Historic First: Saudi King Grants Women the Right to Vote, Run for Local Office
- Posted on September 25, 2011 at 12:30pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Saudi King Abdullah granted women the right to vote and run in local elections Sunday, a historic first for the ultra-conservative Muslim country where women are subjected to many restrictions. (AFP File Photo)
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (The Blaze/AP) — Saudi King Abdullah announced Sunday that the nation’s women will gain the right to vote and run as candidates in local elections to be held in 2015 in a major advancement for the rights of women in the deeply conservative Muslim kingdom.
In an annual speech before his advisory assembly, or Shura Council, the Saudi monarch said he ordered the step after consulting with the nation’s top religious clerics, whose advice carries great weight in the kingdom.
“We refuse to marginalize the role of women in Saudi society and in every aspect, within the rules of Sharia,” Abdullah said, referring to the Islamic law that governs many aspects of life in the kingdom.
The right to vote is by far the biggest change introduced by Abdullah, considered a reformer, since he became the country’s de facto ruler in 1995 during the illness of King Fahd. Abdullah formally ascended to the throne upon Fahd’s death in August 2005.
Saudi King Abdullah (AFP File Photo)
The kingdom’s great oil wealth and generous handouts to citizens have largely insulated it from the unrest sweeping the Arab world. But the king has taken steps to quiet rumblings of discontent that largely centered on the eastern oil-producing region populated by the country’s Shiite Muslim minority.
Mindful of the unrest, which reached Saudi Arabia’s doorstep with street protests and a deadly crackdown in neighboring Bahrain, King Abdullah pledged roughly $93 billion in financial support to boost jobs and services for Saudis in March.
Seizing on the season of protest in the Arab world, Saudi women‘s groups have also staged public defiance of the kingdom’s ban on female driving. Saudi authorities went relatively easy on the women, who took to the roads earlier this year and gained worldwide attention through social media.
Abdullah said the changes announced Sunday would also allow women to be appointed to the Shura Council, the advisory body selected by the king that is currently all-male.
The council, established in 1993, offers opinions on general policies in the kingdom and debates economic and social development plans and agreements signed between the kingdom and other nations.
Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, follows deeply conservative social traditions and adheres closely to a strict version of Islam. Despite Abdullah’s attempts to push through some social reforms, women still cannot drive and the sexes are segregated in public.
Saudi Arabia held its first-ever municipal elections in 2005.
The kingdom will hold its next municipal elections on Thursday, but women will not be able to vote or run in those contests.
In announcing the reforms, Abdullah sought to ground his decision in religion.
“Muslim women in our Islamic history have demonstrated positions that expressed correct opinions and advice,” he said, citing examples from the era of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century.
He said the members of Saudi Arabia’s clerical council, or Ulema, praised and supported his decision.
He also acknowledged the yearning for greater social freedoms in the kingdom.
“Balanced modernization, which falls within our Islamic values, is an important demand in an era where there is no place for defeatist or hesitant people,” he said.
In January, a group of female activists launched a campaign on social networking websites to push the kingdom to allow women to vote and run in the municipal elections.
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Comments (68)
Lloyd Drako
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 2:42pmThe problem is not the reform, the problem is that it was handed down as a royal decree. The rule of Sharia law would at least be the rule of some law, but Saudi Arabia hasn’t really even gotten that far yet.
Will women be able to drive themselves to the polls?
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 3:20pmWhat the #%&* do you think Sharia law is? Of course Saudi Arabia has sharia law. There is not committee or vote in sharia law, if some imam says that it is sharia, the state acts on that. In this case, if the head cheese just pronounces something, and if some imam argues with it, they will just kill him, and then a different imam will say that it is compliant with sharia law. It is a never ending series of various Muslims forcing their will on others always fighting over what is or is not sharia. Muhammad literally made verses up as he went along in order to get whatever it was he wanted at that moment. Allah is totally capricious. There is no order or justice in Islam or sharia.
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 3:42pmMy point exactly. So long as you have a royal despotism, Sharia law–or any law–is neither here nor there.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 8:56pmSure you can vote just don’t be surprised by a bullet to the head after! What a joke!
