Status Of Woman In Saudi Arabia And Iran Essay

Muslim Media at odds with the Religious establishments on the status of the woman in rich Arab countries and Iran
Aleem Khan Falaki
aleemfalki@yahoo.com

As T.N. Sessian, Ex-Election Commissioner of India had said 1 “we have tyrannized the half humanity for centuries in the name of Dharma (Religion)”. Although he referred to the inferior status of the women in the Hindu society but the situation isignominiously not different in the Muslim, Christian or any other society. The culture, economics and politics etc havealways been a factor in the marginalization of the woman but the religion invariably has always been on the forefront on impeding the woman’s status. The religious establishments whether of Sunni or Shia’a, have always been preponderantly an authority to allot the rights to the genders. Unfortunately, the woman has never been accepted as rightful to take part in the religious leadership. The woman’s rights and fate too have been determined and controlled by orthodox men ever since. Dr. Khalid Al Nowaiser, an Attorney of Saudi Arabia says2: Unfortunately, in Saudi Arabia and around the world, there are always men who want to control women’s rights in the name of religion or otherwise. This is clearly not something that arises out of a vacuum or by coincidence, but is a deliberate and well-planned strategy by certain groups to dominate society; and the most effective way to achieve this objective is to maintain control over all aspects of a woman’s life.”
The growing reluctance of the educated elite, women and media over the ambivalent attitude of the religious authorities in the rich Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait etc as well as in Iran is evident in the newspapers and latest book publications. Although the religious authorities are uncontestable still the media is raising voice constantly against the ambiguity on the woman’s status. The positive phenomenon noted during the last few years is that the common men did not...