Saudi women take seats in Sahura Council for first time
SAUDI ARABIA: Thirty Saudi women took seats in Saudi Arabia’s Shura
Council, for the first time in the ultra-conservative kingdom’s history,
as they were sworn in before King Abdullah on Tuesday at his palace in
Riyadh. The women took their seats in the same room with their 130 male
colleagues and were sworn in collectively, state television said. “The
development we are working at must be gradual,” King Abdullah said in a
brief statement broadcast on state television.
He recommended that the council show “realism” in its discussions and
allow “reason to prevail in issues it has to deal” with.
On January 11, the king appointed the women, which include university
graduates, human rights activists and two princesses, to the body.
AFP
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