Questions follow Saudi king's promise on women's rights

[Hoosier Daddy]

Source: CNN Website

(CNN) -- A day after Saudi King Abdullah announced greater political participation for women in the future, some Saudis questioned just how big a change may really be on the horizon.

Some women's rights activists who were initially elated by Sunday's announcement said they were feeling disappointed because the changes do not kick in immediately. "We don't really think now that we've been promised a real right," said one.

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King Abdullah announced two changes Sunday, which would be historic for Saudi Arabia. He said women will be allowed to serve as members of the Shura Council, the Consultative Council that advises the king. Its 150 members are appointed. The king also said women will be allowed to run as candidates and nominate candidates in the next set of municipal elections. It is unknown when those may ultimately take place.

The changes do not apply to elections scheduled for this Thursday -- which will be only the second set of elections in the kingdom since 1963.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/26/world/meast/saudi-women-politics/index.html

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Doing the math, this means Saudi women won't actually be voting until 2035.

And they'll probably STILL need a man to drive them to the polling station. :(

[EvilMonsanto]

1. I knew it was too good to be true

I was optimistic though, just because of hope
but deep down I knew it

it's sad :(

[Matilda]

2. Perhaps by 2035,

the Saudi Royal Family may no longer be there.

The Arab Spring may eventually wipe them out.

[russspeakeasy]

3. By 2035 the law will be repealed...

:evilgrin:

[McCamy Taylor]

4. This is more likely to be about consolidating power than about female suffrage.

An easy way to double certain groups votes. Look for strings attached to the right to vote, like being married to an Arab Muslim with property etc.