Saudi women for the first time began to register as candidates on Sunday for municipal polls in the kingdom where they face a host of restrictions, including a driving ban.
Earlier this month, in another first, women started to register as voters at centres run by all-female staff, separate from registration facilities for Saudi males.
Women in the Gulf state are banned from driving and have to cover in public from head to toe.
They also have to obtain the consent of a male guardian to travel, work, apply for a passport or to marry.
The late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2011 granted women the right to vote and run as candidates in this year’s local elections, saying: “We refuse to marginalise women’s role in Saudi society.”
Saudi-funded newspaper Al Hayat said earlier this month that around 200 women had expressed interest in running as candidates in the December 12 vote.
Candidate registration is to run until September 17, while voter registration ends on September 14… see more
source: khaleejtimes
Tags: Saudia arabia, women, Women Voters
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