Saudi Physician Dr Fadha Sultan Trapped
Saudi Arabia has strict male guardianship system. But when male guardianship is abused, it is the women who suffer. Examples that come to mind includes Jennifer Birrell and Nazia Quazi. Now there is another case, this time involving a Saudi physician called Dr Fadha Sultan. She too has been trapped inside Saudi Arabia, unable to travel abroad because of the male guardianship system.
About Jennifer Birrell
Jennifer Birrell, an Australian woman who embraced Islam and went with third husband to stay in Saudi Arabia soon found her Muslim husband a changed man – one who beat her and physically, mentally and emotionally abused her. Despite her husband having divorced her, Jennifer Birrell could not leave Saudi Arabia because her ex-husband falsely claimed to be still her male guardian. Worse still, ex-husband falsely charged Jennifer Birrell’s new husband for wrecking his marriage, and had her Egyptian husband thrown into jail. Jennifer Birrell could not leave Saudi Arabia without the approval of her ex-husband (her alleged male guardian). Having exhausted all avenues, Jennifer Birrell finally decided to appeal to the Saudi king. But mysteriously, on the eve of her audience with the king, she was expelled from Saudi Arabia and deported back to Australia. But freedom came at a cost. Jennifer Birrell had to leave behind her current husband, who is still in jail and being caned, as well as 3 of her children. And all this because of her ex-husband abusing the male guardianship system of Saudi Arabia.
About Nazia Quanzi
Nazia Quanzi, Indian citizen holding concurrently a dual Canadian citizenship met and fell in love with a boy in Canada. Trouble is that the boyfriend’s parents are practising Hindus, while Nazia Quanzi’s parents are Muslims. Things got bad when Nazia Quanzi’s father tricked her into returning to Saudi Arabia, based on a false promise of giving her a big Indian wedding and asking Nazia Quanzi to perform the Umrah pilgrimage. Once she landed in Saudi Arabia, Nazia Quanzi had her Indian and Canadian passports taken away, and her father than exercised his rights under the male guardianship system to keep her in Saudi Arabia. It was 3 years and after much efforts that her father finally relented and let Nazia Quanzi leave Saudi Arabia to be married to her boyfriend waiting in Dubai.
About Dr Fadha Sultan
The case of Dr Fadha Sultan bears similarities with that of Jennifer Birrell and Nazia Quanzi in some respects. What we know about Dr Fadha Sultan’s case is what she wrote in 2 letters published at the Hudson New York website.
In the first letter dated July 23, 2009 she described her case. Dr Fadha Sultan wrote: ”I am a Saudi female physician highly sub-specialized in my field of expertise; in spite of my achievements and qualifications, I find myself under total oppression and anguish. I have been held restricted from travel for over two years now. My “crime” is being a Saudi female, subjected to the “male guardian system.”
Now 42 years old, Dr Fadha Sultan received her higher medical training in America and she also did her medical practise “at a top private center” there. In her second letter dated July 15, 2010 she speaks of her return to Saudi Arabia in March 2007. Dr Fadha Sultan said: “Since 3/2007, I never boarded a plane.”
Messy Divorce
Exactly why Dr Fadha Sultan decided to return to Saudi Arabia is not stated in her 2 letters. But Dr Fadha Sultan did say that she is “divorced, and mother of three teenagers.” Perhaps she went back to settle her divorce? Just how messy that divorce was can be seen by the action of her ex-husband. Dr Fadha Sultan said: “My ex-husband decided to ban me from travel by using his alleged authority just before declaring the divorce final. Such an action was facilitated and approved by “Authorities” without a single question.” Doesn’t this sound like Jennifer Birrell’s case? Or for that matter, Nazia Quanz’s case?
Dr Fadha Sultan said that after 2 years of efforts, she managed to get the travel ban removed. Exactly how this was done, she didn’t say. But Dr Fadha Sultan then hit upon a new roadblock. She needed a new passport in order to travel out of Saudi Arabia. In most countries, getting a replacement or a new passport is almost routine. But not in Saudi Arabia. You see, there is this male guardianship system.
