Saudi Arabia said Friday that it would allow women to travel without the permission of a male relative, loosening a system that rights advocates say has long relegated Saudi women to second-class citizens, dependent on male approval for their most important life decisions.
. The kingdom’s leadership has been embarrassed in recent years by the testimonies of Saudi women who have fled the country, calling attention to what they said were restrictive or abusive conditions imposed by male relatives. Some of those advocates, over decades, had pushed for removal of the ban on women driving, as well the repeal of the guardianship system. As the new regulations were announced on Friday, several of the women’s rights advocates remain imprisoned or temporarily released as they face trial, on charges almost solely related to their activism.
The decrees also said that citizens were entitled to employment without discrimination, including on the basis of gender – a measure aimed at expanding opportunities for women as Saudi Arabia tries to increase their workforce participation.
This isn’t a step forward. Maybe the rest of the western world doesn’t want an invasion
Islam creeping towards the 18th-19th century that encouraging in another 1000 years they may tolerate homosexuality...who knows
Every great step is followed by another. Each step takes all of us towards the beautiful future for all our people. Each beautiful nation looking upwards towards our future together. I love you all, stand united or fall divided. UN
Excellent. In practice though, little will change for quite a a while.