NationStates Jolt Archive

....because her husband tried to sneak one look at her face - while she was sleeping - after 30 years of marriage.


http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=567199&in_page_id=1811

The Saudi woman who wants a divorce - because her husband tried to sneak one look at her face after 30 years of marriage

After 30 years of marriage, cynics might say most husbands and wives would have seen quite enough of each other, thank you very much.

But not in the case of one Saudi Arabian man who managed to live with his wife for three decades without setting eyes on her face.

Not that he had much choice about it. His 50-year-old wife followed the tradition of her native village near the south-western city of Khamis Mushayt and kept her features veiled at all times.

Until one night last month, that is, when the husband was finally overcome by curiosity and tried to lift his wife's veil as she slept to take a look at her face.

It was an error he is unlikely to be given a chance to repeat for his outraged wife woke up during his sneak peek and is now demanding a divorce.
..
..
It is not the first example of Saudi husbands with wives forever shrouded in mystery. There was the case of Ali al-Qahtani whose wife had been wearing a face veil for the entire ten years of their marriage. When he tried to take it off she threatened to leave and only decided to stay after he swore never to try again.



Interesting...Were the man's actions condemnable and is the woman in need of emancipation, liberation and empowerment? Is the woman happy despite she has to - likes to? - cover her face? Ultimately, can a woman be happy under that particular culture and indoctrination?

I would argue to the latter that yes...This case IMO shows how our values don't necessarily equate to happiness of others living, and brought up, in a different cultural environment.

You really should stop trusting the Mail as a source...

You really should stop trusting the Mail as a source...
I read about it first from a local news mag.

That was simply the first google result...

Here's another link:
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2007/10/08/40103.html

edit:
Apparently, the news bit isn't that new: [ Monday, 08 October 2007 ]...

....because her husband tried to sneak one look at her face - while she was sleeping - after 30 years of marriage.


http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=567199&in_page_id=1811

The Saudi woman who wants a divorce - because her husband tried to sneak one look at her face after 30 years of marriage

After 30 years of marriage, cynics might say most husbands and wives would have seen quite enough of each other, thank you very much.

But not in the case of one Saudi Arabian man who managed to live with his wife for three decades without setting eyes on her face.

Not that he had much choice about it. His 50-year-old wife followed the tradition of her native village near the south-western city of Khamis Mushayt and kept her features veiled at all times.

Until one night last month, that is, when the husband was finally overcome by curiosity and tried to lift his wife's veil as she slept to take a look at her face.

It was an error he is unlikely to be given a chance to repeat for his outraged wife woke up during his sneak peek and is now demanding a divorce.
..
..
It is not the first example of Saudi husbands with wives forever shrouded in mystery. There was the case of Ali al-Qahtani whose wife had been wearing a face veil for the entire ten years of their marriage. When he tried to take it off she threatened to leave and only decided to stay after he swore never to try again.



Interesting...Were the man's actions condemnable and is the woman in need of emancipation, liberation and empowerment? Is the woman happy despite she has to - likes to? - cover her face? Ultimately, can a woman be happy under that particular culture and indoctrination?

I would argue to the latter that yes...This case IMO shows how our values don't necessarily equate to happiness of others living, and brought up, in a different cultural environment.


Meh cultral differances *shrug*

How do you have oral sex without getting access to the face?

That's all I want to know.

shes a man isn't she?

How do you have oral sex without getting access to the face?

That's all I want to know.

Well when a mans down on a womn, he can't really see the face, and if he can it's likely to be all chin!

Well when a mans down on a womn, he can't really see the face, and if he can it's likely to be all chin!

But when going for it, you have to be able to see where you're aiming.

But when going for it, you have to be able to see where you're aiming.

Why does the woman need to see what the man is doing?

Why does the woman need to see what the man is doing?

She doesn't, thus the invention of blindfolds, but the man needs to see what he is doing.

She doesn't, thus the invention of blindfolds, but the man needs to see what he is doing.

Ohhh a man reciving oral sex, that is not what you said.

shes a man isn't she?
Dunno, however that other article (http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2007/10/08/40103.html) had this bit:
In the past Al Arabiya has reported the case of Ali al-Qahtani, whose wife had been wearing the face veil for the entire ten years of their marrage. When he tried to take it off, she threatened to leave and only decided to stay after he swore never to try again.

