Bold reversal on Saudi lashing may signal new era for women’s rights
From the article:
King Abdullah’s unexpectedly speedy reversal of a court’s order that a woman be lashed for the crime of driving a car could indicate just how serious the Saudi ruler is about enhancing the civil rights of women in the Kingdom.
While not repealing the ban on women driving that was imposed in 1991, the King’s action in overturning a court sentence is a direct challenge to the authority of the religious establishment and will not likely be overlooked in future cases.
With the surprise move, the Saudi ruler may be staking out new ground, and not just as a response to the popular Arab uprisings sweeping the region.
Shaima Jastaina had been sentenced Tuesday to 10 lashes for driving a car in Jeddah. The court ruling came just two days after King Abdullah had announced that Saudi women would, for the first time, be able to stand for office and nominate members of municipal councils. The reform is to take effect only in future elections, the date for which has not been set.
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