Saudi Women Drive Change Despite Mixed Signals : NPR
Saudi women are getting conflicting messages from their government about whether it intends to expand their rights.
They received a boost from King Abdullah who pledged to give them more political power in the coming years. But new Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdel-Aziz Al Saud is known for his opposition to women’s rights.
Such mixed messages stir up hope, fear and frustration. Several Saudi women tell NPR they simply want a say in how they live.
Tug-Of-War: Women In The Middle
Even finding a public place where they can meet with a reporter is a struggle. They are kicked out of a Starbucks because it is prayer time when shops must close. A nearby hotel lobby also won’t work because there are men inside. Saudi women lingering in the same space as men could trigger a visit by the dreaded mutawa or religious police, who enforce a strict segregation of the sexes in public spaces.
So the women decide to gather in the reporter’s small hotel room. But even that proves a challenge, as they search for an elevator with no men inside.
Nuha al-Suleiman says such obstacles take the fun out of going anywhere.
“I feel just frustrated when I go out because I have to find my driver. I will have to stay in some places. I cannot walk in all streets,” she says. “There are religious police everywhere, and they can complain about anything, so I just prefer staying home.”