This is an fascinating story. Read the comments for nuance, but I think this is the early warning of the canary in the coal mine of Saudi orthodoxy. You go, gir-r-r-l-l-l.
Awesome: Saudi woman beats up virtue cop
POSTED AT 11:30 AM ON MAY 18, 2010 BY CASSY FIANO
[ ISLAM ] PRINTER-FRIENDLY
Some news today sure to bring a smile to your face: in Saudi Arabia, a virtue cop tried to harass an unmarried couple for being out in public together. The man collapsed, and the woman proceeded to kick the cop’s butt:
It was a scene Saudi women’s rights activists have dreamt of for years.
When a Saudi religious policeman sauntered about an amusement park in the eastern Saudi Arabian city of Al-Mubarraz looking for unmarried couples illegally socializing, he probably wasn’t expecting much opposition.
But when he approached a young, 20-something couple meandering through the park together, he received an unprecedented whooping.
A member of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the Saudi religious police known locally as the Hai’a, asked the couple to confirm their identities and relationship to one another, as it is a crime in Saudi Arabia for unmarried men and women to mix.
For unknown reasons, the young man collapsed upon being questioned by the cop.
According to the Saudi daily Okaz, the woman then allegedly laid into the religious policeman, punching him repeatedly, and leaving him to be taken to the hospital with bruises across his body and face.
To say that this is inspiring to oppressed women in the Middle East is a massive understatement.
“To see resistance from a woman means a lot,” Wajiha Al-Huwaidar, a Saudi women’s rights activist, told The Media Line news agency. “People are fed up with these religious police, and now they have to pay the price for the humiliation they put people through for years and years. This is just the beginning and there will be more resistance.”
Hopefully, Al-Huwaidar is right. Unfortunately, the repercussions for this woman’s actions could be severe, should the police choose to press charges.
Neither the religious police nor the Eastern Province police has made a statement on the incident, and both the names of the couple and the date of the incident have not been made public, but on Monday the incident was all over the Saudi media.
Should the woman be charged, she could face a lengthy prison term and lashings for assaulting a representative of a government institution.
Saudi law does not permit women to be in public spaces without a male guardian. Women are not allowed to drive, inherit, divorce or gain custody of children, and cannot socialize with unrelated men.
Not only did this woman break Saudi law by socializing with an unrelated man, she also assaulted a male police officer. I find it hard to believe that Saudi authorities will let this one go. Supposedly, more women in the Middle East are standing up against the oppression and abuse forced upon them. That’s a wonderful thing, and this woman’s bravery and spirit should be applauded and shouted about around the world. Muslim women need to see that they do not have to tolerate these abuses. I really hope that she doesn’t end up in prison and getting lashings. I highly doubt that the cop just strolled up to her, her male friend spontaneously collapsed, and she then beat the crap out of him. Something had to have happened. And if nothing else, this story just goes to further illuminate the way that women live in Saudi Arabia. It’s awful.
Meanwhile, the feminists are silent about this. For all of their supposed championing of “womens rights”, they seem to have more pressing issues to worry about than real oppression of women in Saudi Arabia. They certainly don’t seem to mind the misogyny and oppression Islam currently perpetuates. Feministing is currently running posts moaning about the lack of women in late night comedy. Feministe’s most recent posts are talking about Miley Cyrus and Woody Allen. Pandagon is discussing immigration and “anti-feminism”. Shakesville reposts a text message conversation about Dana Carvey and complains about so-called racism in the United States.
Ah, our modern-day feminist crusaders. They’re really working hard to liberate oppressed women, aren’t they? Maybe they should take a cue from real feminists like this unnamed women and stop worrying about ridiculous issues like women on late night comedy shows.
Cross-posted from Cassy’s blog. Stop by for more original commentary, or follow her on Twitter!
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For unknown reasons, the young man collapsed upon being questioned by the cop
.
Ehh?
Is this like the Russian’s explanation for what happened to the Somali pirates?
Russian officals explained: “Apparently they died.”
Seems odd that the man just swooned and that threw the woman into a violent rage. Either way, no matter what it ends up being, I hope that she somehow manages to avoid any severe punishment. Not really holding out for that though.
Heralder on May 18, 2010 at 12:06 PM
Maybe the cop tazed her beau.
OhioCoastie on May 18, 2010 at 12:37 PM
Hey guys,
I’ve lived in Saudia for the last 2 1/2 years and while I’m not familiar with the particulars of this story, I can tell you it isn’t quite accurate either. For one thing, the religious police are called the Mutawa. Secondly, they have no authority to arrest nor even touch anyone at all unless there is an actual policeman present also.
All too often, the Mutawa will try to enforce the religious laws when by themselves. Everyone, in this case (including the Saudis), ignore them.
As far as beating a Mutawa up, while it is not all that wise, perhaps, there is precendent for doing so. Some years ago, a religious policeman was beat up by a bunch of women at Sahara mall in Riyadh because he stopped a woman by touching her. And that is a no-no. Men do not touch women they are not familiar with here. That is an invitation to a severe beating.
I have heard other similar stories, including one involving the U.S. army female Lieutenant with a Mutawa in the Batha section of Riyadh.
It is not necessarily considered a crime to hit anyone unless you use a closed fist here.
Natrium on May 18, 2010 at 3:35 PM
Interesting background, Natrium, thanks.
Heralder on May 18, 2010 at 3:50 PM
