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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.

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51 Comments

  1. Dan Fryling October 4, 2018

    Idiocy

    Reply
  2. Felix E Hernandez October 4, 2018

    FK THEM I AM A MUSICIAN.

    Reply
  3. Rina Davis-van Tuil October 4, 2018

    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!

    Reply
  4. Phyllis Aldrich October 4, 2018

    Is playing music a sin?

    Reply
    1. Sandra Gutowski October 4, 2018

      Phyllis Aldrich yes it is

  5. Leigh Coto October 4, 2018

    So fucking stupid. Sigh

    Reply
  6. Betty Major October 4, 2018

    Being a woman must be a sin also

    Reply
  7. Linda Fannon October 4, 2018

    What the heck???

    Reply
  8. Denny Charles Sr. October 4, 2018

    Send these friggin asshole home where they belong

    Reply
  9. Denny Charles Sr. October 4, 2018

    Give them lots of pork

    Reply
  10. Leslie Pruitt October 4, 2018

    News??? WHY IS THIS AMERICAS BUSINESS???? GO FIND SOME HOMEGROWN NEWS!!!! MORONS

    Reply
  11. Queenie Hutchins October 4, 2018

    Women should have the right to marry whoever they want to marry.

    Reply
  12. Mark Bugay October 4, 2018

    ?

    Reply
  13. Marilyn Jackson October 4, 2018

    How much money trades hands between the US and Saudi Arabia?

    Reply
  14. Matt Sullivan October 4, 2018

    We need to help Saudi move forward to move to allow women to have more power…… Yep

    Reply
  15. Doris Schultz October 5, 2018

    Coming to a court near you

    Reply
  16. Carreen Randy Guglielmino October 10, 2018

    Trump will want to try that.

    Reply
  17. Frank Tank October 10, 2018

    No Rappers…lol

    Reply
  18. Betty Major October 10, 2018

    Bull crap

    Reply
  19. Cheryl Casillas November 30, 2018

    WTH

    Reply
  20. Louise Dodson November 30, 2018

    Geez!

    Reply
  21. Robert C Krowka November 30, 2018

    Skin flute for male camel jockeys?

    Reply
  22. Marisa Hollins November 30, 2018

    Ridiculous

    Reply
  23. Marilyn Jackson November 30, 2018

    That’s why we have separation of church and state.

    Reply
  24. Katie Mary Janusz-Kress November 30, 2018

    Remember these are 45’s dear friends who treat women like low rent property.

    Reply
  25. Linda McWilliams November 30, 2018

    Man made rules and religious dictatorships. Music is a gift not a curse. End all religious dictatorships worldwide.

    Reply
  26. Frank Renew November 30, 2018

    How progressive.

    Reply
  27. Frank Renew November 30, 2018

    The problem with theocracies.

    Reply
  28. Cat Ewing November 30, 2018

    OMFG – the Saudi’s and the Bible Belt should get together-

    Reply
  29. Bill Sanders November 30, 2018

    This is trumps pick after they murdered an American Reporter. And they treat women like dogs.

    Reply
  30. Bridget Krank November 30, 2018

    Wtf?

    Reply
  31. Asoka Ishaya November 30, 2018

    OMG

    Reply
  32. Lynda L B Duke November 30, 2018

    That just sucks!!

    Reply
  33. William Milam November 30, 2018

    Fuck Saudi Arabia

    Reply
  34. C Beth Davidson November 30, 2018

    ?

    Reply
    1. Lois Sprankle Fohl November 30, 2018

      C Beth Davidson

  35. Lois Sprankle Fohl November 30, 2018

    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.

    Reply
  36. Ruth Harwood November 30, 2018

    WE are so fornanate in USA.

    Reply
  37. Rodolfo Perez November 30, 2018

    Ridiculous.

    Reply
  38. Doug Bryant November 30, 2018

    Sheria law unless its murder.

    Reply
  39. Olga I. Rodriguez November 30, 2018

    BS

    Reply
  40. Diane Bailey Paules November 30, 2018

    These people treat women like animals! It’s time they get out of the Middle Ages.

    Reply
  41. Frank Cromis November 30, 2018

    What?

    Reply
  42. Charles Freedom November 30, 2018

    Those characters running that country are as bad as trump.

    Reply
  43. Shirley Walker Sheppard November 30, 2018

    But they can kill and dismember a human being?

    Reply
  44. George Pratt November 30, 2018

    The damn Saudi’s are responsible for 9/11

    Reply
  45. James Newton December 1, 2018

    That’s sick. People still
    Living in the dark ages.

    Reply
  46. Larry Niederstadt December 1, 2018

    Good idea ,everyone knows about those musicians!

    Reply
  47. Larry L. Cunningham December 1, 2018

    Crazy religious rules! Evils of theocracy!

    Reply
  48. Peggy Buckman December 1, 2018

    And we sell weapons to this country?

    Reply
  49. Arthur Rogers December 1, 2018

    Well that makes perfect sense ! Baaahumbug !!!

    Reply

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