RIYADH, 7 March 2005 — Nadia Bakhurji is a Saudi businesswoman who was also the first of her sex to nominate herself as a candidate in this year’s elections to municipal councils. The nomination was later withdrawn after women were officially banned from running for office and voting. Last month at the Jeddah Economic Forum, she made some recommendations concerning social progress as well as the expanded and more effective participation of woman in Saudi society. Her presentation at the forum, “A Vision of Growth: Building People, Building Society” emphasized the importance of creating a parallel strategy in which education and home culture provide positive role models for both males and females and also promote gender equality from an early age.
“Basically what I am saying is that the root of our problems is the misconception about one other. Men here tend to look at women in a certain way and women tend to look at men in a certain way. This is the source of many of our problems. Some people ask: Why is there so much distance between the sexes? Why so many barriers? It is all because of this misconception.”
She pointed out that Saudi Arabia needs to develop a mechanism in both governmental and non-governmental organizations which will represent woman and children and allow them real participation. At present, she calls what women and children have “virtual” representation and she explains, “Women and children are represented virtually in this country. It doesn’t mean through the Internet; it means they are represented by a man. A man represents them. We have to get rid of that. Women should represent themselves.”
The role of NGOs (non-government organizations) is that they represent and advise people with similar problems. NGOs also are instrumental in making known the concerns of a section of society and bringing those concerns to the attention of policy makers. She cited many examples of NGOs in the UK and the functions they perform in society. “NGOs provide the means for a normal person - who may have nothing to do with politics — to make his voice heard and most importantly, listened to. NGOs can make sure that changes do in fact occur.” She spoke specifically about NGO’s using their legal powers to investigate violence and discrimination against women. “For example, if we in the Kingdom had an NGO that dealt with violence against women, Rania’s case (the Saudi TV broadcaster who was tortured by her husband) would have gone to that NGO and the NGO would have supported her. It would have made sure she had proper legal representation in court and it would have made sure she received a just settlement. And that her husband would not get away with what he did.” She continued to point out the advantages of NGOs. “If we had this entity that people could go to, it could also advise government bodies. An NGO could bring up the issue of women experiencing negative reactions in government offices. NGOs could get input from people and then meet officials and work out a solution. They could say, “We have looked at the school curriculum and feel it is promoting bias against women or that it is restricting women.” For example I totally disagree with the ban on sports for women. There is no Islamic law that says women should not be healthy and physically fit.
On the other hand, female students are told that practicing sports is sinful. These are matters we need to address in an educated, scientific, and religious way. And they need to be addressed with the people’s welfare in mind. Until we can experience that kind of cross-communication in the community, we will never move forward. If people lack the chance to talk about what their children being taught, it is a serious problem. At the same time, the government should develop ways of involving unrepresented groups in the community — women, children and young people.”
Bakhurji listed five common women’s issues:
1- Employment
2- Childcare: caring and personal assistance
3- Poverty and exclusion
4- Violence and safety
5- Influence and decision-making
She also mentioned ten steps which she feels Saudi Arabia should take in order to move forward.
1 — Educate
“Enlighten society and make sure that the curriculum meets the demands and requirements of the younger generation. Also make sure that the curriculum is not biased and that it does not promote hatred or intolerance.”
2 — Cultivate
“Here I am talking about cultivating leaders and role models. Encourge schools and all educational trainers to identify exceptional students. There has to be more awareness on the part of teachers thinking about children’s futures: The children must be encouraged and supported in doing things which they are good at.”
3 — Communicate
“I believe there is too little communication between the sexes and even between government departments. There is too little official awareness of what women think, what they need, and how they, along with men, could be productive in building society and the economy.”
4 — Demonstrate
Demonstrate by action and lead by example. “When we talk, we talk a lot. That is part of our culture but do we ever actually do anything? A lot of Saudi women talk about equality and rights but how many of them are willing to get together and do what I’ve done? What I’ve done by coming forward as a Saudi female candidate for the elections is demonstrating my words and putting them into action. I am setting an example. Look at me now after that experience. I’m still alive. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices.”
5 — Mediate
Mediating between polarized groups. “I mean between the ultra-conservative and the ultra-liberal. Everyone is in a different place and these people cannot see eye-to-eye. For example, you say women should not drive because of “x”, “y”, and “z.” I say that women should drive because of “a”, “b”, and “c.” Let’s sit around a table and mediate. We need groups that will mediate between the polarized elements.” She went on, “There are also other polarized groups in our society. We are very complex — Hejazis, Najdis, Asiris, and others and all of them with different ways of thinking and looking at life.”
6 — Collaborate
“Let’s learn from people who have already gone down this path. First of all let’s look at examples in the Middle East who are closer to our culture, such as Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and others in terms of their progress in civil society and education.”
7— Negotiate
“Let’s face it. We do not know how to negotiate. We get heated and emotional and we lose the point. I believe that negotiation should be taught in school; we should learn how to debate. How can we defend our values and beliefs without knowing the basics of negotiating? We must have an educated point of view.”
8 — Cooperate
“There has to be cooperation between the different groups and sectors of society, between different ministries so they can produce helpful mechanisms.”
9 — Legislate
To create laws and legislation that support society on all levels. “Currently we say that we implement Shariah law. That is fine. But are we really implementing it?” She cited the example of meeting Iranian women professors and women members of the Iranian Parliament. When she asked them if it was true that Iranian women were stifled, the members of parliament were surprised. “The women told me that a woman in Iran has a chance in any profession. She said: “Look, I ran for Parliament as a woman and I won.” At the same time, the women noted, that Iran is a very religious society; they said, “We follow the Shariah down to its smallest detail. If your women followed Shariah, you would get more respect and be more productive. It does not hamper women.”
She returned then to one of her favorite points. “Did you know that Iranian women went to the Olympics? With their hijabs they competed. The Iranian women told me that women practice sports — riding and basketball for example — wearing hijab and loose clothes. I thought to myself, if they can do it, why can’t we? Why are we restricted? Islam does not handicap a society, and definitely does not handicap women. I think we need to look at our Islamic interpretations more closely and clarify certain areas.”
10 — Tolerate
“It is not in our culture to tolerate. We are very judgmental. This is wrong. We need to educate people to be tolerant rather than judgmental. Who do we think we are? Very early, we teach children that if this person is Hejazi it means one thing, if Najdi something else. Or that black means this, and white means that. Or for example, she’s a woman. Let’s judge her. It does not matter what she says; she’s just a woman. All these judgments make you guilty instead of innocent. This kind of narrow-mindedness which is programmed into us socially from an early age needs to be changed. The only way we can move forward is to get rid of this ignorance.
We are no better than anyone else. And God says in the Qur’an that the best of us is the most righteous.”
Her recommendations:
1- Establish a national council for women
2- Establish mechanism within civil society for dialogue with decision makers
3- Establish local community centers for advice and counseling related to social and family affairs
4- Provide training and guidance for young people
5- Encourage investment in community projects
6- Allocate seats to women in order to ensure their participation in local municipality politics
7- Education, education, education.