Hassan Al-Atibi threatened to marry another woman if his wife didn't show him her face. The woman nominated one of her friends who doesn't observe this tradition as a possible new wife for him, saying this would be better than her showing her face.

And neither the husband or children of Om Rabea al-Gahdaray, 70, have ever seen her face. Al-Gahdaray says it is a family tradition, also followed by mother and sisters, which her husband accepted and never tried to change.

Ohhh a man reciving oral sex, that is not what you said.

Ah, well that is what I meant. I apologize.

....because her husband tried to sneak one look at her face - while she was sleeping - after 30 years of marriage.


http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=567199&in_page_id=1811

<snip>

The news keep getting weirder and weirder...:eek:

Ah, well that is what I meant. I apologize.

Naaaa i'm just being bloody pedantic. It's was my attempt at funnyness. I knew what you meant, and tried to turn your talk of oral sex the other way around to grab meself a cheap laugh. *sigh* perhaps I have lost my touch.

Naaaa i'm just being bloody pedantic. It's was my attempt at funnyness. I knew what you meant, and tried to turn your talk of oral sex the other way around to grab meself a cheap laugh. *sigh* perhaps I have lost my touch.

Oh well.

The news keep getting weirder and weirder...:eek:

Aye...Just think of mundane tasks like brushing one's teeth, let alone more intimate moments....

Aye...Just think of mundane tasks like brushing one's teeth, let alone more intimate moments....

http://www.awimb.com/fudforum/images/smiley_icons/nod.gif

Am I the only one finding this hilarious?

Think about it, the conservatives of the Saudi Kingdom wanted this. The disgruntled husbands should take it up with the people who make the laws. After all, the women are obeying it aren't they?

Uh...old news is old.

Think about it, the conservatives of the Saudi Kingdom wanted this. The disgruntled husbands should take it up with the people who make the laws. After all, the women are obeying it aren't they?
No, the article is pretty clear about that. Women in Islam are very much allowed to show themselves run around at home without veils and all that stuff. They're only meant to preserve modesty and dignity in public, not at home. So about 99.99% of Muslim men would see their wife's face every day. Remember, things like bellydancing are also from the Middle East - they're just not meant for public viewing.

She's following a particular tradition of her village. And quite a weird one, if I do say so myself.

shes a man isn't she?

No. She just looks like one. The good news is that she could win a Dennis Franz lookalike contest. :p

She's following a particular tradition of her village. And quite a weird one, if I do say so myself.

Indeed...and by the looks of it, she's happy living by tradition.

No, the article is pretty clear about that. Women in Islam are very much allowed to show themselves run around at home without veils and all that stuff. They're only meant to preserve modesty and dignity in public, not at home. So about 99.99% of Muslim men would see their wife's face every day. Remember, things like bellydancing are also from the Middle East - they're just not meant for public viewing.

She's following a particular tradition of her village. And quite a weird one, if I do say so myself.

QFT there.

Seems to me their marriage might have been more successful if she didn't feel bound by such a tradition.

Seems to me their marriage might have been more successful if she didn't feel bound by such a tradition.
For both or for the man?

For all we know, she might be more comfortable abiding the tradition - Then again, we can't know for sure how the tradition is indoctrinated or if it even is beyond household practice.

For both or for the man?

For all we know, she might be more comfortable abiding the tradition - Then again, we can't know for sure how the tradition is indoctrinated or if it even is beyond household practice.

Does seem rather vague. Clearly since the husband was not raised with this extreme of a tradition, it was going to cause some issues though. It's just amazing to me that they lived together for so long, even had children without him ever seeing her face.

And having children means... without ever seeing her face. That just seems dehumanizing to me.

Would it be wrong to laugh at this? It seems strange that you aren't allowed to see your wifes face after you're married. Why do they have that tradition?

Why do they have that tradition?
That would be the question, methinks.

Or rather, why do they keep up with the tradition.

No, the article is pretty clear about that. Women in Islam are very much allowed to show themselves run around at home without veils and all that stuff. They're only meant to preserve modesty and dignity in public, not at home. So about 99.99% of Muslim men would see their wife's face every day. Remember, things like bellydancing are also from the Middle East - they're just not meant for public viewing.

She's following a particular tradition of her village. And quite a weird one, if I do say so myself.

Sure they're ALLOWED, but ever think that at this point it's a statement? :D