Saudis plan society to protect women's rights

Riyadh: Hectic efforts are on to launch a society for protecting rights of Saudi women.

A group of Saudi princes, academics and shaikhs, who are behind the move, pin hopes on the new entity as one that would be capable of addressing most of the problems facing Saudi women.

The new society, which is undergoing registration at the Ministry of Interior, will be a major boost in efforts to empower Saudi women.

Spelling out the features of the new society, Dr Gazi Al Shamri, a member of the proposed society and director of the family development centre in Jubail, told Gulf News that they had received initial approval from the Ministry of Social Affairs to go ahead with the procedures for formation of the society.

The society, which will be headquartered in Riyadh, will have branches in various regions of the Kingdom. It will start functioning, strictly under the framework of the Saudi legal and Sharia systems," he said.

According to Dr Al Shamri, the society will serve as an outlet for Saudi women to seek their rights through an agency that fulfils their aspirations, safeguard their interests, address their needs, and suggest corrections in their behaviour in the society.

The society's functioning will be based on the Sharia concept of "alliance of acceptance," which was adopted by the Arab tribes in the past while lending hand of support to the oppressed.

Grievances

"A number of women will be appointed as employees at the society, and women from all walks of life can approach them to redress their grievances and present their suggestions," he said.

"The society then present these complaints to the Shura Council and then to the Ministry of Interior in order to review the whole aspects of the matter," he said while noting that the basic goal of this is to empower women to perform duties permissible within the religious and legal framework.

Dr Al Shamri said that the move to launch the society has gained momentum with the support from several prominent Saudi princes, including the Eastern Region Governor Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd, Assir Governor Prince Faisal Bin Khalid as well as several senior Islamic scholars and shaikhs.

On their views about the major rights to be granted for Saudi women, he spelled out that they should be allowed to participate in the Shura Council sessions and speak out for their genuine rights, in addition to be given jobs to all government departments like men and protecting the rights of some section of women employees like doctors and nurses through changing the outlook of society towards them.

Dr Al Shamri said the foundation committee of the society would be comprised of Dr Khalid Al Hulaibi, undersecretary at the branch of Imam Mohammad Bin Saud University in Al Hassa, Dr Ebrahim Al Tanum, professor of Islamic jurisprudence at the same university, Dr Adel Abdul Jabbar, program presenter at Quran Radio, and a number of male and female academics.