Report Post »classicalgas
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 2:41pmThey can vote, but must be guided by men. Otherwise, they wouldn’t know what to do.
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 2:21pmThe problem with this is that the fools in the West will cite this as an example of so-called reform. It would be like the Nazis making some token gesture to humanity and then everyone getting all excited about that. So maybe in another 50 years some other exciting reform? How many years before Christians are allowed to build churches there? The Saudis, Islam, Muslims, are sickening. What truly vile people, I spit on them and their prophet who is in Hell.
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 2:21pmVery good idea and I hope it works out. God loves all his children and nobody should be abused. When we die we decay so our souls go to Heaven not our bodies……. Do what is right not wrong, Tell the truth not lies, love not hate, and love thy God with all your heart and soul. Life is short but eternity is forever. GOD LOVES ALL
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 2:27pmWake up twit, Muhammad rejected Christ, rebelled against God. Allah in the Bible is called Satan. Muslims hate you and your religion. “Tell the truth not lies, love not hate” – so what are you going to do about Islam which is full of lies and hate, about Jews, about God, about Jesus, about you? Christ never called Christians to be twits, he never called Christians to be “nice” to evil.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 11:25pmThere are only evil acts;no human is evil. People are misguided when they do evil deeds or believe things to be good and true that arn’t.Of course we are responsible for evil acts we commit and satan only is evil and even he can choose at every moment to cease to be evil. Your simplistic good vs. evil world view where muslims are existentially evil is itself an evil view. You’re as misguided as the muslims who you have dehumanized and demonized.Your hatred of islam is putting your professed faith in Christ and all it entails to the test. Muslims are a stumbling block for you[all your hate filled anti muslims "christians"]You are the ones with malice in your hearts . They are true believers and sincerely believe they are conforming to the will of God[Allah means God].Their acts of violence in recent yrs. are political in nature- and we too even as christians commit acts of violence for political reasons and always have.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 11:45pmBoth christians and jews lived in muslim majority lands peacefully till recently[ till colonialism and zionist interlopers divied the land and pitted christians against muslims by favoring christian-and european zionists took over the homes and lands of native christians and muslims arabs]. The separate faiths had their own court systems. There would not be any arab christians or arab jews in the world if muslims had been intolerent of other faiths all along. if people choose to form theocratic governments that is their right and their business .Not every country has to be a secular society. if people freely are choosing to have an islamic state then as long as whatever other indigenous religions are there are accommodated fairly then so what.As they were prior to western meddling. They don’t have other faiths in arabia because the indigenopus people there are muslim and have been muslim since the inception of islam. Why would a non muslim want to go live in an islamic thocracy. if a native converts from islam then the laws and norms of that society would conflict with the persons non muslim beliefs. Such a native should emigrate out. There is no reason why an indigenous people cannot choose a thocracy for themselves.If one day they themselves reform or abandon their faith then perhaps they’ll switch to secularism. Who are we to impose secularism on indigenous people?Live and let live. The world does not have to look like america. The world and its peoples don’t belong u
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 2:17pmSoooooooo, how many of these women will vote for Obumbler? I’m sure Dear Leader will see to it that their votes get counted here somehow.
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 2:15pmI don’t think this will happen, it doesn’t kick in till 2015, and by then they’ll change it! Until they let their women actually be human beings, things will not change.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 2:35pmWomen there are educated and work. So it’s not like they have been barefoot and pregnant all this time.
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 2:39pm“trying” to take a stab at christians, nice try…hey about you go over to saudi arabia, see how woman are treated and report back to us..bet you won”t be so smug then, Rose!
Report Post »uncleherbert
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 9:35pmReally rose-allen? Your logic is pathectic.Can not leave the house with out a family member!
