Saudi Arabian women join their male counterparts on stadiums after stadium ban removal

[Cthulhu]

Good achievement for Saudi women, Our Mullahs should learn for Saudis.

 

[xyxmt]

Monarchy's lst ditc effort to save them self, but will it

 

[somebozo]

Welcome to civilization..2018! Finally!

 

[Saif al-Arab]

At last Saudi autorities lifting a stupid ban againist women that had been imputed to islam...
Many bans like these that againist women are traidionals of Arabic tribes not islamic.....
As we clearly know Many times the muslim prothet had watched games like wrestling javeling with hise wifes among crowds..

Good progress...Well done KSA...

Nothing to do with Arab traditions. How can a 39 year old ban be an Arab tradition? The ban was put in place by influnecial hardliner (ultraconservative) clerics after 1979 as a reaction to the Grand Mosque Seizure in 1979 and the "Islamic" Revolution next door that same year. Read about the Sahwa movement.

So which decision is right...........the decision which was made before to ban Women from Driving and Entering in Stadiums and Opening Cinemas in Saudia with the name of Islam......... or this Decision made recently........

Why are you acting stupid? It depends on your interpretation. Most people (vast majority) never supported this law. Many clerics did not either but when we are talking about laws of the past (1979) put in place by the discourse back then and kept alive, it is not always easy to change. You need bold leaders. King Salman is one. MbS is one as well.

Don't tell me that Pakistan does not have controversial laws to this very day.

 

[mike2000 is back]

Are the women allowed to go shopping alone? Driving and visiting stadium wasnt allowed for women. I wonder what other common rights women arent given in Saudi? Do they have right to vote? No offense to Saudi members but this just seems unreal to me that they couldnt watch games previously

LOL It was real. Both Saudi Arabia and Iran had very restrictive laws when it comes to women and how they should go about their life in public(they are one of the few countries that for example made it mandatory for women to wear veil in public whether they like it or not, same as preventing women from going to football/sports stadiums of any kind etc). As far as I know Afghanistan seem to be the worse of the worse out there though.
Seems Saudi Arabia with this new prince is at least trying to reform and change some of this backward laws which were long overdue, hopefully Iran will follow Saudi Arabia's lead in this regard.

However, Saudi women do seem to enjoy very high living standards and wealth though.

https://twitter.com/x/status/952004652018601984

https://twitter.com/x/status/951974569413398529

@Arabi @Full Moon @Bubblegum Crisis @Saudi Typhoon @The SC

Damn......this journalist is beautiful, who is she? Got me thinking things..

 

[BATMAN]

just to get some perspective , the annual Global Gender Gap Report, ranked almost 150 countries on gender equality.

According to this those are the 10 worst countries for gender equality :

1. Yemen
2. Pakistan
3. Syria
4. Chad
5. Iran
6. Mali
7. Saudi Arabia
8. Lebanon
9. Morocco
10. Jordan

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/m...best-and-worst-countries-for-gender-equality/

Bull crap propaganda.
In Pakistan women have equally opportunity and are protected by law of state.
All fields and professions are open to them.

 

[Divergent]

Catching up finally.

 

[Gomig-21]

Here is another list , just to make it clear i did not write those lists so don't shoot the messenger ...
From all the different data the thing that arises is that the middle east as a whole have a very serious problem in the way woman are treated , i do not know how anyone can deny that.

The Best And Worst Countries For Women

In September, Saudi Arabia announced it would finally lift its longstanding ban on women driving, with the change set to take effect from June 2018. The ban has done untold damage to the kingdom's reputation for years and internationally, it has been seen as a major symbol of female oppression. Things look likely to improve even further with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pushing to implement more reforms in order to return the country to moderate Islam. Saudi Arabia isn't alone in its poor treatment of women of course, and a new index has measured the status of women in countries across the globe.

The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and the Peace Research Institute of Oslo launched the global Women, Peace and Security Index which measures women's well-being by assessing factors such as inclusion, justice and security in 153 countries. Iceland leads the world ahead of Norway and Switzerland while the U.S. is in 22nd place. One possible reason the U.S. trails much of Europe could be its complete lack of maternity leave. Along with Papua New Guinea, the U.S. is the only country worldwide not offering any paid maternity leave to new mothers.

Unsurprisingly, less peaceful and unstable countries tended to score poorly in the index with Afghanistan and Syria both coming last. Likewise, Yemen is currently in the midst of a bloody civil war and it comes third from bottom. Pakistan is also among the worst countries in the index with studies finding that domestic violence is widespread while thousands of women and girls are murdered in "honor killings" every year. Nobel Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai is a notable example of just how dangerous Pakistan can be for women. She was shot and nearly killed in 2012 for speaking publicly about the importance of education for girls.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallm...for-women-worldwide-infographic/#76b6255f273b

Hard to believe that Syria would be one step up from Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2nd worst place and 2 spots worst than Afghanistan?

