Saudi Women & TV May 20, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Film & Ads, Inspiration, Life, Links, Men, Women.trackback
“Does the appearance of Saudi women on TV run counter to Islamic law?”
An interesting clip of a discussion that took place on LBC TV on 25/3/2007. The Saudi newscaster defending women’s right to appear on TV is Buthayna Nasser.
“Interesting” is putting it mildly. That was incredible. What a lady. Ferocious grace under pressure.
Some of the most intellectual, elegant, fascinating, gracious and awe inspiring women I have ever known are from Saudi Arabia. I have boundless admiration and respect for their strength of character and intellect, equaled only by that which I have for the women of Qatar as well as the ladies of my own country (particularly the Kuwaiti women from a few generations before my own).
That’s all I could think of when I watched.
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Thank you for taking the time to watch MsBaker.
One thing that pains me when I watch such videos on YouTube and other video sites are the hateful comments.
More effort should be made by those Arabs and Muslims who are fluent in English to present a positive image of our religion and our country.
It is not the religion at fault but people’s interpretations of religion.
Not only do we need more brave, eloquent intellectual women like Buthayna Nasser, but we also need to educate women and create an awareness of the obstacles facing women and the possibilities at hand.
And you’re right about Saudi women. We could learn a few lessons ourselves.
Jewaira
I second my friend Ms. Baker.
When I lived in Saudi Arabia, I learned so much - from the women! They were so unafraid! They laughed at how the men were always running around trying to control them, like male impala with a huge herd of females, exhausting themselves trying to keep their women under control as if they didn’t have the self-control to discipline themselves!
They also were huge scholars of the Qura’an, and were quick to point out where men had taken culture and interpreted the Qura’an erroneously to support cultural values, as opposed to religious values.
This gal is a pistol! What I love is that she does not fall back on emotion - she has the facts and the logic and the arguments to make him look whipped! Woooo Hoooooo, what a film!
I’m glad it had subtitles!
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I’m pleased you watched it IntlXpatr and shared your perspective especially since you have lived in Saudi and mixed with Saudi women.
MemriTV is always translated and actually this clip - despite it not being recent - has created alot of inflammatory comments and criticism in Western link aggregator sites against the Islamic religion.
What we aim for is better understanding between cultures to minimize a the stereotypes that result from misinterpretation.
We also seek to empower our own women with knowledge and an awareness of issues that hinder their right to be the best they can be.
Jewaira
That is fantastic, the woman handled herself gracefully, I’m surprised I haven’t seen that before and that they don’t have this sort of debate more often.
It would prove that half these idiots just memorize what they are saying and keep spitting it out. She made her point about these Neanderthals!
I wish there were more debates like these in Kuwait.
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lol @ Neanderthals
Marzouq, Kuwaiti women need to get their act together. I was dismayed to see those MP’s that had stood against women’s suffrage make a comeback and I think it was on the backs of women who voted for them.
Jewaira
Kudos to her and her bravery. I wish all Middle Eastern women have the same courage as her.
There’s something I don’t understand though (from those clerics). Why does the women has to be the one to cover or to be considered a fitna. I mean, those clerics say that men are more stronger and capable than women, so why does women have to undergo such obstacles in not exposing themselves but the man does not. If the man is superior than the woman, then he should be the one who should resist those “temptations” and test his strength. Blaming women on every sexual incident is quite ridiculous.
Currently, there have been quite a debate among moderate Muslim theologists that the Hijaab isn’t exactly an Islamic dress code. Click HERE for some info.
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There are many truly wonderful progressive Arab women out there Angelo but unfortunately we are not helping each other by spreading the word.
Thank you for the link and I shall check it out.
Jewaira
Saudi women are hot, they should put more of them on tv.
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You’re incorrigible, do you know that?
Jewaira
Yup
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I wonder
Jewaira
I second Purgatory LOL
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Mystique
Where have you been?????
Hope all is going well with you.
Was thinking of you the other day
Jewaira
Jewaira, I am fine.. miss checking your blog more often.. Off to Paris soon!!!!
any recommendations? e-mail me !!!
– was thinking about blogging again..
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That’s wonderful news, Mystique!
Jewaira
The sun’s fading
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You should’ve at least watched the clip
J
Think you got me sussed out hmm?
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Me? Never!!
Jewaira