A welcome but limited step for Saudi women: Amnesty

Saudi women wait in line in the women’s section of a fast food restaurant in the Faysalia mall in Riyadh yesterday

Amnesty International yesterday cautiously welcomed Saudi Arabia’s decision allowing women to vote and run for municipal elections, but said the kingdom was moving much too slowly on women’s rights. “It is a welcome, albeit limited, step along the long road towards gender equality in Saudi Arabia,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa. “It is, however, much overdue and does not go nearly far enough. While moving in the right direction, Saudi Arabia is moving far too slowly. Ultimately, it is no great achievement to be one of the last countries in the world to grant women the vote,” Luther said.