In an act of desperation, a young Saudi woman broke free from what she described as an abusive family by barricading herself in a hotel room until authorities granted her safe passage to a country that respects human rights.
Eighteen-year-old Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunum arrived in Canada on Saturday. Unfortunately, the teen is still not safe; she is now the victim of online threats, necessitating a private security detail.
The case of the young woman, who said she feared for her life if she were returned to her family, was deemed an emergency by Costi, the Canadian refugee agency facilitating her resettlement in Toronto.
Saudi Arabia isnt taking kindly to Canadas involvement and threatened retaliation by urging other Arab and Muslim nations to review their relations with Canada, according to a spokesman for Saudi Arabia.
Yes, this is certainly dirty laundry. Too bad the monarchys response wasnt to condemn the abusers rather than the victim.
Instead, Saudi authorities are insisting Qunun be returned despite her assertions it would mean certain death.
EVEN UNDER the best of circumstances, life as a female in Saudi Arabia is difficult.
You are treated like a child, Qunun said, unable to make personal decisions such as setting a career path or choosing a spouse.
Saudi women live under a dictate called wilaya, or guardianship, which maintains that all females, from birth to death, must receive permission from a male guardian father, brother, spouse or the nearest male relative to travel, work or study abroad, receive treatment at a hospital or obtain an ID card routine activities and rights we Westerners take for granted.
Those who oppose such dictums can face imprisonment and torture.
Qunum said she hoped her successful escape would encourage other Saudi women to be brave and free as well as prompt Saudi Arabia to change its oppressive laws.
Two thoughts:
1. Here in Allen County, law enforcement officers work in tandem with agencies such as Hope Unlimited to provide shelter for victims of domestic and sexual abuse. Can you imagine living in a country that does not feel compelled to help protect such victims?
2. For too long the United States has turned a blind eye to Saudi Arabias barbaric treatment of women and dissidents. The increased scrutiny by Congress of the Saudi monarchys involvement with the murder of Washington Post columnist and Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi must not only be kept at the forefront but also serve as a reminder as to what should constitute an ally. So far, the United States has put human rights at a distant second to lucrative arms deals.
