The Charter for Human Rights was adopted and proclaimed by United Nations in 1949, where equal rights were granted to every individual. Many Muslim countries are signatory to that document. Unfortunately, a country like Saudi Arabia is violating human rights, particularly women rights.
Recently, a few women were arrested in Saudi Arabia because they were caught driving in KSA. The gender discrimination by regressive leaders in this ocuntryhas crossed all barriers when they dishonoured women by arresting them for driving a car. Those women did not commit any heinous crime. All they did was assert their independence. If Muslim women could ride on camels 14 centuries ago, why can’t they ride a car today?
Saudi women have been protesting against the ban on car driving because the time has come when these women should be granted their rights. Although the law was challenged many times, it has still not been changed. Women in other Muslim countries are driving freely on the road and working side by side with men. This reality cannot be changed by certain regressive individuals.
The issue of the ban is now being raised on a global platform where different world leaders are forcing Saudi Arabia to rethink and lift the ban. Today’s Saudi women are educated and they want to live an independent life. We must respect and support that right and advocating the lifting of this ban is a small gesture that supports their struggle.
MUNIR MOOSA SEWANI
Karachi
