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Saudi Arabia Implements Electronic Tracking System For Women
dsinc writes "Denied the right to travel without consent from their male guardians and banned from driving, women in Saudi Arabia are now monitored by an electronic system that tracks any cross-border movements. Since last week, Saudi women's male guardians began receiving text messages on their phones informing them when women under their custody leave the country, even if they are travelling together. 'The authorities are using technology to monitor women,' said columnist Badriya al-Bishr, who criticised the 'state of slavery under which women are held' in the ultra-conservative kingdom. Women are not allowed to leave the kingdom without permission from their male guardian, who must give his consent by signing what is known as the 'yellow sheet' at the airport or border."
The "service" has been in operation since 2010 and it applies to all "dependents" which includes children, contracted laborers, etc. See: http://riyadhbureau.com/blog/2012/11/saudi-women-tracking. As offensive as the Saudi gov't policies are, getting half the story isn't going to help matters.
Muslim countries didn't sign UN declaration of Human Rights because they perceived it as not compatible with Islam. Although these countries got own version of Human Rights declaration:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo_Declaration_on_Human_Rights_in_Islam
It may surprise people but.... Saudi has ALWAYS had this system of tracking women.
As a child, when I left the country to visit my grandparents, accompanied by my mother, we had to be legally escorted to the airport and signed out by my dad, on re-entry we were re-checked into my dad's care.
We were westerners living under the same rules as the locals. This was as far back as early 80s... the system has been in play forever. This is merely a modernisation of the system. I'm not saying I agree with the practice but, this is hardly headline news as its simply an upgrade to rules and methods for applying those rules that have been in play for a long long time.
Why is it only now, when computers get involved that people are having issues with the basic concept? It was widely unknown it appears when the system was paperbased.
Expat Brat.
Just ask France. France has entire districts run by Muslims that even the police are afraid to enter. In their own country.
You're quite right, and is the list of them as they stand right now.
Om, nomnomnom...
Perhaps you are mistaken? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevalence_of_female_genital_mutilation_by_country Saudi-Arabia - Female genital mutilation is prevalent, but is declining
'I don't know what it's called. I just know the sound it makes, when it takes a man's life.' ~ Four Leaf Tayback