Saudi women face gyms ban

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Action taken to shut down unlicensed, all-women fitness clubs, condemned as 'shameless' by Saudi Arabia's clerics

Saudi women could see their private sports clubs and gyms closed down because the government seems likely to agree licensing of the clubs for men only.

...

Saudi Arabia's austere brand of Wahhabi Islam forbids the mixing of unrelated members of the opposite sex. In the ­presence of strange men, women must remain covered.

The problem that has emerged in recent months is that women's gyms are unlicensed and so illegal. Female fitness fans complain of a lack of places to exercise outside the home since they cannot use men's clubs.

The general presidency for sport and youth welfare is responsible for men's gyms but it has not been allowed or prepared to regulate those for women.

Businessman Bader Al-Shibani wanted to open a women's sports club along with the one he runs for men in Jeddah. "I ran into a stone wall at every turn," he said. "Every department I visited denied that they had the authority to give permission to establish a women's club. In the end, I just abandoned the project."

Action has already been taken against two women's gyms, in Jeddah and in Dammam, according to al-Madinah newspaper. Clubs in Riyadh have so far been spared.

This month a group of Saudi women launched a campaign entitled Let Her Get Fat, in opposition to a decision to close down all-female wellness centres that are not under the supervision of a government hospital or clinic.

Leading Saudi clerics have condemned the gyms and clubs as "shamelessness" and warned that women would be tempted to leave their homes and neglect their husbands and children...

Read more @ The Guardian

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101 comments

Hajjar Thu, 28 May 2009 - 21:10

Assalamu alaikum,

never any excuses for adultery. if these men find their women so unttractive they should seek a divorce not a mistress.

You're entitled to your opinion, even though i think it's completely insulting and inaccurate to the women of saudi arabia.Allah does not create ugly ppl, everyone simply has their own ideas of beauty. So they're not beautiful to you, but they are to many other men.

Last important point, this topic is about saudi gyms being closed down, not the beauty of saudi women, can we move on please.

Ya'qub Fri, 29 May 2009 - 01:09

HajjarAllah does not create ugly ppl, everyone simply has their own ideas of beauty.

While I agree with the other things you write, that is clearly inaccurate.

Omrow Fri, 29 May 2009 - 12:15

Yaqub knows what ugly is.

I bet he vomitted on some occasions.

God gives ugly kids to immoral parents.

Anyway...

This is turning out to be a seperate topic on its own right.

If Admin would be so kind as to take all the posts to a new thread.

I suggest he moves to a new topic everypost from the moment ugly Arabs were mentioned.

1R4M Sat, 20 Jun 2009 - 22:26

Amal

OmrowI am not talking about their size.

I am talking about their beauty.

If you take a good look at their eyes, or lips,
then you would admit, if you are honest, that they are indeed mingers.

They simply are ugly women.

Some of them, say 5 percent, might be alright.

But most are not good looking females.

There no denying it.

Omrow, you have reached a new low. What an awful thing to say. You make many meaningful points and comments, and I am sure it is valued and appreciated.. so dont devalue and dishonour yourself by saying things like the above.

I am agree

beauty is in the eye of the beholder
simply to say that people from a particular area are ugly is just stupid and ridiculous
you can find beautiful people everywhere

1R4M Sat, 20 Jun 2009 - 22:29

You

OmrowI know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think
most men would find them terrible. Their own men, leave them and
have affairs with beauties of London and Paris.
No one can deny that. Its a fact.

I would suggest that that has nothing to do with looks and everything to do with access.

yep!
there r loads of iraqi men in manchester who go after pakistani girls
is that to say their own women are unattractive?
no
a-its pure demographics
there r more pakistani women here
and b- when ur so used to seeing certain types of people,anyone who is different is seen as more attractive

Omrow Mon, 29 Jun 2009 - 17:26

1R4M
simply to say that people from a particular area are ugly is just stupid and ridiculous
you can find beautiful people everywhere

You are saying this as a self consolation thing are you?

Trust me, you cant find beauty everywhere.

Omrow Mon, 29 Jun 2009 - 17:28

1R4M

there r loads of iraqi men in manchester who go after pakistani girls
is that to say their own women are unattractive?

Yes.

Pakistani women are some of the most beautiful women on Earth.

Some of them may be ugly, but if you take a look, you will see that most Paki girls are highly good looking.

1R4M Mon, 29 Jun 2009 - 21:57

Omrow

1R4M

there r loads of iraqi men in manchester who go after pakistani girls
is that to say their own women are unattractive?

Yes.

Pakistani women are some of the most beautiful women on Earth.

