This Is What Saudi Arabia's First PSA For Violence Against Women Looks Like

[BainsBane]

126. No, I wasn't saying that

You did misunderstand. My post was directed to a particular member whose idea of women's rights is unorthodox at best.

I agree completely that the rights you site should be universal. I have no disagreement with that.

My initial post in this thread was dismay that posters reacted to an image of a battered woman by talking about the oppression of her veil. In my opinion, having the crap beat out of me is worse, regardless of what I'm wearing. Though I certainly agree I would insist on the choice to wear what I want. For some Muslim women, they want to veil. Others do not. The problem is with regimes like Saudi Arabia that compel veiling. In France, women are not allowed to veil in certain public places, like schools. Both policies are wrong.

Saudi Arabia is among the most oppressive of Muslim regimes. As the article I cited points out, many men there argue that veiling protects women from assault, which is far from the case.

My point is really a simple one. If we truly care about women's rights in the Muslim world, we have an obligation to listen to what those women care about, to read their essays and listen to their concerns. Some reject veiling and even Islam entirely. Others see Islam as providing the potential for their liberation. There are hundreds of feminists groups already operating in the Muslim world. What is so objectionable about paying attention to their concerns?