Without going into the content of the upcoming lecture, many users on Facebook and Twitter became judgmental and started writing reciprocal comments, forcing the academy to make a public statement on its account on Facebook.
“We are a Muslim society with a common God and a common prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). We as far as Almighty forces are concerned have escaped bias, since we will have to answer for it. The meaning of the headline can be understood as follows: a woman is either at a high level, the middle one or the lowest. Unfortunately, many have interpreted the title of low-level understanding of a woman who is our mother, wife, sister or daughter… the title did not dare to underestimate the role of women.”
Despite all efforts of the academy to clarify and explain their point to the public, social media has erupted with slogans and appeals using the hashtag #woman_human (# المرأة_إنسان).
As a result of the outcry the lecture scheduled for March 1, 2016, was canceled. As explained by the Academy the headline was chosen to attract attention.
It should be noted that in 2011, Saudi journalist Ahmad Al-Shuqeiry as part of his program ‘Reflections’ published a video lecture in support of women's rights in society, with the same title “Is woman a human being?” However, no one reacted violently then.