When they start using criteria such as paid maternal leave, I suppose that takes out a huge clump of countries in a single shot, including even the US.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

LOL It was real. Both Saudi Arabia and Iran had very restrictive laws when it comes to women and how they should go about their life in public(they are one of the few countries that for example made it mandatory for women to wear veil in public whether they like it or not, same as preventing women from going to football/sports stadiums of any kind etc). As far as I know Afghanistan seem to be the worse of the worse out there though.
Seems Saudi Arabia with this new prince is at least trying to reform and change some of this backward laws which were long overdue, hopefully Iran will follow Saudi Arabia's lead in this regard.

However, Saudi women do seem to enjoy very high living standards and wealth though.


Damn......this journalist is beautiful, who is she? Got me thinking things..

Veil/headscarf was never and is not obligatory in KSA. An abaya is obligatory.

You can see this by taking a look at the photos of Saudi Arabian women in football stadiums or outside of them.

Example:

The decision allowing Saudi women in stadiums was first announced in October. (AN Photo)

(Female Al-Hilal fan from Riyadh - Najd is the most conservative region in KSA along with Jazan).

Headscarf/veil on the other hand is obligatory in Iran. That is why Western tourists in KSA nor non-Muslim expat workers (Filipinos) for instance can be seen walking in KSA without wearing headscarfs/veil but an abaya.

Just like foreign heads of states or diplomats. Nothing new exactly.

However in some more conservative regions in KSA it is encouraged for women (non-Muslim too and tourists) to wear a veil as a sign of respect and not to draw unnecessary attention. For instance in a conservative city like Buraydah. However it is not legally enforced.

Damn......this journalist is beautiful, who is she? Got me thinking things..

Nadine Al Bedair. She is ok but nothing outstanding for KSA standards. Many more beautiful ones IMO. For instance that average female Al-Hilal fan. Taste is personal though.

 

[sammuel]

Hard to believe that Syria would be one step up from Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2nd worst place and 2 spots worst than Afghanistan?

When they start using criteria such as paid maternal leave, I suppose that takes out a huge clump of countries in a single shot, including even the US.

People are welcome ofcourse to bring here any other research they want , but I doubt it would show a very different picture.

Sure , the ranking of the states might change according to the parameters the research uses , but the bottom line would remain the same , which is that the state of woman equality in the middle east is appalling.

This comes out in all the surveys and the researches i have read. What ever list you compose , in the bottom there would always be too many representatives in the middle East.

Sure , non of those lists are exact science and it all depends on the parameters used to check it out , but the general result would be the same.

Some surveys check woman safety as a parameter - this may distort the results because countries where there is a civil war going on like Syria , Yemen or Iraq would immediately drop to the last places.

But i think the main issue is not the exact ranking but the fact that the woman equality in the middle east is very bad indeed. This is the result of two factors. Traditional customs within the society and laws that discriminate woman.

I brought those statistics not to point fingers at any particular country , but as a wake up call for all of us.

~

 

[Gomig-21]

I brought those statistics not to point fingers at any particular country , but as a wake up call for all of us.

No, I hear I ya. I understand your point and agree with it, even here in the US there are major issues and it reflects in the rankings even though one would think the US is miles and miles ahead of the entire world but it's not. I just found it surprising that Pakistan was lower than Afghanistan. Maybe I'm not very familiar with the inner structure of Pakistan but something tells me that it should at least rank higher than Afghanistan when it was one of the first Muslim countries to elect a great woman to the position of Prime Minister in Benazir Bhutto, and quite a few women hold powerful positions in public office as well as on the international circuit such as Maleeha Lodhi and so on. Maybe the fabric of the inner society is fractured when it comes to women, but if there are women who rise to such powerful positions, that's probably for a good reason and we don't see anything of the sorts in Afghanistan, not even close.

 

[pin gu]

Another moronic law with origins in the "Sahwa era" and in the post Grand Mosque Seizure/Iranian "Islamic" Revolution (both in 1979) era. In the dustbin for good. A few of such moronic laws remain in place but their lifespan is very short-lived by all accounts.

Most trending Twitter hashtag currently worldwide as well.

So you let women and families in your stadiums but you banned all single males ?

Congratulations , maybe some countries in world can learn a thing from SA

It was a easy one the harder one is cinemas I wonder how SA want to pursue that one while you don't create the content for films .

 

[Shapur Zol Aktaf]

Good achievement for Saudi women, Our Mullahs should learn for Saudis.

Good move from saudi, closing the mouth of pseudo-arabs in Iran. We need to soften/modernize Islam else we can't progress (economy, military, culture).

 

[Saif al-Arab]

So you let women and families in your stadiums but you banned all single males ?

