Saudi women should have the same rights as men

In 2006, a Saudi woman was alone in a car with a man who was not related to her, and a gang of seven men found them and raped them. They were given 10 months in jail. She was given six months and 200 lashes. Now I understand that Saudi Arabia is predominately a muslim state, and their government can be theocratic, but if their beliefs get in the way of justice, then that's simply not right.

All over Saudi Arabia, women are crying out for help from oppression and injustices. They should have the same rights as men. Personally, I believe that if a country is predominately a certain religion, then it should be influenced by its religion, but not entirely controlled. The courts of any country should be ruled by justice, not what the religion says is right or wrong.

We are all created equal and we should all be viewed as equals.

I believe in gender equality.

However I am also an American, and I have been raised in a culture in which democracy is celebrated - not condemned. I live in a country that upholds (or tries to) the separation of Church and State, and in a nation that does not subject law breakers (for the most part) to corporal punishment. Thus my view is completely Westernized and I understand that. So although I agree with my opponent's point of view, I do not agree with her reasoning, and for the sake of debate I will try to disprove the resolution which states Saudi women should have the same rights as men.

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As Pro noted, Saudi Arabia is a theocracy - a form of government in which a 'god' or 'deity' is recognized as the supreme civil ruler (Wikipedia). Much like the Bible, the Qur'an (Muslim Holy Book) does not grant equal rights to men and women in the eyes of the law. Because God's word is of utmost importance in a theocracy, what He says - or rather what the Qur'an says - is the only ruling doctrine.

Onto your points...

Pro writes, "if their beliefs get in the way of justice, then that's simply not right." What we have to remember is that THEIR BELIEFS = JUSTICE. God or the Qur'an determine what is right and wrong - not us. In their eyes, they ARE upholding justice, and to deter from what has always been considered right and wrong (remember - many of them are religious extremists), they would be doing both society and God a great injustice.

Pro then writes, "Personally, I believe that if a country is predominately a certain religion, then it should be influenced by its religion, but not entirely controlled. The courts of any country should be ruled by justice, not what the religion says is right or wrong." So what Pro is describing here is The United States of America. Not every country is a democracy or places a distinction between Church and State. Those are our values - not everyone elses. And further, we cannot be the judge of which value is correct.

In order for Pro to accomlish this, she would have to prove that man-law is more important than God's law (be it the Christian God or Muslim God). Theists will certainly disagree with this logic, and the atheists who DO agree really don't matter, because Saudi Arabia is not inhabited predominantly by atheists.

There's nothing for me to respond to, so I guess I'll wait for the next round before attempting to continue my arguments...

Well it seems my opponent has forfeited Rounds 2 & 3. What a shame. This could have been an interesting debate.