I'm beginning to suspect that the Saudis might have issues with the female body:

A Muslim cleric in Saudi Arabia has called on women to wear a full veil, or niqab, that reveals only one eye. Sheikh Muhammad al-Habadan said showing both eyes encouraged women to use eye make-up to look seductive... Sheikh Habadan, an ultra-conservative cleric who is said to have wide influence among religious Saudis, was answering questions on the Muslim satellite channel al-Majd.

Well sure, that makes sense. But what if she's too young to put on seductive eye make-up? Like - totally hypothetically - if she's an 8 year old Saudi bride who's been sold off by her father? Then does she get to use both her eyes to see things? Or is this just another one of the ways that sharia helps to "protect" women? Which would explain why marital equity is on such prominent display throughout the Peninsula.

At least we have an answer to the oh-so-sophisticated question that Caryle Murphy posed in the CSM last May: "Saudi Arabia's first women-only hotel: Is it progress?" Turns out, not so much. Which was really a shock, because I thought that forced segregation plus institutional sexism plus surreal repression always equaled enlightenment.

References:
* Saudi cleric favours one-eye veil [BBC]
* Saudi child 'files for divorce' [BBC]
* Saudi Men Taking Advantage of Technology, Divorcing Wives via Text Message.... [Zippers]
* Saudi Arabia's first women-only hotel: Is it progress? [CSM]
* Video: Porn, Wahhabi style [Hot Air]

Previously:
* Hey Gals, Check This Out - Saudi Arabian "Idealists" Think You're Too Dirty To Get Good Medical Care
* Hey Gals, Check This Out - Saudi Arabia Too Busy At Annapolis To Stop Their Wahhabist Judiciary From Lashing Gang Rape Victim 200 Times
* Hey Gals, Check This Out - Saudi Marriage Official Advises Your Husband Not To Have Sex With You When You're His 1 Year Old Toddler Wife