King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has told Saudi newspaper editors to stop publishing pictures of women, amidst fears that it may make young men "go astray."Editors were shocked; they regard the King as a reformationist since he took office last August, having broached the issues of women having the right to vote and drive despite negative public opinion. Despite the King's purported liberal attitude, traditional Islam is a strong force, and usually kills any attempt at reform.
The media in Saudi Arabia is all either state owned or "guided."
The Okaz Newspaper quoted King Abdullah as saying, "One must think, do they want their daughter, their sister, or their wife to appear in this way. Of course, no one would accept this.The youth are driven by emotion ... and sometimes they can be lead astray. So, please, try to cut down on this."
The paper has never published a picture of a woman outside of Islamic (hijab) dress code, and never out of context with a story. Usually when a woman is depicted, it is in conjunction with a women's rights story.
Or lack thereof.
The King also told editors to stop printing stories that paint the country in a negative light.
"Don't write anything that can be harmful to the country. Some reporters, they want to stand out and they end up going too far and this should not be allowed to happen," Abdullah said according to Okaz.
The king added that newspapers should ignore the foreign press, especially when what it publishes is "against Islam or against Arabs."
Aren't we blessed to live in a country where any story can be printed, and a woman doesn't have to hide away in her home?
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