Saudi Arabian Women Granted Voting Rights

[mlr52]

Saudi Arabian Women Granted Voting Rights

    by Kristina C. September 25, 2011  1:57 pm

Saudi Arabia’s king Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud announced on Sunday that women will be given the right to vote and to run in future municipal elections. Women will also be able to join the advisory Shura Council, a formal body that advises the king and that is said to be the most influential political body in the country. Said the king in a five-minute speech:

“Because we refuse to marginalise women in society in all roles that comply with sharia (Islamic law), 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.”

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

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/saudi-arabian-women-granted-voting-rights.html#ixzz1Z3GkMprZ


Other websites:

http://www.ksee24.com/news/local/Saudi-Arabia-Women-Granted-Voting-Rights-130528228.html

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Women-in-Saudi-Arabia-get-voting-rights/Article1-750075.aspx

[HeartShadow]

 
*falls over in shock*

That's amazing.  I never thought I'd see the day.

[Shadow]

Saudi Arabian Women Granted Voting Rights

    by Kristina C. September 25, 2011  1:57 pm

 
There is still a long way to go but this is definitely a massive step in the right direction

[RandallS]

Saudi Arabian Women Granted Voting Rights

It's a decent first step.

[Catherine]

It's a decent first step.

I agree, and I want to be really happy about it. I just can't help wondering what kind of opposition they might have to face at the polls, or how many of them will be stopped from voting by male relatives, intimidation tactics, etc. I hope it doesn't turn ugly.

But yay! It is a step in the right direction!

[KittyVel]

I agree, and I want to be really happy about it. I just can't help wondering what kind of opposition they might have to face at the polls, or how many of them will be stopped from voting by male relatives, intimidation tactics, etc. I hope it doesn't turn ugly.

 
I was thinking something similar.  But yay, this is a huge step!

[hufflee]

Saudi Arabian Women Granted Voting Rights

   

 
*Jaw on keyboard*  Wow! It's about time!

[Owl]

*Jaw on keyboard*  Wow! It's about time!

Now if only they could drive......

[Asch]

I agree, and I want to be really happy about it. I just can't help wondering what kind of opposition they might have to face at the polls, or how many of them will be stopped from voting by male relatives, intimidation tactics, etc. I hope it doesn't turn ugly.

But yay! It is a step in the right direction!

I am sadly positive that women will be maimed and killed if they attempt to vote or hold municipal office etc. Basically, I'll believe it when I see it but I suspect a great deal of blood and agony is still to be shed

[Owl]

I am sadly positive that women will be maimed and killed if they attempt to vote or hold municipal office etc. Basically, I'll believe it when I see it but I suspect a great deal of blood and agony is still to be shed

 
Yep - they still get whipped for driving.

http://news.yahoo.com/saudi-woman-10-lashes-driving-car-143131274.html;_ylt=Alz_Onh3i7.mQW4gTgeFFPdvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTNqMmhwcWFsBG1pdAMEcGtnAzU3M2MwNDk1LTM4N2YtM2E5Ny1hZWJmLTU5MjgzYmI0YzUyNgRwb3MDMTAEc2VjA2xuX01pZGRsZUVhc3RfZ2FsBHZlcgM5NTRmMzJiMC1lOTE3LTExZTAtYjdmZC02MGEyMTEwOGQyNmU-;_ylv=3

[Lokabrenna]

Saudi Arabian Women Granted Voting Rights

*blinks* Okay, I must've woken up in Bizarro World again...

Seriously, this is great news! It's a small step, but at least it's a step forward and not backwards.

[sailor]

Yep - they still get whipped for driving.

http://news.yahoo.com/saudi-woman-10-lashes-driving-car-143131274.html;_ylt=Alz_Onh3i7.mQW4gTgeFFPdvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTNqMmhwcWFsBG1pdAMEcGtnAzU3M2MwNDk1LTM4N2YtM2E5Ny1hZWJmLTU5MjgzYmI0YzUyNgRwb3MDMTAEc2VjA2xuX01pZGRsZUVhc3RfZ2FsBHZlcgM5NTRmMzJiMC1lOTE3LTExZTAtYjdmZC02MGEyMTEwOGQyNmU-;_ylv=3

 
Whipping is not that bad for some values of bad.  I'm expecting many women who try and vote to be killed by their families, now that is bad.

[mandrina]

Whipping is not that bad for some values of bad.  I'm expecting many women who try and vote to be killed by their families, now that is bad.

 
And yet, I understand other countries that are also under sharia law allow women to drive and vote and run for office.  (don't ask me which,  i could be completely wrong here, but that's what I thought.)  PAkistan?

[Skyth]

Whipping is not that bad for some values of bad.  I'm expecting many women who try and vote to be killed by their families, now that is bad.

 
Depends on how they are killed.  Generally, I rate torture as worse than death on the scale of badness.

[sailor]

Depends on how they are killed.  Generally, I rate torture as worse than death on the scale of badness.

 
They'd probably be whipped to death.