28 September 2016

Thousands of women storm Saudi King’s office demanding basic freedoms

Around 2,500 protesters bombarded the King’s office over the weekend demanding an end to the highly restrictive male guardianship system, while at least 14,000 others signed a petition.

Activist Aziza Al-Yousef, who was arrested in 2013 for deliberately breaking the country’s ban on women driving, started the petition.

She and another activist tried to deliver it by hand to the Royal Court on Monday, but were told to send it by post instead.

The law currently requires women to seek permission from their father, brother or other male relative before travelling abroad, getting married or leaving prison.Many employers and universities also require a guardian’s consent for female students and employees, and women may even need permission to access healthcare. [Howdy Earth] Read more