Saudi Courts Rule Woman Cannot Marry Male Suitor Because He Plays Musical Instruments
Saudi Arabia has tried to change the public perception of women’s rights in the country, but some have accused the country of merely pushing a PR campaign and not instituting real change.
A lower court and an appeals court in Saudi Arabia have condemned a man as “religiously unfit for marriage” because he plays a musical instrument. The man proposed to marry a Saudi woman, but the woman’s family ruled that the man is religiously unfit to marry their daughter because he plays an instrument. The woman who is in love with the suitor took the matter to the courts but they ratified her family’s decision.
Women in Saudi Arabia must obtain permission from their fathers, senior brothers, husbands or male relatives before they can marry. The male guardians must approve of the male suitor before the marriage plans can proceed. Male guardians must also consent to it before women can travel, engage in business or undertake any major tasks.
In the ultra-conservative kingdom, men who play musical instruments are regarded as inferior in some regions. The public perception is that they are not responsible, prompting some high-class families to decline when they propose to their daughters.
In this case, the man is a schoolteacher and also plays the oud, an oriental lute often played throughout the Arab world. The unnamed woman is a 38-year-old bank manager. She holds a masters degree and is responsible for over 300 employees in her bank. She described the man in question as “very pious and with a good reputation.”
When the man first proposed two years ago, the woman’s family objected because he played a musical instrument. So the woman took the matter to the local court in Qassim, a region north of Riyadh, the capital of the kingdom.
The court sided with the family, stating that “because the suitor plays a musical instrument he is unsuitable for the woman from a religious point of view.” So the woman headed to the court of appeals, but the higher court ratified the verdict of the lower court. She has sworn to take her case further to the “highest authorities” in Saudi Arabia, meaning the royal court.
The Saudi kingdom has been trying to change the perception of women’s rights in the country. Just last year, women were allowed to begin driving cars. However, some have accused the country of merely pushing a PR campaign and not instituting significant and meaningful change.
Idiocy
FK THEM I AM A MUSICIAN.
Those middle eastern countries are living in the days BC! What kind of crap, women don’t have any rights! But baby after baby, that’s seems to be the only these barbarians know how to do!
Is playing music a sin?
Phyllis Aldrich yes it is
So fucking stupid. Sigh
Being a woman must be a sin also
What the heck???
Send these friggin asshole home where they belong
Give them lots of pork
News??? WHY IS THIS AMERICAS BUSINESS???? GO FIND SOME HOMEGROWN NEWS!!!! MORONS
Women should have the right to marry whoever they want to marry.
?
How much money trades hands between the US and Saudi Arabia?
We need to help Saudi move forward to move to allow women to have more power…… Yep
Coming to a court near you
Trump will want to try that.
No Rappers…lol
Bull crap
WTH
Geez!
Skin flute for male camel jockeys?
Ridiculous
That’s why we have separation of church and state.
Remember these are 45’s dear friends who treat women like low rent property.
Man made rules and religious dictatorships. Music is a gift not a curse. End all religious dictatorships worldwide.
How progressive.
The problem with theocracies.
OMFG – the Saudi’s and the Bible Belt should get together-
This is trumps pick after they murdered an American Reporter. And they treat women like dogs.
Wtf?
OMG
That just sucks!!
Fuck Saudi Arabia
?
C Beth Davidson
It seems a majority of women in the Muslim world agree. I assume if they don’t agree with many of the faith, they leave the country and become a citizen elsewhere. I don’t want someone to tell me what to believe, therefore, I will not judge Muslims.
WE are so fornanate in USA.
Ridiculous.
Sheria law unless its murder.
BS
These people treat women like animals! It’s time they get out of the Middle Ages.
What?
Those characters running that country are as bad as trump.
But they can kill and dismember a human being?
The damn Saudi’s are responsible for 9/11
That’s sick. People still
Living in the dark ages.
Good idea ,everyone knows about those musicians!
Crazy religious rules! Evils of theocracy!
And we sell weapons to this country?
Well that makes perfect sense ! Baaahumbug !!!