Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi
The recent appointment of Lina Almaeena as a member of the Shoura Council has revived hope that sports will be allowed in girls’ schools in the Kingdom. Lina has been actively involved in the promotion of sports for women in the Kingdom. She founded the first sports team for women, namely Jeddah United. It was a basketball team that evolved into a sports company within a couple of years.
Lina has also become a businesswoman who focuses on everything related to sports in general and sports items for women in particular. She has exerted great effort to promote sports among women and continues to play a leading role in convincing Saudi society of the importance of sports for women and girls. She strives to make Saudi society aware that the lofty goal of education, “A sound mind in a sound body,” should be applicable to women as well as men. She argues that there is no difference between the intelligence of men and women and as such it is essential for a woman to have a sound body along with a sound mind.
Lina was named one of the 200 most powerful Arab women by Forbes Magazine. She has been invited to the French Senate to speak on the topic “Sports for women in Saudi Arabia” on the occasion of World Women’s Day. She also delivered a lecture about the same topic at a conference on Saudi society, organized by the French Senate in Paris.
It was half a century ago that schools for girls were opened for the first time all over the Kingdom. This was made possible through a political decision by the highest authorities despite strong opposition against allowing girls to be educated in schools. When King Faisal took a firm decision to open schools for girls, a delegation comprising prominent figures from a region of the country came to meet the King and requested him not to open schools for girls in their region. But he told them unequivocally that schools were opened and would remain open but there would not be any compulsion on the part of the government on anyone to send their daughters to school.
The King also told them that if anyone compelled them to send their daughters to school, then they should inform him about. However, after some time, there was not a single Saudi girl who did not go to school in that region of the country. There have been numerous instances in which girls have competed with boys in studies and most often outshone them with an outstanding performance.
However, sports continue to remain a taboo for girls in schools. The situation has remained the same even though several writers and physicians, including women, have repeatedly called for making sports a compulsory subject in the girls’ school curriculum. But their demand has faced sharp criticism and rebuke from many in society who say that this would spoil girls and would be detrimental to their modesty. There has been no positive outcome even though doctors have warned about the alarming increase in obesity among women and have recommended the introduction of physical education in schools as a major remedy.
Citing examples from the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his wife Ayisha (may Allah be pleased with her) pointing to the significance of physical exercise has so far not brought about any positive impact in introducing sports in girls’ schools. When the Prophet (pbuh) and Ayisha participated in a race competition, Ayisha was the victor on the first occasion as she was very young and fit. On a second occasion, the Prophet (pbuh) won the race and it was said that an increase in Ayesha’s physical weight was attributed to her defeat. Then the Prophet (pbuh) told her: “This is for that. We finished with a draw between us.”
However, it seems that there is no use in presenting such evidence and that sports for girls continues to remain a taboo. It was unfortunate to see the reply of a former Minister of Education about introducing sports for girls in schools. When an Okaz reporter asked him about this, he replied: “Nothing new to say.” In other words, sports will not be introduced in girls’ schools.
Now a new minister of education has taken charge, and people are optimistic because of his track record as an educationist who cherishes reform plans and ideas. He is also the author of a book titled “Education reform in Saudi Arabia: Between the lack of political vision, apprehension of religious culture and inability of educational administration.” Optimists believe that the introduction of sports in girls’ schools will be a priority of the minister.
Now, Lina Almaeena, a pioneer of sports for women in the Kingdom, has been chosen as one of the new members of the Shoura Council. It is hoped that she will work together with her male and female fellow members, to bring about draft legislation aimed at making sports a compulsory subject in girls’ schools. If the Shoura passes such a bill and the Council of Ministers approves it, all of the voices against sports for girls will be silenced.
With the passage of time, the government has introduced several reforms to empower women, including the appointment of women to the Shoura Council and allowing women to work in female accessory shops.
If Lina is successful in playing a leading role in the enactment of such a bill, it will be a major achievement, adding yet another feather to the cap of her achievements in serving women in the Kingdom.
— Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi is a former Saudi diplomat who specializes in Southeast Asian affairs. He can be reached at [email protected]
