Quote:
Originally Posted by InOne
On a positive note, women may be getting the vote in Saudi by 2015  |
Not "getting the vote" as we know it :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15052030
Quote:
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.
About 10 years ago the king said women should be central to the Saudi economy. Since then, change has been gradual for fear of a religious backlash.
Now, allowing women to stand and vote in municipal elections is a big step towards political reform, even though the municipal councils have very little power.
The right for women to join the all- male Shura Council could turn out to be even more significant as it is the most influential political body in the country. Municipal elections are the only public polls in Saudi Arabia.
More than 5,000 men will compete in municipal elections on Thursday - the second-ever in the kingdom - to fill half the seats in local councils. The other half are appointed by the government.
The next municipal elections are due in four years' time.
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