HRW: Saudi Women Treated Like Children

Those damn conservatives.

Saudi Arabia's rigid sex segregation, compulsory male guardianship of women and other "grossly discriminatory" policies are a denial of fundamental rights, a leading human rights watchdog says today.

Women are treated like legal minors who have no authority over their lives or their children, finds a new report by Human Rights Watch.

The depth and detail of discrimination was laid bare in more than 100 interviews conducted during HRW's first fact-finding visit to the oil-rich, conservative kingdom, where King Abdullah is often described as a cautious reformist.

"The Saudi government sacrifices basic human rights to maintain male control over women," concluded Farida Deif, HRW researcher for the Middle East. "Saudi women won't make any progress until the government ends the abuses that stem from these misguided policies."

Every Saudi woman must have a male guardian, normally a father or a husband, who is tasked with making a range of critical decisions. And even when permission from a guardian is not mandatory some officials still ask for it "because current practice assumes women have no power to make their own decisions" over medical procedures or discharge from hospital.

Women are "marginalised almost to the point of total exclusion" from the country's workforce, the report says. And since Saudi women are banned from driving, a large proportion of their salaries goes on paying for transportation.

Isn't 7th century living wonderful?

Representatives from the National Association of Gals were unavailable for comment.