Saudi Arabia’s king announced on Sunday women would be given the right to vote and stand in elections beginning in 2015. The New York Times examines the decision and its impact here. (Thanks to Wade Edwards for the link)
Sep 27
Suffrage for Saudi Women
2 comments
I blogged on this topic this week as well, responding to the Times article and a previous Times article by Nicholas Kristof entitled “Saudis in Bikinis”: http://elizabethhallmagill.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/under-the-abaya/
“Let’s not praise King Abdullah as a freedom-loving democrat just yet—he’s finally giving Saudi women the right to vote, but not until 2015, and he’s still not letting women drive, says David Keyes.”
Interesting take on how this is a step forward, but still a long ways to go: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/25/saudi-women-s-voting-rights-won-t-start-until-2015.html
Also, an update on the woman who was convicted of driving (which is forbidden in Saudia Arabia), but pardoned from the 10-lash sentence after public outcry: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/09/201192820341050915.html