The regimes selective view of freedom.

by ozzyteppics Thursday, Oct. 16, 2003 at 6:42 PM

Last month, prominent clerics and academics issued a statement warning against calls for equality and increased rights for women, saying such efforts aim to make Muslim women more like "infidel" Western women.

While Bush rants about bringing freedom to Iraq he shields a country that does not have a constitution or elected legislature. Where Public gatherings to discuss political or social issues are illegal, and writers and editors are often banned or fired over articles deemed offensive to the country's powerful religous establishment.

No not talking about Iran or North Korea here it is Saudi Arabia where all women, including foreigners, must be covered from head to toe in public, in compliance with the country's strict interpretation of Islam. The kingdom only issued picture identity cards to women last year after a three-year debate.

The new photo ID shows the woman's face but her hair must be covered. Previously, women were registered on their fathers' or husbands' papers.

Mobile phones with built-in cameras are banned in the kingdom as they may be used to take pictures of uncovered women.

Growing demands for political and social reform - especially for women's rights - have been countered by the conservative religious establishment.

And of course 15 of 19 hijackers were Saudi's makes one wonder what hold Saudi Arabia has over the U.S Government.