I am writing with regard to the article "Despite legal protection, Saudi women reluctant to claim rights" (Dec. 13). If a woman's guardian does not give her her rights and she takes him to court, what will happen? She may lose the case and end up worse off. Or she may win the case and spend the rest of her life living with an angry man now eager to get revenge in which case she is still worse off. The "rights" of women mean nothing when they must continue to live with abusers and have no power or freedom to run their lives. Isn't this obvious? Ilham, Online response