WASHINGTON & RIYADH, Jan 25 (IslamOnline and News Agencies) - Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz ruled out Thursday any debate on the status of women in the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has come under recent criticism from western countries and human rights organizations for repression and not repealing laws limiting the status of women in society.
When questioned about the possibility of public debate on the subject, the minister said: "Discussing it is out of the question. Society totally refuses to mention the issue," and added in a quote in the Al-Riyadh daily, "such a debate would be useless and produce a hollow exchange of ideas."
During a debate this week at United Nations' offices in Geneva, human rights experts voiced their concern over discrimination against women in Saudi Arabia, who are banned from driving automobiles or traveling without their husband's, or a male relative's, permission.
Presenting their first formal report to a U.N. human rights panel in Geneva this week, a delegation of Saudi officials told the U.N. panel that "women enjoy the same rights as men in Saudi Arabia," and that the only restrictions on women concerned "social practices involving Islamic law…to which everyone must conform."
U.N. monitors also questioned the delegation over allegations of child labor and discrimination against immigrants, who were said not to have the same access to healthcare and education services as Saudi nationals.
Several human rights groups have already accused Saudi Arabia of human rights violations, including those against illegal immigrants.
