RIYADH, Feb 19 (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah on
Tuesday swore in the country’s first female members of the Shura
Council, an appointed body that advises on new laws, in a move
that has riled conservative clerics in the Islamic monarchy.
Abdullah, who has not been seen on television since shortly
after a back operation in November, was shown on state media
sitting in a palace chamber to give a short speech as he swore
in the new council members.
King Abdullah is seen as having pushed to cautiously advance
the role of women in Saudi society.
The health of the king, who turns 90 this year, is closely
watched in the world’s top oil exporter because he has the final
say on policy.
Major speeches in recent months have been made on Abdullah’s
behalf by his heir, Crown Prince Salman. State media have also
listed Salman as chairing the weekly cabinet sessions in place
of the king.
“Your place in the Shura Council is not as those who have
been honoured, but as those who have been charged with a duty,
as you represent part of society,” he said, addressing the new
women members.
One fifth of the new Shura Council are women. The decision
to appoint women to the body, which functions in place of an
elected parliament, was announced in 2011 but their names were
only made public last month.
The Shura Council is remodelling parts of its chamber to
ensure strict gender segregation between members.
Saudi Arabia’s government is entirely appointed by the king,
who is also prime minister. The country’s only elections are for
half the seats on municipal councils that have few powers.
Women will also have the right to vote and stand for office
in the next municipal ballot, Abdullah said in 2011.
The decision to appoint women to the Shura Council prompted
a protest by dozens of conservative clerics outside the royal
court in January.
They complained that the move, and other reforms aimed at
making it easier for women to work, went against sharia law.
In the ultra-conservative kingdom, women are banned from
driving and need the consent of a male “guardian” to work,
travel abroad or open a bank account.
(Reporting by Angus McDowall and Amena Bakr; Editing by Jeremy
Laurence)
