INTERESTING! VERY INTERESTING INDEED! WESTERN WOMEN ARE ADVISED HOW TO ADAPT TO THE STRANGE (FOR US) LEGISLATION, RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND, ABOVE ALL, MENTALITY THAT PREVAILS IN PRACTICALLY ALL MUSLIM COUNTRIES.
THIS INVALUABLE PUBLIC SERVICE IS PROVIDED BY NEWSWEEK TO ANY AND ALL WESTERN WOMEN TRAVELLING TO OR LIVING IN MUSLIM COUNTRIES, FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF AVOIDING BEING PERSECUTED AND PROSECUTED, AND EVENTUALLY JAILED OR, IN SOME EXTREME CASES, EVEN LYNCHED OR OFFICIALLY EXECUTED FOR "CRIMES AGAINST ISLAM".
SO FAR, SO GOOD. THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO BE SAID ABOUT THE SUBJECT THAT HAS NOT BEEN DETAILED IN THIS SHORT AND VERY ELUCIDATIVE PRESENTATION.
THERE IS HOWEVER ONE RHETORICAL QUESTION THAT BEGS TO BE ASKED: ARE MUSLIM WOMEN LIVING AMONG US, IN THE WEST, EQUALLY ADVISED ON HOW TO BEHAVE AMONG CIVILIZED PEOPLE, COURTESY OF THEIR OWN "INDEPENDENT" MEDIA? ARE THEY ALSO TAUGHT HOW TO RESPECT THE RULES, REGULATIONS AND MENTALITY OF THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT DOES NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THE MOST ADVANCED RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGY EVER DEVISED BY HUMANS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF ONE MUHAMMAD, ALSO CALLED "THE PROPHET"?
RHETORICAL QUESTION INDEED!
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Following The Rules
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DO learn some Arabic, however minimal. A firm "no" ("lah") or "go away" ("emshi") can go a long way.
DON'T drink too much. Apart from leaving women vulnerable, drunkenness in public is illegal in most Gulf states—including the U.A.E.—and carries a jail sentence.
DO avoid too much eye contact. In some Gulf states, staring directly at a man is considered flirtatious. Dark glasses can reduce harassment, but be sure to take them off when you speak to people directly. In many cultures, hiding the eyes can be seen as rude.
DO read up on the cultural codes of the country you're visiting. In Saudi Arabia, for instance, it is illegal for women to drive, vote or travel independently without permission from a husband, brother or father. Saudi law stipulates that all women—including foreigners—must wear an abaya.
DON'T get in the front seat of a taxi. You will give the driver the wrong idea.
DO walk with purpose and try to ignore any comments you might hear.
DO try to travel in pairs.
DON'T wander around on your own at night. Always tell a friend, hotel or tour group where you're going.
DO wear a wedding ring. Whether or not you're married, sporting a wedding band can temper male advances. If asked, single women are advised to claim to be married.
© 2008
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