On July 11, 2022 journalist Ahmed Almohannadi, who a was a candidate in Qatar's 2021 parliamentary elections, expressed sexist attitudes towards women in his column in the Qatari daily Al-Sharq. In the column he shared a letter he had allegedly received from a woman reader, in which she recounted an incident that happened to her: Driving home from work one night, her car broke down and she found herself helpless and afraid, since, being a woman, she was unable to handle the situation. This incident, she writes, led her realize what every young woman should acknowledge: that even if she has a job, drives a car and strives for independence, she is still a weak and helpless woman, unlike a man, who, "thanks to his strength and personality, can overcome every obstacle he encounters."
Ahmed Almohannadi (Source: Facebook.com/AhmedAlmohannadi)
The following are translated excerpts from the letter Almohannadi shared in his column:[1]
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"Dear honorable Ahmed Almohannadi. I thank you very much for your column, which is more than excellent, and hope you will continue this way. I hope you accept my contribution [to your column by publishing my letter]. Returning from work in my car one night, driving through a neighborhood of Doha, I suspected I had a flat tire. I got out of the car and saw that the tire was indeed flat. I parked the car on the side of the road. The area was very quiet and dark. I was confused and could do nothing. My phone battery was dead and there was nobody there to ask for help. I stood there, lost and confused, because I am a woman and I felt helpless. That moment I saw a car coming towards me and wanted to signal that I needed help, but I couldn't, because I didn't want them to think badly of me. Then an Asian man came along and offered to help, and I agreed. He tried and tried to pull the spare tire out of the car, but couldn't, because he was inexperienced at this. Then a young Qatari man came along and saw me standing on the side of the road. He approached me politely and respectfully, and said, 'Sister, do you need help?' I said I did, and he said: 'Sit in the car while I change the tire.'
"I got into the car, embarrassed, and wondered what I was supposed to do after he finished helping me. Should I thank him and just let him leave, or would that be a mistake? This was the first time I had ever been in this situation, and many questions bothered me. At that moment I understood that, although I have a job and drive a car, I am [still] a weak woman, unable to do anything. A man, on the other hand, remains a man who, thanks to his strength and personality, can overcome any obstacle he encounters. Women want everything, to drive a car and be independent in every way, yet when the smallest thing happens they become filled with weakness and fear. That is what I say, and every young woman must admit it and not deny it out of arrogance. Of course there are some women who are equal to men and hold responsible positions, but they are the minority.
"Thank God, the matter ended well. After changing the tire, the young man surprised me and allayed my embarrassment and apprehension [by saying], 'Go, Allah be with you.' Then he got into his car and drove away. He did not even expect me to thank him. More than that, he paid a small sum to the Asian man in order to help him. Then my eyes filled with tears, and I did not know if they were tears of joy or of fear. I understood they were tears of joy over the noble spirit of our Qatari brothers and young men, who are so decent and helpful and protective of their sisters… Since that day I have been careful. I do not enter dark areas at night, and I installed a phone charger in the car. Thank god, our country is good and safe and we are proud of it. Thank you."
[1] Al-Sharq (Qatar), July 11, 2022.
