Women’s Fitness Center Forced to Close in Saudi Arabia

Just another example of the repression of women, in the Islamic world.
How else, can the men remain in control????

A society of fat, sick women could be the result of this “law”.

What’s not to like about Islam?

Mariam had a good point. What other Islamic countries allow women to share gyms and what countries allow women to have their own gyms? The article is a little short on details but it would be nice to see some comparisons. Also, it does seem that the media are rather quick to set these sort of stories pass under the radar. It would be nice to see some follow up on this. Some pressure on the Saudi government about this story would be nice.

It still surprises me that in this day and age, that some societies are still living in the dark ages. I guess societal change takes time, but this is ridiculous. I traveled around the Middle East, and a man told me he was upset that his sister couldn’t go to college. When I asked if he would allow his wife to go to college, that was a different story. Her place was in the home. Sooo….as long as men have this much control, there will also be double standards, backwards laws, etc. I hope these women rise up and realize they are being controlled by people with very little common sense.

Nonie Darwish, in her book “Now They Call Me Infidel” paints a horrifying, insider’s picture about the truth of living under an Islamic regime. The astounding hatred of, misinformation about and blame directed toward Jews by ‘clerics’ and governments has roots in an extremely dysfunctional, fear based culture dating back not just decades, but thousands of years. Worse, she describes with terrifying first hand knowledge exactly why young Arab men are willing to sacrifice themselves as suicide bombers – and the reason(s) are much more complicated than any outside observer could easily comprehend.
‘Now They Call Me Infidel’ is a fascinating, frightening read.

Unfortunately we’ve been dealing with “non-democracies” for a long time, Kingdoms, Communist governments, etc. with kind of this belief that we have some kind of Magic touch. With nothing but exposure to us, they’ll eventually see the light…except they don’t.
In fact, some countries are further from us now, then they have ever been.
I don’t see ‘fitness center’ as ‘fundamental right’ but, it is just another example of double standards.
Double standards, whether it be one sex gets a fitness center, while the other does not…or whether one sex gets custody of children, while the other does not…should be eliminated around the world.
I can’t speak for Saudi Arabia, but where I live there is a tremendous sense of privilege by one sex, believing they have such strange rights as ‘lifetime right to support by their spouse’ – meaning ex-spouse, of course.
Or, that they are naturally better with children, or they get to control every decision, while the other parent gets ‘visitation’.
It’s wrong, it should be eliminated, and if I lived in Saudi Arabia…a country where, odd as it sounds, its the women being treated unfairly…I would definately support this woman in her quest to open up fitness centers. Obviously some practitioners of Islam have no problem with it, and I would like to see the day, when the vast majority do not.

How FRIGHTENING is this to any woman who has finally gained emancipation and the right to vote?! Is anyone realizing that all of our nations are being invaded by a culture who believes women should remain hidden and have no rights or equality? Persecuted for wanting to maintain their own personal health? RUN FOR COVER! ARM YOURSELVES! STOP these TERRORISTS mindsets.
shareideas2

Does anyone see a parrell between Christianity in the 14 and 15 centuries and Islam? Islam is not evil however in the early days of the Christian faith there where controling powers that used religion to control the masses. Just as today we have modern monetary powers firmly in control of such countries as Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Let’s not forget WWII’s darling of genocide Adolf Hitler used religion and other excuses to try and wipe out an entire faith and culture. Islam is changing and it’s maturing and it is quick to embrass all the modern technologies that money can buy. Just as Christianity did 5 to 6 hundred years ago. I suspect in another 150 or so years Islam will be a free society for women and peoples with differing ideas. The question is how long can we wait? and how much pressure to change it is too much?

No islamic country gives women equal rights. No country on planet earth does either.

