Saudi women have dress code relaxed

WOMEN in Saudi Arabia do not need to wear traditional black abayas, loose-fitting robes, or headscarves, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman has said as he tries to burnish his reformist credentials ahead of his first trip to Washington as heir to the Saudi throne.

The 32-year-old, who met Donald Trump at the White House yesterday, said Saudis had come a very long way and had a short way to go to roll back laws that have restricted Saudi women for decades.

“Saudi women still have not received their full rights. There are rights stipulated in Islam that they still don’t have,” the prince said.

“The laws are very clear and stipulated in the laws of sharia: that women wear decent, respectful clothing, like men,” he said.

“This does not specify a black abaya or a black head cover. The decision is entirely left for a women to decide what type of decent and respectful attire she chooses to wear.”

Black abayas are not mandatory for women in Saudi Arabia but they are so widely worn that they are strongly associated with the conservative kingdom.

The prince’s comments will be taken as a sign of his ambition to ease further Saudi Arabia’s social laws and customs.

Prince Mohammed has pushed through widespread domestic reforms since rising to power, including allowing women to drive, attend football games and join the military.

However, he has not rolled back the male guardianship laws, which make it almost impossible for women to travel, work, or get married without permission from a male relative.

Human Rights Watch calls the laws the most significant impediment to women’s rights in Saudi Arabia.