Question

current social condition of saudi arabia

Answer 1

In a historic step toward promoting women’s political and social rights, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia appointed 30 women to the Saudi Shura Council on January 11. The Shura Council is a formal advisory body composed of 150 members that proposes laws to King Abdullah. These new council members, who currently constitute about 20 percent of the Shura Council, are university graduates, human rights activists, accomplished professionals and two princesses. Activists have spent decades fighting for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, and King Abdullah’s decision to appoint these women to the Shura Council marks an important shift in this respect. The addition of women to the council offers a great advantage not only for these new female council members, but also to Saudi society in general as these women bring a unique perspective to many issues facing Saudi citizens.

Since coming to power in 2005, King Abdullah has made a series of substantive reforms to improve the status of women in the kingdom. In fact, King Abdullah’s appointment of women to the council has received support from Saudi elites and Saudi society in general. According to a recent poll of about 2,000 men and women, 73.5 percent of women and 69.9 percent of men favored the addition of women to the council. Most of the appointed women are successful in their own domains, having advanced degrees in areas such as medicine, science and education. Many of the women are also humanitarians and participate in a variety of charity organizations. Despite the fact that no women have been named to head any committees, three were made deputy chairs: Thuraya Obeid, Ph.D., deputy chair of the Shura Council Human Rights and Petitions Committee; Lubna Al-Ansari, M.D., deputy chair of the Health and Environment Committee; and Zainab Abu Taleb, M.D., deputy chair of the Information and Cultural Committee.

The councilwomen’s ambitious agendas have brought a new perspective to the Shura Council. Female members are now bringing topics that were overlooked in the past — such as health care, underage marriage, and human rights for women and children — to the attention of the council. Their agendas also reflect issues Saudi women face in their daily lives. For example, councilwoman Al-Ansari, a family physician, is planning to focus on health care. Aside from these specific topics, the main areas of focus include establishing women’s right to drive, passing a uniform law for obtaining real estate loans and preventing the underemployment of women.

Answer 2

Saudi Arabia a country which is ruled by a heriditary king and the people have no role in electing or changing their heriditary rulers.

The King has total control over selecting the legislature as well as the executive. He sppoints the judges and has the power to change any of their desicions.

Women are subjected to many public restrictions. There is gender inequality. The testimony of on man, is considered equal to that of two woman.