Congratulations , maybe some countries in world can learn a thing from SA

It was a easy one the harder one is cinemas I wonder how SA want to pursue that one while you don't create the content for films .

Thank you. Maybe KSA and Iran will work together (their actors and directors) one day in the future across the pond?

Single men are allowed in.

Cinemas will reopen in KSA within 90 days (there have already been many concerts of famous local, Arab and non-Arab singers in KSA within the past 1 year, female as male - as well as classical concerts even with famous Japanese orchestra) and there is already a film industry in KSA and quite a few made in KSA films. It is a growing industry.

Complete plans in 90 days to facilitate Saudi cinema launch
NOOR NUGALI | Published — Monday 15 January 2018

Saudis will soon be able to visit cinemas across the Kingdom. (REUTERS)

RIYADH: The General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM) on Thursday held a meeting headed by the chairman of the committee, Reda bin Mohammed Al-Haidar, with a number of government authorities.
The meeting was to prepare regulations and set the framework for the GCAM in preparation for the opening of cinemas in Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah Al-Shamlani, the official spokesperson for the GCAM, told Arab News: “We are still working with government officials and private companies. In 90 days, we will have the details. The meetings, thus far have been very productive.”
Al-Haidar stressed that the goal of the meeting was to discuss the executive plan and requirements of the parties to launch a cinema that corresponds with national values through meaningful content that is consistent with Sharia and will preserve the ethical values of the Kingdom.
Al-Haidar explained that the authority will continue to hold similar meetings with government authorities at its headquarters in Riyadh until the issuance of the list of theaters.
The board of directors of the GCAM, chaired by Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Awad Al-Awad, on Dec. 11 had approved the issuance of licenses for those wishing to open cinemas, with the goal of promoting cultural and media development.
The opening of cinemas will stimulate economic growth, and provide jobs and various career opportunities in new areas.
Ever since Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and Information announced that commercial cinemas will be allowed to operate in the Kingdom as of early 2018, there have been questions regarding when, where and what regulations will be applied.
After 35 years, Saudi Arabia will reopen cinemas in the country. The announcement opens up a domestic market of more than 32 million people and it is forecast that by 2030, Saudi Arabia will be home to more than 300 cinemas, according to the board of the GCAM.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1225816/saudi-arabia

The rise, fall and rebirth of Saudi cinema
Ruba Obaid | Published — Tuesday 12 December 2017

JEDDAH: Cinemas existed in Saudi Arabia’s major cities about half-a-century ago. Westerners working for the California State Oil Company (later Aramco) were the first to introduce cinemas to Saudis.
They installed large screens in their residential compounds during the 1930s to watch American and European films. From residential complexes of foreign employees, cinemas spread to the four major Saudi cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Taif and Abha, until the number of theaters in Jeddah alone reached 30. Ticket prices ranged from SR3 to SR10.
Early movie theaters were mainly found in sports clubs, foreign embassies, or personally supported by individuals. Wealthy businessmen established many of those theaters and they were nowhere near the standards of other Arab cities such as Cairo and Beirut. It was not difficult to open one, for such theater houses did not require a formal license at the time.
The “cinema alley,” as the people of Riyadh call it, in Al-Murabba neighborhood, had a large number of movie venues back then. Also, the most famous ones in Jeddah were “Bab Sharif,” located in one of the oldest areas of Jeddah, and the “Abu Safeya” cinema in the Hindawi district.
As for Saudi cinema production, during the 1960s and 1970s, there were only a few documentary films produced by oil companies in the Eastern Province. Among the most famous works produced by Aramco is a documentary film about the inauguration of the first petroleum well in the Kingdom, in the presence of King Abdul Aziz.
Abdullah Al-Muhaisen is considered to be the first Saudi director. In1975, he released what can be referred to as the first Saudi film. It was about the development of the city of Riyadh.
Al-Muhaisen participated in the festival of documentary films in Cairo in 1976. Again, in 1977, he released a more important film, a documentary about the Lebanese civil war and the damage that war inflicted on the beautiful city of Beirut. He was awarded with the Nefertiti Prize for best short film.
Dreams of Saudi cinema were cut short by the religious and social changes that followed the failed attempt by Juhayman Al-Otaibi and fellow extremists to capture the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
Cinemas were closed in all major cities of the Kingdom. Embassies closed their doors to members of the community. At the time, the idea of filming for many religious people in society became a “moral crime.”
Those events resulted in the absence of cinematic culture. During the past decades, the public did not believe in the importance of cinema as important source of culture and knowledge. Traces of that period still exist among many Saudis, especially the negative perception that cinema unravels the very moral fabric of the society, because it includes a content that conflicts with Islamic morals and teachings.
However, during the absence of movie theaters in Saudi Arabia, people were able to deal with that by installing small theaters in their houses, and traveling to neighboring Bahrain and the UAE to watch movies as soon as they got released.

