Women in Saudi Arabia to vote and run in elections

[Dougie Do'ins]

Didn't see this coming.

 

Women in Saudi Arabia to vote and run in elections

 

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.

 

The move was welcomed by activists who have called for greater rights for women in the kingdom, which enforces a strict version of Sunni Islamic law.

 

The changes will occur after municipal polls on Thursday, the king said.

 

King Abdullah announced the move in a speech at the opening of the new term of the Shura Council - the formal body advising the king, whose members are all appointed.

 

"Because we refuse to marginalise women in society in all roles that comply with sharia, we have decided, after deliberation with our senior clerics and others... to involve women in the Shura Council as members, starting from next term," he said.

 

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

 

BBC News - Women in Saudi Arabia to vote and run in elections

[dennis tooth]

Foreign fighters support Israel's settlements - Features - Al Jazeera English

[kelster]

Foreign fighters support Israel's settlements - Features - Al Jazeera English

 

Am I missing something here? Thought this was about Saudi Arabian women being allowed to vote.

 

Anyhow, what exactly does the right to vote mean in an Islamic absolute monarchy?

[Cardie]

Worlds gone mad, they'll be letting them in pubs next.

[Cath]

It's good but they'll need a lift

[Trumo]

They'll open their first Mecca Bingo next.

[Beantown Red]

It is basically just a puppet parliament anyway. They can only propose things.

[VladimirIlyich]

They'll have them working behind bars in pubs next,oh sorry I forgot.

[Dicko]

The Arab spring ruined by a monumentally backward step.

 

This educational video shows how dangerous this can be.

 

[YOUTUBE]LS37SNYjg8w[/YOUTUBE]

[mlwilliams]

It's the end of the world.

[Section_31]

Is there anyone to vote for?

[polymerpunkah]

"vote and run in elections"

 

Shouldn't that read "vote in elections and run away from screaming mobs of men armed with sticks and swords"?

 

Bloody savages.

[Paulie Dangerously]

Probably shitting themselves in case there's an uprising

[Strontium]

Wouldn't like to be the person who has the job of verifying voter identities.

 

"Bint in a black hood? Sorry, you've already voted love."

[silverlining]

"vote and run in elections"

 

Shouldn't that read "vote in elections and run away from screaming mobs of men armed with sticks and swords"?

 

Bloody savages.

 

8 posts in and stirring up controversy already eh, "polymer punkah"?

[redsoxs]

They still cut heads off, yet allow women to vote.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

Probably shitting themselves in case there's an uprising

 

They're more than capable of crushing any uprising in Saudi. There'll be no intervention there, liberal or otherwise. I doubt there'd even be a muttering of condemnation from the US or GB.

 

Anyway, it's a completely empty gesture. Pointless. Democracy goes well beyond the right to vote.

[Elmyn Noos]

Mohammed H Christ they'll be letting the poofs in next.

[Strontium]

In all seriousness, nobody honestly thinks the women will be allowed to exercise a free vote, do they? It'll be just like it is in this country and elsewhere: the male head of the household decides for them.

 

Might as well just give men an extra vote for every woman he owns and have done with it.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

It'll be just like it is in this country and elsewhere: the male head of the household decides for them.

 

I'm sure that does happen sometimes, but is there any reason you've made it into a blanket statement; is there anything to back that up?

[Strontium]

It wasn't meant to be a blanket statement, for the most part I was thinking of those households in this country that practice (unofficial) polygamy

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

It wasn't meant to be a blanket statement, for the most part I was thinking of those households in this country that practice (unofficial) polygamy

 

Oh, I see. Quite different from what you actually said. Nevermind. I do wonder how much polygamy actually goes on in the UK though. Not something I've ever come across.

[silverlining]

In all seriousness, nobody honestly thinks the women will be allowed to exercise a free vote, do they? It'll be just like it is in this country and elsewhere: the male head of the household decides for them.

 

Might as well just give men an extra vote for every woman he owns and have done with it.

 

Tee hee.

[silverlining]

Mohammed H Christ they'll be letting the poofs in next.

 

And allow you to bum-rape dogs. Or is it the other way around they don't approve of?

 

I forget, I'll have to ask Paulie Dangerously, he's the expert.

[Strontium]

Oh, I see. Quite different from what you actually said. Nevermind. I do wonder how much polygamy actually goes on in the UK though. Not something I've ever come across.

 

 

It's in the news at the moment which is probably why it's fresh in my mind

 

BBC News - The British Muslim men who love 'both their wives'