Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah gives women right to vote, run in municipal elections

Sunday, 25 September 2011

King Abdullah announced that women would have the right to join the all-appointed Shura Council. (File photo)

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By AL ARABIYA WITH AGENCIES
DUBAI

Saudi King Abdullah announced on Sunday he was giving women the right to vote and run in municipal elections, the only public polls in the ultra-conservative Gulf kingdom.

He also announced that women would have the right to join the all-appointed Shura (consultative) Council, in an address opening a new term of the council, AFP reported.

“Because we refuse to marginalize 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 the next term,” he said.

“Women will be able to run as candidates in the municipal election and will even have a right to vote,” he added, according to Reuters.

Activists in the country have long called for greater rights for women, who are barred from travelling, working or having medical operations without the permission of a male relative and are forbidden from driving.

Those changes will come after municipal elections this Thursday, for which women have been barred from voting or standing office.

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