New Saudi order relaxes male guardianship

beirut — A move by Saudi Arabia to give women more control over their life choices by further relaxing a male guardian system was tentatively welcomed on Friday as another step for women in the kingdom.

Women in Saudi Arabia live under the supervision of a male guardian, cannot drive, and must cover themselves in public. They also need approval to travel, study and get some health treatments.

However, local media outlets reported this week that the country’s ruler has issued an order allowing women to benefit from government services such as education and healthcare without getting the consent of a male guardian.

This means women could, in some circumstances, study and access hospital treatment, work in the public and private sector and represent themselves in court without consent of a male guardian, said Maha Akeel, a women’s rights campaigner and a director at Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

“Now at least it opens the door for discussion on the guardian

Some (men) take advantage of this male guardianship for their own benefit and abuse it

Maha Akeel, a rights activist

system,” Akeel said. “Women are independent and can take care of themselves.”

This comes as the latest in a series of moves in Saudi Arabia to include women more in the workforce as the kingdom moves to diversify its economy and cut reliance on oil.

The trend started in 2011 when the late King Abdullah allowed women onto the government advisory Shura Council. Women can now vote in municipal elections, work in some retail and hospitality jobs and were allowed to compete in the Olympics for the first time in 2012.

“Male guardianship is un-Islamic and humiliating for women,” said Akeel. “Some (men) take advantage of this male guardianship for their own benefit and abuse it.” —