Dr Fadha Sultan explains: “I also sent out several letters to the Ministry of Interior requesting a replacement passport without need of male guardian.There was no luck obviously, and response was “need male guardian, regardless of age, education, job title, or marital status.”
Things looked brighter when the Ministry of Interior agreed to accept Dr Fadha Sultan’s teenage son as her male guardian. But then again, another roadblock appeared. Dr Fadha Sultan’s retired father, who apparently is living apart from Dr Fadha Sultan’s mother, unexpectedly turned up and threw a spanner into the work. The father declared that he had lost Dr Fadha Sultan’s passport, and refused to let her get a new passport. The basis of the father’s objection is that he, as father, retains a higher male guardian authority that Dr Fadha Sultan’s teenage son. Dr Fadha Sultan said: “I feel like a ball being thrown from one side to the other.”
The Consequences Of Not Being Able To Travel
Dr Fadha Sultan gives some reasons why she needs to travel. The first reason, as Dr Fadha Sultan puts it, is this: “I cannot renew my medical license without attending conferences or seminars.” This will adversely affect her career. Dr Fadha Sultan said concerning the action taken by her ex-husband and her father: ”Such an action has substantially harmed my career, disabled my attendance to vital international conferences, and prevented me from acception invitations to gatherings held in my specialty. Such an action occasions a regression of my medical knowledge and the fear and very real possibility of simply being “left behind.” Such an action halts most of my research projects, not to mention the devastating damage it inflicts on my ability to earn a living.”
The second reason Dr Fadha Sultan gives is this: “I am sending my son to college, supporting him financially and definitely want to be there for him step by step till he settles.”
Lastly, Dr Fadha Sultan said: “I am also financially supporting my mother and covering up for my kids’ needs.”
Why Did The Father React This Way?
Perhaps it was because of her failed marriage. Dr Fadha Sultan explains: “ I am divorced from the person my father chose for me.” Exactly why the marriage broke down is not known, but this we know. Dr Fadha Sultan said of her ex-husband: “He is married now with new kids.”
Dr Fadha Sultan On Male Guardian System
Dr Fadha Sultan describes her case as “a gross violation of basic human rights.” She added: “Freedom of travel and choice of residence are wishes with no existence in Saudi Arabia.” Describing the effect of the male guardianship system on Saudi women, Dr Fadha Sultan said: “Saudi women are required to live in a subservient state under what is so called “male guardian ship” implemented by “Authorities,” as perpetual minors, deprived basic human rights.” Then she added: “Inferred rights are dependent on how caring, uncaring, stern or destructive the “male guardian” is.”
And what is Dr Fadha Sultan’s conclusion on all this? Dr Fadha Sultan said: “To ostracize a human being, to allow such an action, is in my opinion sufficient grounds for revising the “male guardian system” in general, and for recognizing the necessity for mature independent females to persue their desired lives with no interference.”
Think About It
Dr Fadha Sultan is a Saudi citizen, unlike Jennifer Birrell and Nazia Quanzi who are not. Both Jennifer Birrell and Nazia Quanzi have managed to leave Saudi Arabia eventually, but what about Dr Fadha Sultan? All these 3 cases simply show what can happen to women when the male guardianship system is abused. Why does Saudi Arabia still retain the male guardianship system when it has been known to be abused by Saudi men? Shouldn’t safeguards be put in place to prevent such abuses if the male guardianship system is to continue? As Dr Fadha Sultan said, are there “grounds for revising the male guardian system”? Or even to abolish it?
Previous posts
Nazia Quazi Flight To Freedom – And Marriage
Jennifer Birrell – Freedom At Last, But Without 3 Children And Husband
Saudi Arabia – When Male Guardianship Is Abused
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