Lash Me, I Was Alone With My Driver

Yes I admit it, you can take this as a full confession under the law, I was alone with my driver. I knew I would be alone with him, just he and I driving along the roads of Saudi Arabia. He alone with me for a couple of hours, I should be lashed. Do note that being alone with him was not of my own desire, but only due to a need to get out and about since I can't drive here. But I confess and I should be lashed according to legal interpretation.

I went out with out the permission of Mr. Man my guardian. He had no clue I was out and about alone in a car with my driver. I couldn't call him as he didn't pay my cell phone bill so I blame it partly on him. But alas, I went out to Saad and he didn't know, in fact he still doesn't know I must confess it. I than went shopping, alone I sat in the car with my driver on the way to Tamimis.

I confess I have been alone in stores where only a man was present. I confess, sinful I am, I have been to mini marts, dress shops, book stores, and even under garment shops that may have sold kinky items at the time. And I must add to my confession, I've talked to these men, bartered with them, even smiled on occasion and I must not forget I've gotten angry and annoyed with a few. I know that one sock guy was trying to over charge me, I angrily voiced my objection to being given a higher price. But I digress, I was alone with him at that time, in his store, not in full view due to the display of socks.

I confess workers have been in my house to fix things when no one else has been present. The 'technician' that is required to change the man light bulbs in my house, that seem to blow daily. I was alone when the cable guy came to install cable in Leynas room, I walked up the steps with him to her bedroom to show him where I wanted the connection. I have been alone with plumbers who I need to constantly fix leaks that form puddles in my bathrooms. It would be better if they fixed them properly without me having to keep calling them back. But I confess on several occasions it has only been me and the workers in the house, this also includes Shafiq, our cleaning man who is here three times a week. While I do stay out of his way, he'll be on one floor and I am on the other, I am still alone in the house with him on some occasions.

I confess fully and willingly to all of these things, lash me, lash me as it is the interpretation of Saudi law. Lash me for being in a car with a driver who is starting to annoy me because I am not allowed to drive here. A quick fix to this problem is to allow women to drive. Although that wouldn't solve the taxi issues, they are all men as well, but importing female taxi drivers would be a solution. But of course they could not pick up male passengers.

Allowing women to work in shops would be a solution so I am not alone with a man as I buy socks. But I suppose one would need to ban all men from going into the shops as they than would be alone with a female clerk. A more sensible solution, as to not break the law, is to have male only shops and female shops. Male only would be run by males and the customers only male as well, the same would hold true for women shops. Not really a feasible solution, but we don't want society sinning.

I could stand outside as a guy unknown to me enters my residence to fix the plumbing or install cable. I predict that something would be stolen from my home and theft rates would increase but as long as I'm not alone in the house with a worker. I could go back to cleaning my own toilets but considering I would be back to scrubbing my MILs toilet as well I'd rather be lashed. I could wait on Mr. Man to be home when the guy comes to install the light bulbs, but by that time we would be living by candle light.

Being alone with a man, per the view of Saudi law, simply is unavoidable for me and all women in this country. In fact I believe this stands true for all Muslim in the world who at some point in their lives may be 'alone' with a male not related to them. As awkward as the situation is for me at times, I do swear I have NEVER once entertained any deviant thoughts in my mind, especially sexual. In fact on most occasions my mind is questioning if most guys in this country have something against deodorant.

It seems I'm just a sinful Muslim woman going about my average boring days in Saudi Arabia. Adjusting to cultural norms that are not of my own. Being driven along daily by an unrelated driver who is bickering with me like a second husband. I'm alone with men by necessity of this life, and if I am to be lashed for my sinful ways than what other choice do I have. Either I can be forced to live life that will not work for neither I nor Mr. Man (he needs this independent chicka) or judges and Saudi law can be in tune to the realities of the norm of this society.

Yes, dare I suggest, I am not alone in my sinful ways. I am in the company of every other woman who ventures outside the house. At one time or another a woman will be alone with a man, either in a store or in car and at times in her own home. To suggest that we should all be viewed as sinful per an interpretation of Islamic law, in my view, ignores the intent of the law itself. For in the end wouldn't the social system that not only prevents a sin free option but in fact supports the sin with social restrictions be more at fault than any average woman driving along with an unrelated male driver alone?

Or are we just witnessing how slippery this slope really is?

"The sentence of the two rape victims is based on the Saudi interpretation of “khalwa”, the principle that an unrelated man and woman cannot be in seclusion together. The interpretation of “khalwa” under Saudi law — which judges say is the proper interpretation of the Sunnah — includes unrelated men and women being together even in public. The judicial interpretation of “khalwa” in Saudi Arabia also includes an unrelated man and woman inside a vehicle." (Arab News)
There is a lot more I could say about the Qatif case and I could easily let my anger get the best of me. But I think in this small way I can point out that there are large ramifications in this society due to this particular case. And we all need to wake up to it.