Throughout centuries, women in Saudi Arabia have a limited access to political and social life in the country. In January 2013 CNN article called Small Step forward for Saudi women, but Will It Affect their Daily Lives?, the author Mohammed Jamjoom discusses the new political reforms that have touched on the new opportunities for women to enter the Shura Council. This is the unprecedented case when women received a wider access to membership rights to observe the rules that other male participants possess.
According to the official news, the council that consists of 150 members will also include about 20 % women who will take part in consultations with High Council of Scholars (Mohammed 1). Thus, the women that were accepted for the Council Membership must follow the Sharia Law (Jamjoom 1).
Although female scholars have received membership rights, they will still be segregated from the male community, having separate doors. Despite the restriction imposed on women, the decree can be regarded as a step forward for women in Saudi Arabia, contributing to significant changes in terms of women employment and rights.
As compared to the current position of women in Saudi Arabia, whose rights are severely restricted by men, women during Hammurabi period were entitled with equal rights with men. According to the Hammurabi Code, although women had been endowed with equally rights, foreign mistresses could not be restricted or enslaved (Johns n. p.). Therefore, they have similar rights and could participate in all activities in which men were engaged in.
According to the Babylonian law, both women and men can interact directly with each other. Besides, women from foreign countries were regarded as equal members of society so that gender issues were not prioritized while considering human rights and freedoms (Johns n. p.).
Hence, the Code provided men and women with equal marital obligations so that husband was not allowed to take a concubine. Therefore, women were not limited in rights in terms of marriage, property rights, and heritage. In addition, adultery also had bad consequences for men and women.
Unlike modern women in Saudi Arabia, the Code of Hammurabi does not mention any details about the right of Babylonian women to take part in political and scientific activities. Hence, the supremacy of the divine raw that was worshiped by man also suppressed women’s freedom.
In addition, although the modern society does not practice slavery, the restrictions imposed on women in terms education, politics, and scientific activities, made them be closely related to Babylonian period (Johns n. p). Therefore, it could be concluded that the metropolis was male dominated in terms of authority whereas female role was confined to that of a wife and mother.
In conclusion, the article under analysis explores the current state of affairs in Saudi Arabia, as well as the rights and responsibilities of women. Although the access to Shura Council has been expanded, the ratio of women is still much lower than that of men. Besides, women are separated from males while making decisions and making scientific explorations.
In comparison with Hammurabi period, modern women are more bound to men. During the Babylonian era, women were endowed with equal rights in terms of marriage and property rights. Their freedom and status was highly respected; nevertheless, no mentioning about women’s education is presented in the Hammurabi Code.