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 2:03pmYes, we will let them run for office…of course, there will be 20 screaming goatflockers behind them, waving machetes & chasing them every step of the way.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 12:00amOf course women and children are beaten and killed every day in this country. too. And it wasn‘t so long ago when we wern’t so different regarding women in this country.Culture is transmitted by women-this latest accomodation to women is a result of a fledging womens movement being recognized. But women have workd and been educated there for a long time. I’m sure the men their believe they are protecting women by not letting them drive or go out alone. This was a desert -non technologically advanced society not too long ago.Roaming about alone could be dangerous for a woman[and women get assaulted here too] They haven’t quite caught up culturally with their21stc tecnologigy[streets lights, cell phones dialing 911 to summon the police etc] so they still have that desert tribal culture that has to protect women.Of course women are property in a patriarchy-same with us till recently.Though under islam they had more power. Any way things are changing. It’s their business how “liberated’ the culture gets.
Report Post »M13
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 2:03pmHow many of these women who declare a run for office will even be alive come election day? because once they do declare they will be a target for asassination.
Report Post »eshaw380
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 1:58pmWow! Sharia is starting to look like a wonderful idea!!! We should use it here. Can we still beat our wives, daughters, and others wives and daughters?? I yes, then count me in!! (sarcasim)
Report Post »CanDan
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 1:57pmis this a joke
as good as the one where men should beat their wives only where it can’t be seen, then put them in a burka
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 1:53pmCome on girl! Show me what you‘re workin’ with!
Report Post »Look4DBigPicture
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 1:49pmThe Muslim Brotherhood’s not gonna be happy about this. Looks like he’ll be the next in line to be ousted.
A couple of years ago, I interviewed with a Saudi who told me part of my job description was to drive his wife and children around. Before I left the interview, he told me he’d love for me to work for him, and I told him no thank you.
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 1:48pmThings on the WOMEN’S BALLOT in Saudi:
Would you like to be beaten with:
a) a broomstick.
b) a whip
c) fists
Would you like to wear:
a) a black burqua
b) a blue burqua
c) a red burqua
Would you like to marry:
a) your cousin the doctor
b) a stranger you never met but you’re already best friends with his 3rd wife
c) the imam at the local mosque who’s been giving you the eye
Would you like to be ruled by:
Report Post »a) a bloodthirsty arrogant Saudi prince
b) a bloodthirsty hateful Imam
c) Mohamar Quaddafi
Jenny Lind
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 1:42pmIt’s a start. Hope it goes well for them and they get to elect some give them a voice, of course, within Sharia law.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 1:34pmWomen can vote in 2015….but will it count???
Report Post »out of many one
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 1:25pmWhat the king giveth, the king can taketh away.
Report Post »hi
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 1:19pmMaybe they can vote not to have their private parts mutilated nor be stoned to death if they are raped.
Report Post »mooshoo
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 12:58pmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolition_of_slavery_timeline
Report Post »mooshoo
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 12:57pmReal progress.
Report Post »In 1962 slavery becomes illegal in Saudi.
In 1972 slavery becomes illegal in Kwait….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolition_of_slavery_timeline
Steve
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 12:56pmArab Spring coming soon.
Report Post »db321
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 1:02pmCan’t wait – I’m spring cleaning my Weaponssssssssssssss
Report Post »Sy Kosys
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 12:56pmAs a TEA Party supporter, and conservative fellow, I am opposed to this “women voting” thing.
I mean, come ON………
Report Post »Legal Immigrant
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 1:32pmMs. Wasserman-Shultz?
Your comment is quite uncalled for.
Report Post »Sy Kosys
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 1:51pmFor someone who uses sarcasm so frequently, you sure don’t recognize it in others…..
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 4:29pmLol… he might be a recent LEGAL IMMIGRANT. Might take him awhile to get with the funny American sarcasm program. Hopefully he in training as we write. Or maybe HE was trying to be sarcastic…
Report Post »Kneale
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 12:54pmCan’t you just see seven of them in a debate, looking like black clothes pins. Still can’t run for King.
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 12:51pmThey can vote, but they can’t drive themselves to the polls, or testify against a man.
Report Post »db321
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 12:57pmAnd if they vote for the wrong person they get their nose cut off or stoned.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 12:47pmWonderful news, hopefully it will work out and he will keep his promise.
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 12:45pmIn another twenty-five years, you’ll be able to shake their hands in broad daylight.
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on September 25, 2011 at 4:42pmMaybe!!
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:31pmOh dear, maybe I should have put that in quotes. Did no-one recognize that line from “Blazing Saddles”?
Report Post »