From: honors@sas.upenn.edu (Cheryl Shipman)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Gender refugee
Date: 20 Nov 1992 21:09:16 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: remarque.berkeley.edu
Originator: muffy@remarque.berkeley.edu

>From an opinion essay in the Christian Science Monitor, Wed.
Nov 18, "A Test of Canada's Gender Equality", written by
Jessica Neuwirth, director of Equality Now - a New York-
based international human rights group.


I will paraphrase since I haven't asked permission to quote.

A women from Saudi Arabia is in Canada, requesting asylum as
a refugee based on gender discrimination.  She cites being
forbidden to study as she wants, being compelled to cover
her head, face and hair in public, and being accompanied by
a man or boy of her household whenever in public.  She has
suffered ridicule, threats and violence since she has
refused to wear a veil, and walked alone.  Men cursed, spat,
threw rocks, etc.  She has had several encounters with the
Mutawwi'in - the religious police - who carry sticks with
which they are authorized to beat women whom they deem
immodestly dressed or disobedient.  They can also arrest
suspects.  A particularly obnoxious threat is the
"inspection of virginity" which they can inflict on women
who dress incorrectly, or who are caught out without a
brother, father, son, husband or cousin.

The women, Nada, worked for three years to get her passport
to leave Saudi Arabia  (she was required to be escorted by
her brother) and requested asylum immediately upon arriving
in Canada.  Her statement to the Immigration and Refugee
Board is quoted in part, "I am being trapped in a situation
similar to death.  Why can't I retain my dignity and
personal integrity as a woman and as a human being somewhere
else where that is possible?"

Unfortunately for Nada, Canadian authorities don't seem to
consider gender discrimination a human rights problem  -
although others are considered refugees when they leave
their countries as a result of persecution for their
activities on behalf of human rights.

The Canadian Immigration and Refugee board has ruled that
Nada is not a refugee since her belief in gender equality is
not a "political opinion".  The Ministry  gave an additional
reason to Nada's lawyer - they do not want to criticize the
Saudi government.

The article goes on to cite many instances where the
Canadian government has been willing to criticize the
Republic of South Africa for is racial apartheid and wonders
why this reluctance to object to gender apartheid. In rather
stirring language, the author refers to fundamental
international principles of equality, and to Canada's
Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  She wonders whether Nada
would have been granted refugee status based on persecution
for race, ethnic origin or religion.  She questions Canada's
commitment to gender equality.

Nada is currently in hiding in Canada.  A warrant has been
issued for her arrest; if arrested, she will be deported.


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