Women to vote in Saudi Arabia

Women shall be entitled to vote in Saudi Arabia after their king so decide

The women may participate in the 2015 municipal elections as voters and candidates.

King Abdullah bin Abdelaziz appealed to the Muslim woman has had "positions that can not be marginalized."

Saudi Arabia is the only state in the Gulf Cooperation Council Persian does not allow female participation.

The king of Saudi Arabia , Abdullah bin Abdelaziz, has decided on Sunday to allow the inclusion of women in the Shura Council (consultative) and participate in municipal elections in four years, both as voters and as candidates.

Saudi Arabia held its first elections in 2005, and women may participate in the 2015 The monarch made the announcement in a speech to the Shura Council, a sort of Parliament, although no legislative powers.

"Everyone knows that Muslim women in Islamic history has been our position that can not be marginalized , as well as for his good opinion as good reference, since the era of the prophet, "said Bin Abdelaziz, according to news agency State SPA.

The new king's provisions will affect local elections next Thursday, in which women do not participate, like in 2005, the first held in the country.

As for the Shura Council, appointed directly by the king, women have never participated since its inception in 1992.

In fact, Saudi Arabia is the only state in the Gulf Cooperation Council Persian integrated by Emirates, Oman, Tasting, Baréin and Kuwait with an advisory council which is not allowed female participation.

In the absence of a parliament elected by the people, the Advisory Council are responsible for providing recommendations and advice in the internal affairs of the kingdom, but have no power of censorship or government control.

The riots in other countries encouraged women to protest their situation, and some driving ban defied Saudi Arabia is ruled by a monarchy with absolute power and it applies a strict interpretation of sharia, or Islamic law, which imposes segregation sex in public places. Women can not drive nor travel abroad without a male relative, among other restrictions.

However, in recent months, and the heat of the Arab spring, the Saudis have participated in several protests, the largest on 17 June, when several activists defied the ban on driving and dared to drive their cars.

On August 24, police detained the activist Mayla Hariri challenge that ban in the city of Jeddah in western Saudi Arabia.

International organizations such as Amnesty International have urged the authorities of the kingdom to stop treating women as second class citizens and were granted rights .