The Muslim Version of Cosmo Magazine: "Sisters"

There is an awesome magazine for Muslim women called "Sisters". You can order it at http://www.sisters-magazine.com/

It focuses on the self, family, world and of course includes fashion, recipes etc.

Islamic Sport

As many more Muslim women are exercising in the public sphere, many companies have developed sporting abayas that cover women according to Islamic standards.

The best company I have found is at http://www.islamicdesignhouse.com

How do Women in Niquaab Eat????

Living in Australia, I always wondered how Muslim women who wear the Niquaab (face covering) eat when they are out. I thought I would do a small blog so you all know!

Firstly, most women sit in family sections that are screened or in a position where the women face away from the other men in the restaurant so they can remove their face veils. However, most saudi women do not seem to mind flipping the niquaab back over their heads when they are eating.

Other women, who do not wish to expose their faces, have a different way they can still eat! They have the food in one hand and with the other hand they raise their niquaab and put the food in their mouths. They are used to eating like this, but I am still learning and still find icecream hard to eat without getting it on my veil!

'We the Women' Saudi Women Pushing for Change

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There is a growing push for change in Saudi Arabia, specifically to allow women the right to drive.

Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world to have a law stating women (Foreign and Saudi) are banned from driving.

Women either have to rely on male relatives or taxis with Pakistanis or Bangladeshis to drive them around. The taxis are usually unsafe, unclean and the women are generally harassed by the drivers.

A saudi woman has started a forum to promote discuss the issue of women driving and to generate a change in policy.

The right to drive for women is a huge issue in Saudi and there are growing voices of the domestic and international community to allow women to drive.
Even Princess Amira al-Taweel, who is one global tycoon Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s wives, told the Saudi daily Al-Watan that she already drives when she travels abroad.

“Certainly I’m ready to drive a car,” said al-Taweel, whose husband is a nephew of Saudi King Abdallah and is ranked as the world’s 13th-richest person by Forbes magazine. “I have an international driver’s license, and I drive a car in all the countries I travel to.”

Her answer came after the interviewer noted that her husband had said in a previous interview he would be the first to let his wife and daughter drive if the ban was lifted.

The Monarchy has to balance the demands of the religious clerics in this country but I always think of Umm Salamah who emigrated from Mecca to Medina ALONE on a camel through the desert. Where is there any evidence in the Quran or Sunnah that bans a woman to drive? In actual fact, the use of taxis places women in the company of a non related male.

Feel free to copy the below image and put it on your bags, cars, even your abayas!!!!

Saudi Taxis are CRAP

I hate Saudi Taxis. I hate the Taxi Drivers. I hate everything about them. I hate the fact that you have to barter with them. I hate how they smell of cigarette smoke. I hate how the air con is always crap. I hate how the drivers always ask me where I am from and if I am Muslim. I hate I have to wait ages for them. I hate how much this country sucks-they say its haram for women to drive and be with strange men but then the only option is to catch taxis and have drivers-STUPID! I also hate how there is no public transport here.
Finally, I hate how there is no I.D in the majority of taxis so u don't know who the hell is driving you around.

Shelter for Abused Women in Saudi

Al-Nahdha shelter for abused women

By Aysha

Al-Faifi

RIYADH – The Al-Nahdha Charity offers one of the few safe places for female victims of domestic violence to turn to, offering them protection and a dignified standard of living.
The women who are currently sheltered there are in no doubt of the value of its services. Some of them have been refused divorce by their husbands, others have taken refuge from violence committed against them and their children.
A woman, who preferred not to give her name, has lived at the facility for over a year after fleeing from her drug-addict husband.
“I reported him to the police after he hit me and they sent me here,” she said. “The police issued a warrant for his arrest but he has still not been caught. Al-Nahdha has helped me and my children recover from the psychological effects of my husband’s violence.”
The only thing she seeks is a divorce from her husband. “My application for help from the Social Security Department was rejected because I am married,” she said.
Another resident, an Arab journalist, has been with Al-Nahdha for the last two years and is seeking repatriation to her home country via the courts, a process which she says is being deliberately delayed by her husband.
According to sociologist Sameera Al-Sufiyani, the charity’s policy is to not house non-Saudis, but they made an exception in this woman’s case because of her unique circumstances. “Arab embassies do not care for their nationals as well as the embassies of other countries,” Al-Sufiyani said.
Al-Nahdha is under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Affairs and is open 24 hours a day to admit women who face temporary social, health, economic or legal difficulties.
There are no plans for expansion as the policy of the charity is to not encourage residence outside the family home except in extreme circumstances.
The society only admits individuals after a medical report has been submitted verifying any claims of violence.
“Previously the police used to send us anyone claiming to be a victim of domestic violence without any background check,” said Nida’a Al-Olaiyan, head of the Social Service Department at the charity.
“Some girls come to us with bruises and claim they are victims of violence at home, only for us to discover after checking the facts that they have deliberately bruised themselves just to have somewhere to stay after running away from home.”
Al-Olaiyan said an official process was in place for the admission of women seeking care, with formal references to the police, the governor’s office, and other governmental bodies.
“Each case is studied individually and registered in our records as part of an ongoing database,” Al-Olaiyan said

New Internet Cafe Laws

New hidden camera rule for Internet cafés

By Aaref Al-Odaila (taken from saudigazette.com)

ONAIZA – The Ministry of Interior has made it mandatory for Internet cafés to install hidden cameras and provide a record of names and identities of their customers.
The new security regulations include a ban on using any Internet service subscription, prepaid cards or unlicensed satellite Internet other than the one certified for use by the café. Those under 18 years of age will not be allowed entry into the cafés, which must close by midnight. Also, a Saudi must be employed and all phone lines must be in the name of the licensed café , not the owner’s or anybody else’s name.
Police have started visiting Internet cafés to issue the new regulations.

Men are the only ones allowed into internet cafes-women are forced to either use the internet at home or not at all.