http://www.gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi_arabia/10330472.html


Saudi women call to ease restrictions
By Duraid Al Baik, Associate Editor


Published: July 10, 2009, 23:04


Dubai: Saudi activists have urged King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to ease
restrictions on women in the country.

Commenting on a report issued by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday,
Wajeeha Al Huwaider, an outspoken woman activist, said the male guardianship
system curbs the freedom of Saudi women and is the prime hindrance to obtaining
their rights.

In a telephone interview, Al Huwaider said she would not stop the campaign
until the system is eliminated.

She told Gulf News that the campaign gained momentum when a group of Saudi
women, who were on their way to Bahrain, were stopped at the Saudi-Bahrain
causeway border point by the Saudi immigration authorities for not carrying no
objection certificates from their respective guardians.


A Riyadh-based woman activist told Gulf News that women in the kingdom are
still awaiting the implementation of a royal pledge to give women their full
rights. Umm Tariq, in a telephone interview, said Saudi women prefer calls for
their rights from within the country as she believes they create a strong impact
on policy makers.
"Local pressure, however, is still very weak in comparison with forces who
are against women's rights in the kingdom," Umm Tariq said.

She said women in Saudi Arabia are not living a normal life as compared
with their counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council.

"Local pressure does not mean that women do not welcome international
support to get their rights. Women welcome the support of international
organisation," Umm Tariq said.

In a statement published by HRW, the international agency stated that the
Saudi officials continue to require women to obtain permission from male
guardians to conduct their most basic affairs, like travelling or receiving
medical care, despite government assertions that no such requirements exist.

"As a divorced woman whose father is dead, my male guardian is my 22-year
old son. This year, I asked him to give me a no-objection letter to go to Syria
where I am planning to spend my summer holiday. I am a 55-year old teacher and a
mother of four, but I still require the permission of my son," she said.

"Just imagine if my son refused to give me such a letter?"



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]