Arabeyes: Saudi Women Fight for Men’s Rights · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi women are grabbing the headlines once again – this time with a protest to demand the freedom of their husbands and kin arrested under ‘terrorism’ charges, in the conservative kingdom where women are not even allowed to drive.
Demonstration in Qassim
Writing in English, Saudi Jeans, notes:
Fifteen women and seven children have demonstrated outside a state security HQ demanding a fair public trial for their husbands, stop torture, and transfer them back to a local prison. Fouad al-Farhan, the blogger who has been on hiatus for a long time and now is back, broke the story on his blog.
This is important because it is the first time for women to hold a public demonstration in protest in Saudi Arabia. I doubt that mainstream media would actually cover the story, and hence it is important to spread the word online in blogs and forums. Go to Fouad’s blog now and sign your name in support of these women, and make sure this reaches as many people as possible.
Brave Sit-in
His colleagues, writing in Arabic, have more to say. Ghareeb Al Aber, from Riyadh, describes the sit-in as “brave.” He adds:
Historic Day for Saudi Women
Fouad Al Farhan, who broke the story, describes the protest as “historic.” He notes:
10 Ways to Support the Protest
The Role of the Public Order Police
Mashi Sah, or On the Right Path, weighs in:
Pioneering Role of Saudi Women
Mushahed writes:
Protesters Arrested
Needless to add, some of the protesters have since been detained. Saudi Jeans reports:
Following their demonstration outside a state security HQ in Qassim, Rima al-Juraish and four other women were arrested today. Moreover, Abdullah al-Hamid, a well-known reformist and attorney of Rima al-Juraish’s husband Mohammed al-Hamily, was also arrested. Al-Hamid, who was previously jailed in the past after demanding constitutional reforms but was later pardoned by King Abdullah, has asked the authorities to allow his family to bring him his medicines.