Women in Saudi Arabia to be allowed to live, travel without male guardian

• Author: SHIRA SILKOFF
• Published date: 15 June 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Saudi Arabia has lagged behind many of its neighboring countries when it comes to women' s rights, with the vote only being given to women for the first time in 2011. In the 2021 World Economic Forum's global gender gap report, Saudi Arabia was ranked 147th out of 156 countries, and although this score is extremely low, it is higher than it has been in previous years, proving that progress is being made.

The real proof however, can be seen in the dramatic changes taking place within the Kingdom, all with a focus on social reform.

The decision to allow women to live by themselves without permission or a male guardian was a landmark ruling. The amendment to the "Law of Procedure before Sharia Courts," will allow single, divorced or widowed women to live independently in a house without permission from father or any other male guardian.

The old law stated that women who find themselves in these circumstances must be under the responsibility of a male guardian who would be able to control her every move if he wished, whereas the amendment now states that "an adult woman has the right to choose where to live. A woman's guardian can report her only if he has evidence proving she committed a crime."

For many people, this decision has been years in the making.

Saudi writer Marian al-Otaibi was embroiled in a three-year legal battle from 2017-2020 after she was sued by her family for living and traveling alone without her father's permission. She eventually won the case after the court ruled that she had "the right to choose where to live."

Courts will no longer accept lawsuits filed by family members of girls who choose to live alone, something that has been allowed up until now.

The decision to change the law was made as part of a larger plan which Prince Mohammed bin Salman is working to implement after he promised that Saudi...