<p>A Saudi man divorced his wife for watching alone a television programme presented by a male, an act he deemed immoral, the Al Shams newspaper reported on Saturday.</p>
<p>The man, whom the paper did not identify, ended his marriage on the grounds his wife was effectively alone with an unrelated man, which is forbidden under the strict Islamic law enforced in the ultra-conservative kingdom, the paper said.</p>
<p>Men in Saudi Arabia have the authority to divorce their wives without resort to the courts. </p>
<p>And because you think their customs and culture are wrong, it must be. That’s what I love about so many of the topics on this and other forums. All these people screaming about freedom of speech, rights, diversity, and so on. But only if we happen to agree with what they say, do, believe, or who they are. Yea, got to love people who stand up for others. Sort of like the Spanish Inquisition. Promoting freedoms of religion as long as you are a Catholic.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong. I don’t condone some of these customs around the world. But I do respect them. I’ve lived in Saudi Arabia. Many things are tolerated now that weren’t years ago. They will evolve towards their own future in their own time. Just as we have and every other nation on the planet. That’s their destiny, not ours.</p>
<p>We should worry more about our own problems and help nations that want help. Next time a pro-life, pro-choice, Neo-Nazi, Ant-Semitic, gay rights, anti-gay, etc… wants a forum to speak, support them and their right to do so. But support them all. Not just the ones you agree with. If you support the Iranian President speaking at Columbia University, then support ROTC or the Religious Right to also have a presence there. I’m not picking on your position on this subject. But we aren’t talking about an individual. We’re talking about a sovereign nation and their customs. </p>
<p>That is their right. Until you know for a fact that every single woman in that country hates their current situation and these customs; until you know that they are all being oppressed and held prisoner to these customs; until such time that you discover that they are being forced into a situation that they can’t change through their own evolution; you need to let them have the freedom to exist as such. Things do change. Things have changed. It’s not yours, mine, or anyone else’s job to try and change that. There are plenty of woman in Saudi Arabia who have traveled outside of the country and have seen many different cultures. If they want to impact change, they will.</p>
<p>“Until you know for a fact that every single woman in that country hates their current situation and these customs”…</p>
<p>Excuse me, but is it not enough of a travesty if ANY woman hates the situation and is culturally (usually means financially) stuck? I am stunned that anyone would defend the right and power of a religious and political patriarchy to control the freedom and options of women. Stunned. Most men are bigger and stronger than most women (and women are tied to their roles as mothers), hence men have been able to control women and by definition this makes their utilization of that power the function of bullies. Humans are brainwashed by their religions (patriarchal) and held captive by their cultures. There is no defense for these traditions, fie to the notion of respect for them.</p>
<p>“We’re talking about a sovereign nation and their customs.”</p>
<p>Geographical and political boundaries do not justify subjugation of any group of human beings; the terror is the reality of the slippery slope of state and culturally sanctioned power over any group of human beings.</p>
<p>There are idiots in every country. I’m sure I could come up with all kinds of articles about the stupid things men in this country have done. To criticize an entire country because of the actions of one man seems ridiculous to me. Have you been reading about the trial of the religious leader convicted of forcing a 14 yr old girl to marry her 19 year old cousin? Should we condemm an entire country for it? </p>
<p>The question is whether one accepts human rights abuses (stonings, female genital mutilation, honor killings, etc…gross atrocities worse than being divorced for a TV show) as “cultural differences”. </p>
<p>Whether or not “every single woman in the country hates their situation and customs” is moot. Guarenteed, many women DO hate it. Do we think that because it is a cultural norm to be repressive and reactionary that it is acceptable? </p>
<p>I don’t agree with imposing democracy, but the least we can do is condemn human rights abuses that exist, regardless of the cultural acceptance.</p>
<p>“wants a forum to speak, support them and their right to do so.”</p>
<p>No one in this thread is complaining about what the Saudis are saying. They’re complaining about what the Saudis are doing. So what does free speech have to do with it?</p>
<p>lskinner – Sure he can. And she can ask for and receive alimony, child support, and the house, the car, and the business. (Can you imagine a judge’s reaction when he tells her that’s why he’s divorcing his wife?) I don’t think Mrs. Saudi can do that.</p>
<p>So what? Your objection (in this thread) to Saudi Arabia seems to be that a man can divorce his wife for a trivial reason. But the same thing is true in the United States.</p>
<p>Simba, be careful comparing them to cave men. The Egyptians over 3500 years ago had a very fair system of marriage and divorce. Either the husband or wife could initiate divorce for any reason, and the wife had the right to her possessions and a fine!</p>
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Good grief, how long will that take? Their neighbors in Africa had a better system 3500 years ago.</p>
<p>Under Jewish law, a man can divorce a woman for any reason or no reason. The Talmud specifically says that a man can divorce a woman because she spoiled his dinner or simply because he finds another woman more attractive, and the woman’s consent to the divorce is not required. In fact, Jewish law requires divorce in some circumstances: when the wife commits a sexual transgression, a man must divorce her, even if he is inclined to forgive her.</p>
<p>In the case of both Islamic and Jewish law, we tend to approve of those who don’t follow it.</p>
<p>None of these religious “outs” for divorce say much about the value and sanctity of marriage. Ideally a commitment to marriage is a commitment to work at preserving the marriage, and part of the purpose of the large ceremonial events associated with the ceremony is the community’s commitment to support the marriage and its preservation. These easy excuses to escape religious bonds and vows give rationale to the idea of contractural civil unions, surely less easily broken as legalities.</p>
<p>In the name of heaven, HOW do you think Saudi women would ever be able to impact change in their country? They can’t even drive alone. They’re not free to assemble, set up a meeting, hold public office, write new legislation…so HOW? Did you see Christianne Amanpour last night (Soldiers of God)? The only female judge was kicked off the bench for no reason other than being female. I’m hesitating now only because I’m not positive it was from Saudi Arabia or another country in the Middle East, but I am pretty sure it was Saudi Arabia.</p>
<p>Under American law (in 49 out of 50 states), a man can divorce a woman for any reason or no reason. He just needs to allege “irreconcilable differences” or some such.</p>