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Women in Saudi Arabia gain The Right to Vote
Huge movements have been made in Saudi Arabia as women have now been given the right to vote and partake in municipal elections. King Abdullah’s announcement on state T.V explained that women would be able to nominate candidates for the next set municipal elections taking place in the Kingdom.
The move has been celebrated by women’s rights groups throughout the Kingdom, Activist Wajeha Al-Hawaida was reported by CNN as saying: “We welcome Saudi King Abdullah’s announcement today that women will serve as full members of the Shura Council in the next session, and will have the right to participate in future elections…these reforms recognize the significant contributions women in Saudi Arabia make to their society and will offer them new ways to participate in the decisions that affect their lives and communities.”
This new legislation is being seen as a huge move towards gender-equality in Saudi Arabia, with the White House issuing a statement that said “We welcome Saudi King Abdullah’s announcement today that women will serve as full members of the Shura Council in the next session, and will have the right to participate in future elections.”
TIME magazine reported on Hatoon Al-Fassi, a University Lecturer and Women’s Right’s Activist who was thrilled by the recent announcement saying, “I haven’t been able to take my breath…We’re so excited. We believe it’s the response to our demands, the first step in our long struggle to get our rights.”
Given that women in Saudi Arabia have been struggling in the fight towards gender-equality for so long, this announcement comes as a huge step-forward for change in the Kingdom. Many women activists feel that they can now use this development as a platform for gaining other rights such as the right to drive. Facebook and Twitter enthusiasts in the country have been showing their joy at this news, saying that it is “a new day for Saudi Arabian Women.”
We hope that this will give women a chance to continue to voice their opinions and fight the battle against gender-inequality.
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