http://nshr.org.sa/english/aRightMenuCMS.aspx?smid=45

Again I am not familiar with their internal politics, but women driving is a controversial issue, regardless of whether or not in should be. I would personally put this down to pragmatism. NSHR can’t push hard on sensitive areas without hard-liners pushing the government to push back.

I’ve been reading your blog from my home in Ottawa, Canada, for some time, as I’m quite interested in developments in human rights (especially women’s rights) in Saudi Arabia. Although it appears that things are changing somewhat in SA (albeit at the speed of plate tectonics), I doubt that women will enjoy the same rights as men for some time, and most likely for several generations yet.

However sometimes outside political pressure can influence change. You may recall that for some time the formerly racist South Africa faced outside pressure – for example, it had products boycotted, and was not permitted to send a team to participate in the Olympic games, as most other countries were appalled at the racial segregation practiced there. Has there ever been any outside pressure on SA to halt gender segregation? If not, why not? Perhaps some influential Saudis should call for international sanctions until such time as gender segregation is banned.

Speaking as a Canadian lawyer and business woman, I can only imagine what life must be like in a gender segregated country. Nothing about it makes rational, professional or business sense to me (or my husband, who would absolutely hate having to drive me around, or be responsible for my business activities, which I might add, contribute more to our family finances than his income as a physician). Good luck to all who are trying to modernize SA!

I value your perspective.

Z Theory, I hope that you will consider your own blog.

Did women around the Prophet (pbuh) not move around Not ride camels?

I cant believe it, I really cant. To theextent where the mix of shock, disgust and general upset is to complicated and simultaneous to describe.