Suffrage in Saudi Arabia

R

Rune

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

25 September 2011 Last updated at 11:12 ET [h=3]Share this page[/h]
Share this page
37,137


[h=1]Women in Saudi Arabia to vote and run in elections[/h]Comments (498)
_55574477_saudiwomen2_afp.jpg
Saudi women face severe restrictions in their working and personal lives
Continue reading the main story [h=2]Related Stories[/h]
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."
 
What is really behind this;

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/world/middleeast/19saudi.html

Amid Protests, Saudi King Raises Benefits but Strengthens Security[h=6]By REUTERS[/h][h=6]Published: March 18, 2011[/h]




RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) — Hundreds of Saudi Shiites in the eastern part of the kingdom protested peacefully on Friday in support of Shiites in Bahrain, as King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia offered $93 billion more in benefits and strengthened his security and religious police forces.

[h=3]Related[/h]

Five protests in and around the eastern region’s main Shiite center, Qatif, were peaceful, said an activist who would not be publicly identified. “There was no fighting between the police and demonstrators.”
Protesters shouted, “One people not two people — the people of Qatif and Bahrain!” the activist said, adding that demonstrators also called for the release of Shiite prisoners in Saudi Arabia. As many as 40 protesters had been arrested over the last two days in demonstrations in Eastern Province, the site of most of Saudi Arabia’s oil fields, activists said.
Saudi Shiites complain that they are discriminated against and that they often struggle to get senior jobs in the government, which is led by a Sunni monarchy, as well as benefits available to other citizens. The government of Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy that usually does not tolerate public dissent, always denies the accusations.
Earlier on Friday, King Abdullah made a rare televised speech, thanking Saudis for not staging large pro-democracy protests similar to those sweeping other countries in the Middle East and the conservative gulf Arab region.
Last month the king unveiled handouts worth an estimated $37 billion to ease social pressures, and on Friday he offered $93 billion more in benefits and spending. Saudi Arabia this week sent 1,000 troops to Bahrain, also led by a Sunni monarchy, to help contain pro-democracy protests. Bahrain then declared martial law and used force to break up the main protest camp led by the majority Shiite Muslims.
Web activists had scheduled March 11 as the first day for mass protests around Saudi Arabia in support of democratic government and a constitutional, rather than absolute, monarchy. But a religious ruling banning demonstrations and a heavy police crackdown appeared to have intimidated most potential protesters.
 
Not mentioned in this story but seen elsewhere; These financial benefits rely on continued high oil prices.

Since oil appears to be dropping, will the King keep his word?
 
Yurt said:
i don't see how granting women the right to vote in an extremely conservative islamic state, will help him from becoming the next gaddafi.
Click to expand...
The Arab world is clammering for democracy. Success in libya, egypt, iraq, etc have made them even more determined and eager for it. If they can get small changes like this peacefully, then it'll be slow and smooth, which benefits kin saud.
 
Everybody DANCE! said:
The Arab world is clammering for democracy. Success in libya, egypt, iraq, etc have made them even more determined and eager for it. If they can get small changes like this peacefully, then it'll be slow and smooth, which benefits kin saud.
Click to expand...


What makes you think the 'democracy' they're "clamoring" for will look anything like you want it to?
 
Everybody DANCE! said:
The Arab world is clammering for democracy. Success in libya, egypt, iraq, etc have made them even more determined and eager for it. If they can get small changes like this peacefully, then it'll be slow and smooth, which benefits kin saud.
Click to expand...

democracy, sure, but SA for women's suffrage i'm not so sure. they aren't even allowed to drive. i don't see the citizens rising up if women aren't allowed to vote.
 
Billy's just pissed because Islamic law forbids consumption of alcohol and pornography.
 
I wonder why the righties are so concerned with womens' rights in other countries, yet they don't seem to care about them here. They don't dare deny it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top