Saudi women get the vote! Takbeer!

TPOS —

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

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

The move was welcomed by activists who have called for greater rights for women in the kingdom, which enforces a strict version of Sunni Islamic law.

The changes will occur after municipal polls on Thursday, the king said.

King Abdullah announced the move in a speech at the opening of the new term of the Shura Council - the formal body advising the king, whose members are all appointed.

"Because we refuse to marginalise women in society in all roles that comply with sharia, we have decided, after deliberation with our senior 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."

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17 comments

#1

Bilan Sun, 25 Sep 2011 - 19:44

THEY DIDNT ALREADY?! geez, I knew they were bad with some things, but the VOTE?! God! How it must suck to be a woman in Saudi! They might let them drive in the next millenia if things keep up! wahey...(!) Such fishes..

"Because we refuse to marginalise women in society in all roles that comply with sharia.." Baloney!

#4

The Lamp Wed, 28 Sep 2011 - 17:26

Great! A Move in the right direction; however, "a strict version of Sunni Islam"? What the hell?
There is no real Islamic rationale that can be used to justify barring women from voting.

#5

You Wed, 28 Sep 2011 - 18:18

A woman has recently been sentenced to lashes for driving in saudi (she had a mahram in the passenger seat). a few more are up for trial in the near future.

#6

Bilan Wed, 28 Sep 2011 - 18:26

YouA woman has recently been sentenced to lashes for driving in saudi (she had a mahram in the passenger seat). a few more are up for trial in the near future.

:neutral: please, someone smack these people! or pull their beards :/

are women not allowed to go out at all without their mahrams?

and +1 with Lamp

#7

lollywood Wed, 28 Sep 2011 - 18:59

YouA woman has recently been sentenced to lashes for driving in saudi (she had a mahram in the passenger seat). a few more are up for trial in the near future.

These kind of things get me angry
No wonder why people think and say Muslims are still living in the stone ages

#9

lollywood Wed, 28 Sep 2011 - 19:12

Ocean
Bleep the Oil! Scotland has Windfarms!

But will they share it with us? if Alax Salmond gets his way they are soon going to be an independent nation

#11

Bilan Wed, 28 Sep 2011 - 20:09

Ocean

ThE pOwEr Of SiLeNcE
OceanI think we should boycott Saudi until they give women some REAL liberation!

boycott? how?

Like you boycott Israel.

Thats very unlikely with Hajj/Ummrah

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