Comments on: Saudi Arabia: Women are for Pleasure

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 01:18:44 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Erica!

By: Erica

Erica — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:11:39 +0000

I haven’t read all the responses here, perhaps someone has already mentioned this, but I can shed some light on the likely spark to this fatwa. Many times wild-oat-sowing Muslim Saudi men will travel to neighboring countries and marry “women” (read:young girls provided for the purpose) simply to have “legal” sex with them ( treat them like a slave–beating them if they are not compliant ) and then divorce them after a raucous weekend. These are not prostitutes, they are unfortunate young girls without a voice of their own. It is completely possible that this cleric is hoping to put an end to this practice. Sadly, 100 fatwas could never begin to address the complex and disturbing man-woman-relationship issues that dominate the Saudi kingdom.

By: Aafke

Aafke — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:49:24 +0000

Tell that to Rania Al Baz.
In reality men usually know very well how to beat up their wives and cause pain and suffering. It’s a muslim man’s duty to beat up his wife.
With some women nothing helps but beatings…

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:27:24 +0000

@Niels,

I have read books from Saudi which contain such references. All the books I have said which say it is acceptable to beat ones wife for a wrongdoing usually also make it clear that if a wife is “beaten” it is to be with something soft that can not do bodily harm. The allowance for beating is more of making a statement and not meant to encourage abuse. All the same, I know that even allowance for such a term sounds archaic.

By: Niels Christensen

Niels Christensen — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:52:37 +0000

Yesterday the german police raided mosques, bookshops and islamic centers
to hinder the distribution of a book ( in german ‘Frauen im Schutz des Islam’/ Women under the protection of Islam), the book originates from Saudi Arabia.
The reason is that the book contains advice on how to beat you wife.

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:33:35 +0000

I do wish more marriages would be with someone far away for marrying within families continues in Saudi Arabia and with it are continued problems and birth defects.

By: partofyou

partofyou — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:07:03 +0000

I remember this: “Marry somebody from far away’ (or something like that). I guess the real reason is to develop future generations (genetically speaking).

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:33:00 +0000

Salam Alaikum Hala,

My prayers go to your adoptive daughter and I hope that all will go well for her.

Thanks for sharing.

By: Hala Maksoud

Hala Maksoud — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:16:15 +0000

As Salaam Alaykom Carol:
This confirms my thoughts about Saudi Men, and Saudi Laws. While I am devout as a Muslimah, I thank Allah SWT that I am to old to face having a Saudi Husband, ever.

I have an adoptive daughter, who converted to Islam, she says, partly because of me! GAH! Men in general can be really dangerous, but when we place ourselves in the hands of a man and he takes us to Saudia, we better pray that things go well, because we will have no recourse at all.

She has been worrying me because she has one of those, um “temporary” Marriages to a very nice Saudi guy. He has much baggage, and I am really worried that he will take her there, get her preggers, and then she’ll be stuck.

I sent her the link to your column and she has been telling me about the horror stories she is reading. Inshallah, she will smarten up.

Ma Salaama

Hala

By: Aafke

Aafke — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:54:30 +0000

Abu Sinan is ine a vey difficult position, his wife is the Saudi one, and Saudies may have problems with Saudi men taking foreign wives, but a Saudi woman? The lawful property of Saudi Arabia marrying a foreign man? Impossible without the right wasta I think.