Saudi Arabia set to allow its female citizens to represent country in London
This summer, the London Olympics could potentially become a milestone for women worldwide. If Saudi Arabia, along with fellow Islamic nations Qatar and Brunei, hold their word and allow female citizens the opportunity to participate in the games, every participating nation will be sending female contestants. This would be monumental, as Saudi Arabia has historically been known to ban all sports for women.
These three nations are the only ones that have never allowed women the chance to represent their nation at this prestigious level. Reports indicate that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, proclaimed he will approve female Olympic athletes under the condition that “their sports meet the standards of women’s decency and don’t contradict Islamic laws.”
The time for women to see equal opportunities to participate in sports is long overdue in the year 2012, so it is certainly a cause for celebration that Saudi Arabia is encouraging female representatives in London. Qatar and Brunei already allow women to compete in national and regional events, but Olympic participation signals greater progress for the rights of Muslim women.
The choice of sports that these women will have is narrowed, but there are talks of Saudi Arabians entering equestrian or track events, which will ensure that women can keep their bodies covered as required by law.
While this achievement is fantastic for these potential Olympic candidates and women as a whole on an international level, the average Saudi Arabian woman faces the denial of many similar opportunities on a daily basis at the national level. Human Rights Watch shares that Saudi women experience discrimination in countless ways, including a ban on physical education courses for girls in schools and taking measures that have forced female athletes to secretly participate in underground sports leagues.
Some aspects of Islamic law bring up very difficult cultural debates, but the right to freely participate in physical exercise and sport seems to be a more easily addressable one on the grounds of human rights. Even under the restraints of Islamic law, it is hard to produce legitimate reasons why women should not be allowed to partake in physical activity that is beneficial for their health and can improve their ability to interact with other women.
The high visibility of the Olympic Games provides an arena to remind people everywhere that women still lack certain basic freedoms. If the plight of these marginalized women is expressed on the international stage, it is hopeful that organizations will put more pressure on the Saudi government to remove its internal barriers that restrain female athletes.
If women are agreeing to abide by the rest of the Islamic rules, there will be a challenging international battle that the men in power will find themselves fighting. It is likely that the nation will see political repercussions if they do not grant women the freedom to participate in activities as harmless as these.