Some of them may be ugly, but if you take a look, you will see that most Paki girls are highly good looking.

lol

they ARE

im not denying that
but I've seen many Iraqi women and theyre also beautiful
it depends on ur definition of beauty really
also, if ur so used to seeing a particular type of people, ur v likely to find someone different attractive, because ur not used to seein people like that
for example
a Russian friend of a friend
He's blond haired n blue eyed
n says that he sees many women with similar features
therefore
darker featuers are more attractive to him

if u dont like saudi women
thats upto u
what u find ugly, someone else might not

Hajjar Mon, 29 Jun 2009 - 22:48

How i wish a saudi sister would raid this forum and see this thread, insha'Allah someone will and then there will be a real debate

You Mon, 29 Jun 2009 - 22:41

Or she might just hire a hitman to whack Omrow*.

* I do not recommend that. This place would be boring without him.

Omrow Tue, 30 Jun 2009 - 13:09

1R4M

if u dont like saudi women
thats upto u
what u find ugly, someone else might not

I dont know why God has decided to bless some nations with more beautiful women than others.

Saudis seem to be cursed.

I dont know of one man - Arab or not -
who can seriously say to me that he finds Saudi women pretty.

But you can find plenty of men from all countries who will say Paki ladies are really attractive.

TPOS Tue, 30 Jun 2009 - 18:47

I think this thread has had a good debate *thumbs up* 🙂 but now I sense everyone will just start repeating everything that has already been said.I know repetition is a literary device used to persuade people but I think in this situation it would be more like if I was to start shouting at the person I'm debating/arguing with but saying exactly what I've been saying before hand - its pointless isn't it?!

Everyone agrees "beauty lies in the eye of the beholder" right? Well I think that's all everyone will be agreeing on, because Omrow will not be changing his decision nor will anyone else. Remember everyone's entitled to their opinion. obviously the whole point of debating is to share your view and to try and make the other person change theirs but like I said I don't think anyone will be so there's no point bringing up the same points again is there?

I don't think an Arab woman joining the debate would mean there would be a "real" debate because firstly I think there has been a good debate compared to other threads and secondly the woman would just get offended and it may lead to insulting and arguing rather than a "debate", plus she'd probably be seen as being biased anyway.

I have no idea why I felt the need to say that...actually I do - I'm bored (I even wrote in full English :shock: lol)

O yeah, Omrow, I'm a Pakistani but have been mistaken for an Arab a few times, should I be offended? lol

Omrow Wed, 1 Jul 2009 - 11:35

ThE pOwEr Of SiLeNcE

Everyone agrees "beauty lies in the eye of the beholder" right?

O yeah, Omrow, I'm a Pakistani but have been mistaken
for an Arab a few times, should I be offended?

Dont be offended if they say you are a "rare" Arab;
but be offended only if they compare you to an "ordinary" Arab woman.

By the way,

I dont agree that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Only those who cannot see beyond makeup say such silly things.

Paki girls are beautiful with or without makeup.

Saudis women... well, they are mingers regardless.

RI_RS Wed, 1 Jul 2009 - 18:15

We're all God's creation

And we've all been blessed with life

Life is beautiful

Therefore we have all been blessed with beauty (:

RI_RS Wed, 1 Jul 2009 - 21:57

wednesday

Life is beautiful

Question: Intentions necessary? I mean, should we actively believe in "life" being the most wonderful thing ever to be valued rightly by God? or is it OK to just believe in something for the sake of it?

[sigh]

Why Wendy WHY?
xD

Well in my opinion, once you actively start thinking about it from an islamic perspective (at least), you find life to be beautiful anyway...all the oppurtunities we get etc but i don't just mean life as in our human ability to live... Life is breathed into all things natural and beautiful... man doesn't control life - God does and that's part of the beauty of it.

1R4M Wed, 1 Jul 2009 - 21:59

Omrow

ThE pOwEr Of SiLeNcE

Everyone agrees "beauty lies in the eye of the beholder" right?

O yeah, Omrow, I'm a Pakistani but have been mistaken
for an Arab a few times, should I be offended?

Dont be offended if they say you are a "rare" Arab;
but be offended only if they compare you to an "ordinary" Arab woman.

By the way,

I dont agree that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Only those who cannot see beyond makeup say such silly things.

Paki girls are beautiful with or without makeup.

Saudis women... well, they are mingers regardless.

LOl

I think you're beginning to grow on me

RI_RS Wed, 1 Jul 2009 - 22:01

1R4M

Omrow
ThE pOwEr Of SiLeNcE

Everyone agrees "beauty lies in the eye of the beholder" right?

O yeah, Omrow, I'm a Pakistani but have been mistaken
for an Arab a few times, should I be offended?

Dont be offended if they say you are a "rare" Arab;
but be offended only if they compare you to an "ordinary" Arab woman.

