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Saudi women have the right to stand for election and vote in local elections in the future, said King Abdullah

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia said that women have the right to vote and stand in local elections and future join the Shura Council advice, as full members.

"Because they refuse to marginalize women in society in all roles that are Shariah-compliant, we decided, after consultation with our Senior Ulema [religious] and others .. . to involve women in the Shura Council as members of the next legislature, "said Abdullah, 87, in a speech.

"Women can participate as candidates in municipal elections and even have the right to vote," he said.

liberal activists in the country have been calling for more rights for women, which are banned from travel, work, and medical operations without the consent of a male relative and are prohibited from driving .

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The changes come after Thursday's election, in which women are prohibited from voting or standing for election.

"This is great news," said Wajeha al-Huwaider, a Saudi writer and women's rights activist. "Women's voices will eventually be heard.

"Now is the time to remove other barriers, such as not allowing women to drive cars and not be able to work, live a normal life without male guards. "

militants in the country has long advocated greater rights for women. Governed by an absolute monarchy with the support of conservative Wahhabi clerics in Saudi Arabia is a conservative country where religious police patrol the streets to ensure public segregation between men and women.

King Abdullah has long been pushing conservative political reforms, but in a country where religious conservatives and senior members of the ruling family oppose even minor changes, liberalization has been very gradual.

despite calls to social media events in Saudi Arabia during the Arab spring pro-democracy protests in the Middle East and North Africa, the only notable events is limited to the east, which is home to the country's Shia minority.

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