Seventeen women have been voted into public office in municipal elections in Saudi Arabia. This is the first time that women in Saudi Arabia have been allowed to vote and stand as candidates.
A news website affiliated with the Interior Ministry reported that a total of 17 women had been elected in various parts of the country. These included four in Jeddah, one near Mecca - home to Islam's holiest site - and others in Tabuk, Ahsaa and Qatif. Several more were expected to be confirmed later.
The deceased King Abdullah announced in 2011 that women would be able to vote in this election. Since then, the country has taken steps for women to have a bigger public role, sending more of them to university and encouraging female employment.
中国公共新闻网摘编:GAN JADE |