RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- Women may neither vote nor run in Saudi Arabia's first nationwide elections, the government has announced, dashing hopes of progressive Saudis and easing fears among conservatives that the kingdom is moving too fast on reforms.
An electoral official cited administrative and logistical reasons Monday for the decision to ban women from the municipal elections, scheduled to be held in three stages from February 10 to April 21.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there are not enough women to run women's-only registration centers and polling stations, and that only a fraction of the country's women have the photo identity cards that would have been needed to vote.
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Saudi women have limited freedoms. Without written permission from a male guardian, they may not travel, get an education or work. Regardless of permissions, they are not allowed to drive, mix with men in public or leave home without covering themselves with black cloaks, called abayas.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/11/saudi.women.ap/index.htmlAnd this is an ally of ours? Its sad to think that this government because it sits on top of sand and a lot of decayed dinosaurs is actually dealt with by the modern world. Crazy. Amnesty International can't even get in there, and no one in the world, even Europe, Asia, wherever CARE about their human rights issues. They've got oil! And that makes their insanity ok! When is bio-diesel, hydrogen, or even good old ethanol going to take off?? Love my Prius!
~Almost
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