Shafaqna Pakistan:Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has recently embarked on economic and social reforms based on the 2020 perspective document.
The haste in implementing social reforms, the incompatibility of these reforms with the Saudi social structure, as well as the lack of realism of these measures have been caused that Salman’s son’s new approach is more a showcase than actual. Because development and social reform must take place after certain preconditions have been met, and on the other, it must be based on the culture and identity of the community.
The Saudi crown prince’s numerous foreign policy failures seem to have added to the confusion of Salman’s son and policymakers alongside domestic crises such as the housing crisis, employment and even the conflict of views of the younger generation with official Saudi religion, it has caused Saudi women to face reforms such as lifting the ban on driving for women, allowing women to attend sports stadiums and the freedom to play music in the country, which is just a show-off, and it has a lack of depth needed to change the nature and structure of the Saudi government rules the society.
The Saudi government’s violent treatment of its women opposition, including the execution of a woman journalist and civil activist in the country, can be cited in this regard. It clearly demonstrates that Saudi Arabian extremist approaches to the issue of freedom of expression, women, and, essentially, enter the space of modernity do not change. Subsequent social reform has begun with a variety of concerts in religious cities by singers based on the 2030 Vision Plan, referred to as the Muhammad bin Salman Reform Plan.
But in the latest move, and for the first time, a women’s wrestling competition will be held at the Malik Fahad Riyadh International Stadium in the capital between two American and Canadian female superstars.
It is worth noting that the organizer of this type of event in Saudi Arabia is “entertainment and fun foundation” headed by “Turki Al-Sheikh”, is close to Mohammed bin Salman. This foundation is founded in May 2016.
These social reforms have been carried out by bin Salman to erase the country’s religious manifestations while Saudi women are still longing for their basic rights, and for years the Saudi patriarchal system has been on the bottom of the index of the gender gap index (prepared by the World Economic Forum).
In this regard, Human Rights Watch says that Saudi Arabia’s structure actually changes women to the people who cannot decide for themselves. Some of the activities that women cannot do without a man’s permission (father, wife, brother) include:
Passport application, foreign travel, marriage, opening a bank account, starting some businesses, optional surgery (unnecessary), getting out of prison. Interestingly, Saudi women were deprived of voting, driving, and right of education until the age of 15 (similar to Saudi boys) before 2015.
The Prince of Saudi, who dreams of a kingdom, should focus on elections, democracy, and participation in power, except of appearance reforms such as nightclubs, freedom of alcohol, women’s wrestling that do not conform to Saudi Arabia’s conservative society.