Clinton: Muhammad Would Let Ladies Drive

[MMMMMM]

Jan. 19, 2004

(excerpt) "Speaking at a conference in Saudi Arabia, former President Bill Clinton told a Muslim audience Islam's founder Muhammad would have let women drive if cars had been around 1,400 years ago.

Clinton urged the Muslim kingdom, which follows the strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam, to not resist the "tide of change" in the world and seek ways of broadening political participation "without compromising your faith and culture," Reuters reported.

Saudi Arabia bars women from driving and being seen in public with men other than family members.

A fatwa, or edict, issued by the head of the country's Department of Religious Research, Missionary Activities and Guidance in 1990 declared women should not be allowed to drive because Islam supports women's dignity...

...In 1990, 47 Saudi women defied the fatwa and staged a "drive-in" in Riyadh, cruising around the capital for about 15 minutes. The women apparently were inspired by American female soldiers among the troops in the country during the 1991 Gulf War. As punishment, the Saudis lost their jobs and passports for two years, and religious groups distributed flyers denouncing them as "fallen women."...

...Clinton said Saudi policy "cannot be based in the long run on fighting change because you cannot fight the tide of change," Reuters reported.

Acknowledging a "tug-of-war" between "an old order and a new world" in Saudi Arabia, he called for education "which does not exclude religion but includes science, technology and political science."...

...Clinton suggested Saudi Arabia could redirect aid channeled through religious charities tied to terrorism and use it for humanitarian projects such as providing drinking water in poor Islamic nations." (end excerpt)

Full Text: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/ar...TICLE_ID=36670


Glad to hear Clinton saying what needs to be said. The world needs more people to tell it like it is to those who would thwart progress and harm human dignity through misguided traditions. Say it loud, brother Bill!!!

[andyfox]

He probably only wants them to be able to drive so that they can more easily get to his hotel.

[Vehn]

Clinton for president.

[Cyrus]

Hey, make that Agree-With-M's-Post Hour. Th'effects don't last longer 'n that, doc says.

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[adios]

Bully for Clinton. Incredible how backward and oppressive some countries are. IMO it's only a matter of time before current Saudi regime falls.

[MMMMMM]

"Hey, make that Agree-With-M's-Post Hour. Th'effects don't last longer 'n that, doc says."

Not if you can help it.

[andyfox]

To be replaced by what? The next regime might be worse, for all we know.

I believe the ruler of Qatar is bringing his country into the 21st century. Hopefully there will be some rub-off effect.

[andyfox]

PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP

The New York Times describes Qatar as “one of the most liberal, democratic countries” in the Gulf-region under the leadership of the Emir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifah Al-Thani. In the last five years, Qatar has conducted municipal elections (the first in the region to include women as voters and candidates), promulgated a draft Constitution that provides for an elected Parliament, and played an active role in support of the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process. Censorship has been abolished and Qatar-based Al-Jazeera Satellite Television Channel has the largest audience in the Arab World.

Qatar plays an active and vital role in regional affairs. It maintains friendly relations with its neighbors and has been a key player in Gulf security arrangements. Qatar was an active member of the “coalition of the willing” assembled to liberate Iraq, and contributed substantially to the defense of Saudi Arabia during the 1990’s Gulf crisis. Qatar has become an important strategic ally of the US through a Defense Cooperation Agreement and hosts the largest American Army facility for pre-positioned military equipment in the world. The Qatari Government has also played a leading role in the Middle East peace process, hosting –among other initiatives –the 1997 Middle East and North Africa economic conference.

The country enjoys internal stability –the population has no significant ethnic or religious divisions –and Emir Hamad, a “next generation” leader, has demonstrated his desire to proactively manage the changes necessary to meet the country’s long-term social, political and economic goals.

Qatar has embarked on an ambitious project to make its educational system second to none in the world through an extensive program of cooperation with American institutions. The Rand Corporation has taken on the modernization of Qatar’s public schools. More dramatically, Qatar has engaged prestigious American universities in a unique project to establish full-fledged branch campuses. In 2002,Cornell University admitted its first freshman class to its newly opened Weill-Cornell Medical College in Doha, while Virginia Commonwealth University graduated its first class from its Doha-based School of Design Arts in 2003.Several other prestigious American institutions of higher learning are currently negotiating the establishment of Qatar-based campuses as well. A Science and Technology Park and other specialized high tech institutions are also in development.