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