Princess Sultana's Circle

Mutawwas, claiming that Hussah was not the pure
daughter he believed, and that the girl was sure to ruin the family
name with her embarrassing behavior. Overwhelmed by pressure from
all fronts, and believing that even a greater punishment would be
inflicted on his daughter if he did not submit to religious
authorities, Hussah’s father finally agreed to the
marriage.
    In a moment, Hussah’s life
had gone from relative freedom to the greatest oppression. After a
quick wedding, Hussah had managed to telephone Maha only once, but
the sound of her shaky voice was cut short when the line was
abruptly cut.
    With the stories of these
two women’s lives so utterly ruined uppermost in my mind, I
questioned how it was that so many men of the Islamic faith failed
to remember that Prophet Mohammed never tired of praising the
infinite mercy of Allah? Every chapter of the Koran, except one,
begins with the Bismillah, “In the name of God the Compassionate,
the Merciful.”
    The sad truth was that
Afaaf was right. A large number of Muslim men do defame the Prophet
and his teachings when they oppress women in his name.
    And, what can we women do?
In the Muslim world, it is believed that only men may interpret the
Koran. Should any woman complain of the way women such as Afaaf or
Hussah are treated, that woman would be accused of attacking our
faith—an unforgivable crime assuring the severest
punishment.
    These thoughts were
interrupted when I heard Maysa, who in spite of all her efforts had
nodded off in her seat, cry out in her sleep. Knowing that the
unfortunate Maysa was at that moment witnessing our beloved Prophet
as a pig, I knew that her dreams were even more disturbing than my
own thoughts. I would not be in Maysa’s situation for all the
freedom in the world.

Chapter Ten
    Stolen Angels
    Our plane soon landed at
the La Guardia Airport in New York. Thankfully, we passed through
customs and immigration quickly since one of the Saudi officials
from our Consulate offices in New York was on hand to guide us
through that place and ensure VIP treatment.
    Ten limousines stood ready
to transport us, and our luggage, to the New York Plaza Hotel. The
women were highly excited, so it took long moments for us to decide
who would ride with whom, in what car.
    Exasperated, Kareem began
to shout, telling us that we reminded him of large black birds
flitting from one place to another. The other women calmed down and
quickly found a place to sit, but I stood aside, and stubbornly
refused to enter the limousine until Kareem apologized for his rude
remarks.
    Kareem saw that I was
willing to take a firm stand, so he lifted his shoulders in
resignation and said, “I am sorry, Sultana. Now, please , get in the
car!”
    Somewhat appeased, I sat
with Sara and Maysa. I watched as the limousine driver rolled his
eyes; obviously, he was unaccustomed to the histrionic displays of
female Saudi royalty. Despite the disruptions, we were soon on our
way to the Plaza Hotel.
    Kareem had reserved an
entire wing of the grand old hotel that had long been our favorite
during our visits to New York City. Time and again, the staff at
the Plaza had proven their discretion in providing hospitality to
guests from wealthy Middle Eastern countries. Such thoughtful
service is not forgotten.
    As we drove into the city,
I watched with delight as women drivers sped pass us. Such a sight
I never tire of when I visit other lands! Women are not allowed to
drive in Saudi Arabia, and since this restriction has no basis in
our religion, it has always angered me. Years ago, Kareem took me
for driving lessons in the desert. I learned to drive, but I have
never driven through the streets of my own country. To add insult
to injury, a woman of forty years is forbidden to drive in Saudi
Arabia, yet boys no more than eight or nine years old are
frequently seen at the wheel of a speeding automobile filled with
terrified women. Some Bedouin men in my country give their camels
better treatment than they do their wives. In Saudi Arabia, it is
not an uncommon sight to see baby camels riding in the passenger
seat of an air-conditioned truck while veiled women are riding in
the open truck base at the back!
    Now, watching American
women drive confidently through the heavy city traffic lifted my
spirits. Surely, while visiting such a country as the United
States, I could finally forget about the misfortunes that plague so
many females. I could take immediate pleasure in the freedom