Today, most Saudis, especially youth, see the importance of cinemas, even though some believe that controls are important before they are opened. However, the keen interest of Saudis in cinema industry is easily noticeable through their creative production houses that started a few years ago with the rise of social media such as Telfaz11 and Uturn. They used YouTube to practice and promote their talents.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1207671/saudi-arabia

‘Saudi cinema needs to be nurtured’
JEDDAH: FOUZIA KHAN | Published — Thursday 28 February 2013

Ahd Kamel, Saudi filmmaker, actress and director shared her experience and opinion about the movie industry and Saudi society in a candid talk show at Athr gallery in Jeddah on Tuesday.
The much acclaimed and accomplished film director received a warm welcome from critics for her first film. This past year has been a busy one for the young star, making appearances in the Dubai International Film Festival and most recently in the Berlin International Film Festival for her second short film ‘Sanctity.’
Discussing the latest buzz surrounding her, Kamel frankly said she hoped that the public and critics’ interest in her latest movie was generated due to the creativity and artistic work instilled by the film itself and not because of the Saudi flagship.
She also expressed her optimism and confidence in the Saudi filmmaking industry, saying the Kingdom has many talented people that are waiting for the right opportunity to shine.
“I am hundred percent assured about this, even though at the moment we might not be advancing in the right direction, since we still don’t have cinemas, however, filmmaking is an expression and as a society we have much talent and issues to discuss. Saudi cinema is still in its infancy stages, it needs to be nurtured, developed and supported. There are many Saudi filmmakers testing their skills abroad to see where they stand. I think, as cinema becomes a part of our culture and the burgeoning art movement, people will need to receive education about films and the history of cinema. I see the glass half full,” she said.
Kamel is the first Saudi woman to study acting and filmmaking in the United States of America. Her impressive resume includes working alongside numerous famous directors. “Saudi Arabia opens the doors but you have to push through. I don’t like to label myself as a Saudi filmmaker, I am simply from the film industry; I am a native of the Kingdom, but I don’t want to carry any banners,” she added. Recalling her beginnings, Kamel said she never dreamt of being a filmmaker, rather the profession chose her. She picked up a camera to make her graduation project and suddenly filmmaking became her profession.
Kamel explained that with the film ‘Sanctity’ she tried to highlight overlooked social and female issues and bring them to the forefront of the public’s attention. “I want to share different angles of the strength and endurance of women; it’s not easy for example to be a mother. I usually approach the theme of my work with a question and then try to tackle it and provide an answer. With regards to this film, the question I put across to the audience is what does a woman do in the absence of a man from her life.”
Sanctity relays the story of a young widow, who tries to protect her unborn child.
The most challenging aspect of her experience in directing this movie was the ability to complete the shooting in seven days. It is worth noting that the film was shot on location in Jeddah.
“It was a great experience shooting on the streets of Jeddah. People in the neighborhoods where we were filming welcomed us and were extremely supportive. The people all-together made this experience a successful one,” she said.
The young filmmaker said she would like to approach the subject of friendship and plutonic relations that cut across the barriers segregating the sexes. “How can we create a society without segregation? We are not living in the jungle.


The message needs to be sent across that women can stand up for themselves; that we are capable of doing anything, after all we are responsible for raising the next generation and therefore we should not be ignored,” she emphasized.
Discussing other topics that interest her, she said she wants to project the different shades of black and white in the lives of women, men and society.
She said she believes that we need freedom and liberty, but if you find freedom within, it begins to manifest itself outside. For her art is a medium which pushes her to express herself and an outlet of her inner freedom.
Sanctity has an open ending because she wants to leave room for the audience to come to their own conclusions.
“I think in creative work, just like in life nothing has a concrete ending. I prefer to be more realistic, especially in films, as it gives you room to think.”
Kamel said her projects and films are not part of her social responsibility but rather they represent her projects as an artist.
The young filmmaker is very much inspired by the work of John Cassavetes, American film director, actor and screenwriter.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/443374

The film industry is obviously not as big as in Iran due to being officially closed for so many years (35 years) and Saudi Arabian actors and directors etc. used to work in other Arab countries (Egypt and Lebanon especially) because those two have significant film industries.

I am sure that KSA will catch up eventually and maybe even overtake them (Lebanon certainly) one day but that is less important.

 

[mike2000 is back]

The film industry is obviously not as big as in Iran due to being officially closed for so many years (35 years) and Saudi Arabian actors and directors etc. used to work in other Arab countries (Egypt and Lebanon especially) because those two have significant film industries.

WTF, So they have a ban on Cinemas/film industry as well?
What the hell is wrong with this people? How does movies harm the country/religion?
This your young Prince really have alot of work to do to reform this country as a whole.
At least he has started, so that's a good thing.