By the way,

I dont agree that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Only those who cannot see beyond makeup say such silly things.

Paki girls are beautiful with or without makeup.

Saudis women... well, they are mingers regardless.

LOl

I think you're beginning to grow on me

Fickle =P

1R4M Thu, 2 Jul 2009 - 11:10

MakeMeRawr_6TeenF

Fickle =P

LOL
I dont agree with all his views
but
what can I say
hes an interesting character

I'd like to know Omrow's opinion on bwood actresses

TPOS Thu, 2 Jul 2009 - 20:21

OmrowDont be offended if they say you are a "rare" Arab;
but be offended only if they compare you to an "ordinary" Arab woman.

{rolls her eyes with a sorta smile}

OmrowBy the way,

I dont agree that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Sorry my mistake, i thought someone had said that and u had agreed with it, may have been someone else/another thread :oops:

OmrowOnly those who cannot see beyond makeup say such silly things.

Paki girls are beautiful with or without makeup.

Saudis women... well, they are mingers regardless.

So u can see beyond the makeup, can u? ...beyond the makeup - to the skin and features underneath?

what about personality? to me even if i see someone who seems to be the most beautiful person i've ever seen, if there personality doesn't match their looks i wont think they're beautiful at all however if i see someone who at first doesn't look so pretty but they're personality is great then i automatically start to see them as being beautiful.

Or did u mean personality wise? in that case aren't u contradicting urself as u cant possibly *know* a lot of Arab women therefore u are just basing it on looks.

and why do u say its only people who cant see beyond makeup say? Clearly everyones idea of beauty is different so i agree with that.

Seraphim Thu, 2 Jul 2009 - 21:41

Beauty is subjective... differs from one person to the next. What i might consider beautiful, you may not... and although i might think you're crazy for thinking that. But you're entitled to your opinon.

Just remember; Allah (swt) made everything and everyone beautiful... its just that not everyone can see it.

And to return to the subject at hand *ahem* as long as there is segregation between the womens gym and the mens gym there really isnt anything wrong with having a womens gym... no more than having a mens gym. If they ban one they should really ban them both.

Omrow Sat, 4 Jul 2009 - 12:47

ThE pOwEr Of SiLeNcE

So u can see beyond the makeup, can u? ...beyond the makeup - to the skin and features underneath?

what about personality?

and why do u say its only people who cant see beyond makeup say?

Clearly everyones idea of beauty is different so i agree with that.

Right. Lets go through you. I mean your questions.

First of all, physical beauty is the subject here. Personality was not being discussed.

What I was talking about was the ugly faces of Saudi women, faces
which seems to occupy so much of their time and attention.

A man who easily get trapped by makeup tend fall for a girl. Then when she takes off
the make up on the morning after, the same man runs and doesnt even look back at her.
The poor girl feels devestated and left wondering what went wrong.
She cant figure out that it was the makeup that her man had fallen for, and not
for her personality.

As to personality, women easily give away their bad personality by 3 means:

1. The way they dress.

2. The way they walk.

3. The way the talk.

There are other things as well, but mostly men judge women by these things.

TPOS Fri, 3 Jul 2009 - 17:13

Ok.

Do u have to have an answer to EVERYTHING/(most things) :/ lol

and i know we arent discussing personality but i just said personality makes a person look beautiful too.

Omrow Sat, 4 Jul 2009 - 12:51

ThE pOwEr Of SiLeNcE

and i know we arent discussing personality but
i just said personality makes a person look beautiful too.

I agree.

Men wanting a life partner should go for the inner ocean rather than the outer shell.

But unfortunately, most Saudis women have neither the personality nor the beauty.

Ya'qub Sat, 4 Jul 2009 - 13:36

Omrow
But unfortunately, most Saudis women have neither the personality nor the beauty.

Ok, that's just a horrible thing to say.

Whether it's true or not is irrelevant - as a Muslim, you just SHOULDN'T say things like that.

s.b.f Sat, 4 Jul 2009 - 16:55

Omrow

But unfortunately, most Saudis women have neither the personality nor the beauty.

:roll:

Of course they have a personality!

Ya'qub

Whether it's true or not is irrelevant - as a Muslim, you just SHOULDN'T say things like that.

Exactly.

TPOS Sat, 4 Jul 2009 - 16:47

Ya'qubWhether it's true or not is irrelevant - as a Muslim, you just SHOULDN'T say things like that.

agreed

Anonymous88 (not verified) Tue, 11 Aug 2009 - 03:53

without any grammatical humour intended, this thread is below the belt.

omrow - i've come to appreciate your deliberate-controversial stance, but your comments in this thread have been of severely ill-taste.

Comments are closed on this post.