They Gave Barbarity a Bad Name

The Washington-based Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia denounces the slaughter of two young Saudi women by their brother. The women, who were 19 and 21 years old, were shot while being escorted by their father out of a government shelter for women accused of talking to unrelated males, khalwa.

After the brother emptied his gun in his sisters’ bodies, his father thanked him for protecting the family’s honor. The son will not be punished for his heinous and savage crime because his father forgave him for defending the family’s honor.

This is the result of the Saudi government sanctioned male guardianship system, which gives men total control over every aspect of women's lives. Saudi Arabia is the only country in which women cannot drive. Saudi women are also forbidden to work, travel, buy property and even receive life saving medicine without their male guardian’s presence or written permission.

Take a look at the coverage from Hudson New York and Arabian Business.