25 September 2011
BBC News

Women in Saudi Arabia are to be given the right to vote and run in municipal elections, the Gulf Kingdom's King Abdullah has announced.

He said they would also have the right to be appointed to the consultative Shura Council.

The news will be welcomed by activists who have long called for greater rights for women in the ultra-conservative kingdom.

The changes will take effect from next year, the king said. King Abdullah announced the move in a speech at the opening of the new term of the Shura Council.

"Because we refuse to marginalise women in society in all roles that comply with sharia, we have decided, after deliberation with our senior ulama [clerics] and others... to involve women in the Shura Council as members, starting from next term," he said.

"Women will be able to run as candidates in the municipal election and will even have a right to vote."

The BBC's world affairs correspondent Emily Buchanan says it is an extraordinary development for women in Saudi Arabia, who are not allowed to drive, or to leave the country unaccompanied.

She says there has been a big debate about the role of women in the country and, although not everyone will welcome the decision, such a reform will ease some of the tension that has been growing over the issue.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15052030

Vote for what ? SA is not a democracy.

If a woman is voted for a public office, how will she function if she is not allowed to be alone with a non related male ?

They'll be allowed to vote and run in municiple elections. Which don't have very much power. According to Wikipedia, there are already 6 women on the Shura.

We had a meeting with a Saudi lawyer once and someone also asked how things are with women's rights and career opportunities there.
He replied: "No problem, all equal, women have all the opportunities! Well, of course they have to work on different floors than us and they can't be invited to any meetings, but otherwise - all equal!"

There are two female pilots on Saudi Arabian Airlines. Their fathers sit in the passenger cabin right behind them on all flights. I expect it to be the same with the Shura. And while the KSA is miles away from democracy, there IS some extent of democracy on a municipal level.

To me, what King Abdullah implements is a bit of "voodoo democracy" but he possibly is right and achieves real progress.

Oops.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15079620

It's a trap!

They'll dress up a few men in veils, long dresses and face coverings (and two well placed coconuts) then parade them in front of the cameras at the voting booths.

We westerners will be none the wiser!

No, you don't understand!!! Those will be DEMOCRATICAL lashes

Not the same thing at all, d'you see?

I was in Bahrain earlier this year and saw plenty of KSA cars being driven by women. Slightly disconcerting in my tiny rental Nissan to know that probably none of them have a driving licence

It's the one step forward, two steps back doctrine. When they get driving licenses, you'll be allowed to decapitate them no problem.

Surely there is a way to blame the U.S for this sorry state of affairs. oder ?

It is the fault of the US, through it's pawn, the zionist devils Israel. Conspiracy. Zionist. Shark. Zionist. 9/11.

If only we could find an honest broker, Anakin, we could defeat the dark side.

I've updated the tags accordingly.

we have a perfect whiteface and contra-auguste couple in EF.

Will you be our honest broker? Do you know a zionist conspirator?

Did you plant the shark? Did you?

The ruins of KSA cars in neighbouring countries of their Kingdom confirms your idea

take her dad/bro/son/husband with her to work?

Get off your Western high horse. There is nothing wrong about a culture where this is de rigueur. It's just different. Jeeez!

Tolerance, people. Tolerance!