An ugly phrase

re: "Saudi woman held at Bangkok airport 'fears death' if repatriated" (BP, January 7)

Dear editor,

The ugly phrase, "Her male guardian," says it all. It proclaims loud and clear that, along with those brainwashed by their self-serving ideology, the men who created and brutally enforce the long-traditional social norms of Saudi Arabia see women, perhaps among others, not as free, equal human persons, but as property to control, as chattels to be managed, doubtless under a pious sham of "protecting their natural inferiors."

This might superficially be "a family matter." It is certainly the despotism of the state writ personal. Although some might argue that such brutish social conventions might once have served a purpose, any such claim requires strong support from a discussion that has never been allowed under censorship laws that, naturally, serve to loyally protect the traditional status quo from exposure of grave moral corruption. Blatantly sexist. brutish, patriarchal, and despotic, "Her male guardian" owners now seek collusion from foreign powers.

 Felix Qui

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The above letter to the editor is the text as submitted by Felix Qui to the Bangkok Post.

The text as edited was published in PostBag on January 8, 2019, under the title "An ugly phrase" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/1607218/abetting-persecution