RIYADH: Describing themselves as activists, a number of Saudi women have launched a campaign supporting the Kingdom's male guardianship system.

As part of the campaign — entitled “My Guardian Knows The Best For Me” — the women have written a letter to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in which they confirmed their full support for an Islamic approach in administering the Kingdom.

The campaign has been launched to counter calls to abandon the Kingdom's guardianship or wali system. In a statement published on the Internet, Rawdah Al-Yousif, the campaign's supervisor and organizer, wrote about “her dismay at the efforts of some who have liberal demands that do not comply with Islamic law (Shariah) or with the Kingdom's traditions and customs.”

Al-Yousif also pointed out in her statement that the campaign’s mission is to promote the voices of Saudi women who reject the “ignorant and vexatious demands” of liberals to do away with the guardianship system. She said guardians protect women and the stipulation that women can only travel with their walis’ approval is in their interests, giving them protection.

Al-Yousif said the campaign is supported by Saudi women belonging to all sections of society and it is currently working to collect votes on its website.

The campaign has received mixed reactions from both genders, something that former Shoura Council member Ibrahim Al-Belaihi, a champion of Islamic values, says is natural. “Approval is expected even more as the concept is deeply rooted in our society; it is a norm rather than a religious issue and people usually respond to what they are accustomed to,” said Al-Belaihi, adding that what is unusual and different normally poses a problem.

Al-Belaihi sees the guardianship as a social custom that people are used to and which has a basis in the Qur'an, citing the verse that people should obey their guardians and those in authority.

“Organizing life is a responsibility and crucial in ensuring chaos does not prevail. In democratic countries, obedience to the authority is an obligation,” said Al-Belaihi.

The former Shoura member considers guardianship a political issue and not a religious one. He believes the authorities should put an end to the system or regulate it in a way that does not go against the ethos of Islam should it prove harmful to women. “Who categorizes women as incompetent?” said Al-Belaihi.

He added that society is preoccupied with minor matters while ignoring the guardianship issue that affects half of society.

A high level source at the National Society for Human Rights, who requested anonymity, suggested a change in the campaign’s logo. “Calling it ‘My Guardian Should Know The Best For Me’ is a better way to reflect what society really needs,” he said, adding that many guardians abuse their authority.

“The guardianship concept has specific regulations and guidelines in Shariah. If the guardian fails to meet these regulations then he would lose his guardianship right,” said the source, adding that encouraging the practice of those guidelines is a combined social responsibility.

“The Kingdom's educational system at various levels, its religious bodies, mosques, human rights agencies and the judicial system should come together on this,” said the source, adding that the topic is broad and that a campaign with no real comprehension of what both sides require is not a proper reflection of wider society.

Meanwhile, as the campaign creates a stir, even the activists behind it disagree over who has the exclusive rights to launch it.