I’m waiting for a bit of follow-up. Where does it say that it is illegal to run a fitness center for women only.
This is NOT an Islamic issue, nor is there an Islamic law that even touches upon the subject. It’s a Saudi thing. Saudi has long been behind the times, which is odd since Islam was actually FOR equality for women when it first began, 1200 years ago. The Qur’an prescribes equality, and even some special exemptions for women because of their menstrual discomforts and that they are traditionally responsible for caring and raising children. It also specifically says that women may have businesses of their own, and that they are not obligated to give any of the money from it to their husband (though they may CHOOSE to do so to help support the family.)
Far as I can tell, this is akin to the Saudi law that prohibits women from driving. There may be some basis in it somewhere. (For example, if a woman is wearing full hijab, I would think it might be unsafe to drive since one’s vision is limited.) Alongside such exclusions is usually a practice to compensate. For example, women in Saudi don’t drive, but they don’t NEED to either, as they have men assigned to take them where ever they like.
In more progressive countries like the UAE or Jordan, you’ll find that there is no co-ed facility, but there ARE separate beaches for men and for women, allowing them to both enjoy the ocean, just separate from the men (so they aren’t subject to wolf-whistles and untoward comments or thoughts/temptations.)
I’ll hold out for a justification but, as far as I can tell at this time, this prohibition is decidedly NOT Islamic.

Why does this surprise anyone. Women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive or even ride in a car with a non-relative male.

I like that some of the defenses in the comments are “Christians did it in the 15th century”

What an embarrasing testament to the intellectual evolutionary level the Saudis have managed to achieve to date.

What’s sad about this is that it doesn’t make sense, even under strict Saudi rules. If there are no men present, and no men can see in, and a man brings them and takes them home, and they dress modestly within the club, how does exercise break any rule of the Koran?

The logic-free zone of an Islamic theocracy. Also ban life insurance because “Only God can ensure your life”. They don’t realize that a life insurance policy is a written confirmation that God can take you at anytime, and the insurance is for the well-being of your family. It’s a funny place.

Yasmine, Can a women leave Syria without a man’s written permission?

Please do not simply coment for the sake of commenting on non-issues..Just pick things that relate to basic human rights which directly relate to 2/3 population of the world..and these are food for every one, shelter, water, non poluted air, social indiscrimination; thousands of topics are there. Please…..

Ha ha aaa aa I don’t believe that it’s a religion thing, someone just likes flabby women.

Why should women not be allowed to gyms. That is not fair. Women also should take care of themselves .It will help the family if she takes care of her health.Women should be selfish in this that the woman’s needs are first taken care of because otherwise she will be left out.

Hello people, my name is Bassima, I’m from Saudi Arabia. Yasmin’s point of view is totally right about, Saudi Arabia is not the only representative of Islam, our society is just like other societies, it has the good people and the bad people, the terrorists and the innocents, the religious and non-religious. As all governments of any country, our government most of the time rules or does something that the citizens won’t appreciate or respect! Of course you people are gonna say, yes it’s the same but at least you have the right to start strikes and reject, but tell me how all strikes usually end up?? innocents get killed, beaten up, riot goes on, bla bla… I just wanted to tell you that all these news are stereo types, I won’t deny that we have lots of injustice just as other countries, but still women aren’t ruled by men on the contrary they are protected by men as they are our other half, and that’s all stated in Islam, for sure some men would misunderstand this point as domination and ruling, and that is normal by those males who don’t have common sense or misinterpret Islamic teachings. Some Muslim men give a very bad picture about Islam and leaves an impression on non-Muslims that in Islam, women are treated like maids and their role in life is just to feed and to make babies, but its totally wrong. If you read about Islamic history, you’ll find the opposite! Muslim women in the past used to be leaders and role models! Btw, the news was only about one health club that was closed, but we still have other health clubs, I signed up at one which is very famous in Jeddah and no one thought of closing it! There must be a reason for closing that one!
I’m really sorry that our Saudi Society is giving you the wrong impression about Islam.

Actually, if you read the local reports of the shutting down of the facility you will see it was shut down for operating illegally by hiring unlicensed employees posing as health care professionals. It is not illegal to run a woman-only gym; in fact, Saudi princesses opened and are running one currently maintaining with the legal requirement that employees be licensed practitioners.

What the??!!
There are numerous health clubs for women in Riyadh (Capital of KSA) all over the place!! Where the hell did they come up with such regulations?!!