Logically, of course

noreply@blogspirit.com (Bishopnose) — Mon, 11 Jul 2005 12:15:00 +0800

I shan't dispute the islamic logic in social segregation of thesexes. But I'd like to congratulate Captain Hanadi Hindi for soon becoming the first Saudi woman pilot "to fly a plane withthe private fleet of Prince Al-Walid" of the oil-rich kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To overcome her religious sanction against Muslim womenmixing with men who are not their relatives, Hindi will have her father sittingnext to her in the cockpit as her chaperone for 10 years, I suppose, since theprince has given her a 10-year-contract. The New Straits Times which carriesthe story today quoted Hindi as saying that her father will accompany her onall her trips "so that no one will say that I am traveling without a malerelative." (I wonder whether her father is a pilot.) Unless of course, shedecides to marry ..... er, the prince? After all, he's allowed four wives. Butfalling in love under the watchful eyes of a father..... hmmm ... , anyway,here’s the story from the New Straits Times:

First Saudi woman pilot to fly as driving debate rages on

While the debate over whether Saudi women should be allowedto drive rages on, Captain Hanadi Hindi will soon become thefirst woman to fly a plane with the private fleet of a prince. Prince Al-Walidbin Talal's decision to make Hindi part of his private crew has drawn criticismfrom some conservative Muslim scholars, who object to any easing of constraintsthat bar Saudi women from mixing with men other than relatives or travelingwithout the authorization of a male guardian.

But Hindi said the billionaire entrepreneur's Kingdom Holding Company had alsohired her father, Zakariya Hindi, as a legal consultant.

He will accompany her on all her trips "so that no one will say that I amtraveling without a male relative."

Hindi said she is heading to London in about three weeks for a three-monthtraining course before she takes up her job as a pilot for PrinceAl-Walid.

Kingdom Holding hired Hindi even before she clinched her Commercial Pilot'sLicence and an Instrument Rating (CPL and IR) from the Mideast Aviation Academyin Jordan last month.

The company, which runs a worldwide business empire, had offered Hindi ascholarship to carry her through her last year at the Jordanian academy, andPrince Al-Walid took out doublespread advertisements in the press tocongratulate her on taking her CPL.

"I thank God that Prince Al-Walid has given me the opportunity to serve mycountry and serve his highness, bearing in mind that he is a member of theroyal family," Hindi said.

Hindi said that before the prince offered her a 10-year contract, she fearedshe might not find a job in Saudi Arabia.

Her apprehensions were well-grounded, given that women in the Muslim countryare still excluded from many professions that would appear less controversialthan piloting a plane and are the only women in the world banned from driving acar.

The appointed Shura (consultative) Council in May shelved the suggestion ofMohammad Al Zalfa, who cited a host of economic reasons to end the ban, such asthe fact that the prohibition has led to the presence of around a millionforeign drivers who cost the country 12 billion riyals (3.2 billion dollars) ayear.

Advocates of an end to the ban also cite the prohibitive cost of hiring driversfor families of limited means.

They also defend their case on social grounds to counter the religious-basedarguments of opponents, pointing out that by having to rely on drivers, Saudiwomen end up spending much time alone with male strangers.

Hindi said she was "not against" allowing women to drive because some womeneither cannot afford to employ drivers, which forces them to rely on publictransport, or have no able-bodied men in their families to take themaround.

It would be good if women could get behind the wheel "with certainrestrictions," such as granting that right only to women of middle age or more,she said.

But despite having blazed a trail by becoming the first Saudi woman pilot,Hindi diplomatically shifted the issue away from ideological grounds.

Being a pioneer "is a very big responsibility... I hope I will be a goodexample for Saudi women," she said.

Bishopnose - women

Logically, of course