As a lot of people have probably gathered from my previous posts I am currently working in Oman which is a devout muslim nation. Driving home from work today they were reminding people on the radio that the new traffic laws will come into place in the Sultanate on the 1st March which introduces a demerit points system and lots of new offences. The one that surprised me the most was that it will cost you 2 black points and a 50 Rial fine (A$170) if you drive with any part of your face concealed that hinders identification. Just shows how precious we are in Australia about not wanting to upset people by asking them to remove coverings in certain areas for security reasons.
Omani women, who have been allowed to drive since 1970, expressed their thoughts on the latest Saudi Decree that allows women to drive.
The kingdom has been widely criticized for being the only country in the world that bans women from driving, despite gradual improvement in some women's issues in the recent years and ambitious government targets to increase their public role, especially in the workforce.
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I can assure you that as many women drive over here as in Oz but they will now have to remove the veil in order to be identified. When I went to the police station to get my Omani licence the women had their own section and they would have to go into a room with a female officer, remove their headware and be photographed for their photo licence. Thats why it,s ironic that a muslim country with traditions like this one would push the issue of removing anything that hinders identification yet a modern western country like Australia is too afraid to upset people by demanding that they do the same.
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Wednesday 28th of February 2018 01:19:43 AM
Gidday BB,
My wife and I lived in Oman (Seeb) for 2 years in the 90's. Beautiful country and wonderful people though, despite their relative advancement, still force their religious laws down none Muslims necks.
A kindly policeman pulled my wife up for smoking in her car while driving in daylight hours during Ramadan and explained nicely, it was against the law. Imagine what the the politically correct lobby here would say if Muslims here were forced to comply with Christian ideas.
Regards,
Roy.
Gidday BB, My wife and I lived in Oman (Seeb) for 2 years in the 90's. Beautiful country and wonderful people though, despite their relative advancement, still force their religious laws down none Muslims necks. A kindly policeman pulled my wife up for smoking in her car while driving in daylight hours during Ramadan and explained nicely, it was against the law. Imagine what the the politically correct lobby here would say if Muslims here were forced to comply with Christian ideas. Regards, Roy.
I hear exactly what you say Roy, however your straying into dangerous territory.
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Hi Roy, Seeb is a very nice area of Muscat I was down that way a couple of weeks ago. When I applied for temporary residency in Oman I agreed to follow their laws and respect their traditions regardless of my own personal beliefs after all I am a guest in their country. I wasn,t trying to make a comment on their religion or their politics all I was pointing out is that it,s ironic that such a conservative society would have the courage to challenge a tradition that they see may pose a threat - in Australia Im not sure that we always have the courage or even the will to do the same.