Hague hails Saudi vote for women

Plans to allow women in Saudi Arabia to vote and stand for election in local polls has been hailed as a “significant step forward” by Foreign Secretary William Hague. “We refuse to marginalise the role of women in Saudi society and in every aspect, within the rules of Sharia,” the Custodian of the Two holy Mosques King Abdulla bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. “Balanced modernisation, which falls within our Islamic values, is an important demand in an era where there is no place for defeatist or hesitant people.” Women will also be eligible in future for appointment to the Shura Council, which offers policy opinion and debates plans for the economy and society, he said. The introduction of the vote will not be implemented in time for women to take part in the next round of municipal elections on Thursday.