Saudi Women Votes for the First Time

• Saudi Arabian women voted for the first time on Saturday in local council elections and also stood as candidates. This is considered as historic step by some activist while some considered it just symbolic.
• Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy with some of the world’s tightest restrictions on women. It was the last country to allow only men to vote.
• Women candidates could not directly meet any male voters during their campaigns.
• Election campaign was “not really” fair because of the segregation and a rule against any candidates publishing their own picture

Condition of women in Saudi Arabia

• Sex segregation is justified under shariah law . Sex segregation is strictly monitored by the government's Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (the religious police) in all workplaces with the exception of hospitals.
• Due to  alleged women lack of capacity there is  requirement of  guardian for them. Women cannot marry, pursue higher education, open a bank account, apply for passport, travelling abroad without the permission of guardian.
• Women are forced to follow a dress code of head scarf and black cloack.
• There is high female expectancy(77 years) and literacy(82%) in Saudi Arabia , but still it lags behind in gender equality.
• it is nearly impossible for victims of domestic violence to independently seek protection or obtain legal redress.
• There is also low women participation in work place(only 13 %).
• Saudi Arabia is the only country in world where women can be arrested for driving.

By: Vishal