Saudi Judges against ID cards for women

Saudi Arabia has made efforts to change the societal structure in the kingdom which has been under fire from rights groups for systematic discrimination against women.

Mon Sep 3, 2012 5:9PM GMT

Saudi Arabian judges have expressed their anger over the Kingdom’s decision to issue ID cards for all Saudi women, saying that women are inferior to men.

After refusing to recognize women’s civil ID cards as a proof of identity by Saudi Arabian judges and courts, the Shoura members issued a statement on Sunday saying that such acts would be treated as a violation of the regulations.

“It is strange that there are people who oppose some government decisions and royal decrees about which comprehensive studies were carried out and necessary reviews were made by the concerned authorities with the sole purpose of serving the public interests,” said a member of the Shoura Council’s security committee, Abdul Wahab Al-Mojthal.

“Issuance of separate IDs for women would also result in ending several negative and even dangerous phenomena and situations, such as involvement of women in terror cases, as well as proving identity in courts and government offices, in addition to applying for and getting jobs in government and private sectors,” he added.

Saudi Arabia has made efforts to change the societal structure in the kingdom which has been under fire from rights groups for systematic discrimination against women.

King Abdullah announced last September that women will be able to vote in the 2015 local elections and for the Consultative Assembly.

On January 22, Human Rights Watch said in a statement that Saudi authorities “continue to suppress or fail to protect the rights of 9 million Saudi women and girls.”

Saudi Arabia is also the only country in the world to ban women -- both Saudi and foreign -- from driving.

It is strange that there are people who oppose some government decisions and royal decrees about which comprehensive studies were carried out and necessary reviews were made by the concerned authorities with the sole purpose of serving the public interests"
a member of the Shoura Council’s security committee, Abdul Wahab Al-Mojthal

MAM/JR