain unchecked.
In an unprecedented event the Ministry of Culture and Information conducted a workshop to upgrade the quality of programs geared to address the challenges that the average family faces. Badria Hagras, director of the Bahrain Broadcasting Service, and Dr. Nora Al-Soyan, head of Social Services in the National Family Safety Program at King Abdul Aziz Medical City, were guest speakers who outlined the challenges facing Saudi and Gulf families and urged the need for media to come up with innovative and more advanced strategies to provide better programming and offer constructive guidance and direction to the disintegrating and troubled families in the region.
Nawal Bakhsh, head of the Family and Child Section of Radio Riyadh, said that Saudi media need to play a bigger role to address the challenges facing the Saudi family today. These include domestic violence, juvenile crimes, tribal disputes, sex crimes, divorce, child-custody disputes, child marriages and many other social ills. She stressed the need to address these issues and urged media professionals to spread awareness and help stop the violence against women and children in Saudi society.
The Saudi family today is living in a state of confusion, frustration and unhappiness. The women, children and the youth in particular are discontented mainly because they are the main victims of antiquated rules and regulations that need to be revised to cater to their needs. Let us hope that the nationwide campaign to halt family violence also will promote a healthier family environment and develop a more prosperous modern-day society.
— Samar Fatany is a Saudi radio journalist.
