In Saudi Arabia: My Asian Driver, My Hungry Baby, Tea with no Sympathy but Milk……………
“If they're not granted the right to drive, the women are threatening to breastfeed their drivers to establish a symbolic maternal bond. "Is this is all that is left to us to do: to give our breasts to the foreign drivers?" a Saudi woman named Fatima Shammary was quoted as saying by Gulf News. Obeikan argued in his decree that if the women give their drivers their breast milk, the chauffeurs would be able to mingle with all members of the family without having to worry about violating Islamic law. Some Islamic scholars frown on the mixing of unmarried men and women. Islamic tradition, or hadith, stipulates that breastfeeding establishes a maternal bond, even if a woman breastfeeds a child who is not her own. Drawing from the cleric's advocacy, the women have reportedly chosen a slogan for their campaign that translates to, "We either be allowed to drive or breastfeed foreigners." The current driving ban applies to all women in Saudi Arabia, regardless of their nationality, and it's been a topic of heated public debate in recent years. …..” L A Times
And the beat goes on.
This controversy has been brewing for some time now, now even joined by some Egyptian shaikhs from al-Azhar some of whom suggested breastfeeding workplace colleagues (Imagine: okay, lunch break, what should we drink with the sandwich, I give you one guess and it ain’t tea). Now the Saudi women have a sword hanging over their menfolk who would not let them drive. These uptight men, if they cannot condone their women driving (presumably for fear of straying in the wrong way), certainly cannot condone their women breastfeeding their Asian (and African) drivers. Not that it would be easier if they were native Saudi drivers.
Cheers
mhg
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