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Saudi Women Get Right to Vote

But let's not rush into things: Wait til 2015, says King Abdullah

By Polly Davis Doig, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 25, 2011 9:41 AM CDT

(Newser) – Good news for the ladies of Saudi Arabia: You can vote and even run for office, Saudi King Abdullah said today in an announcement that many are hailing as major progress for women's rights. Of course, there's a caveat: Abdullah's announcement won't take effect until after this Thursday's elections, so women won't get to take their shiny new rights for a spin until the next elections in 2015, notes the BBC. Still, "women's voices will be heard finally," one advocate tells CNN.

"Because we refuse to marginalize women in society in all roles that comply with sharia, we have decided, after deliberation with our senior ulama [clerics] and others... to involve women in the Shura Council as members, starting from next term," said Abdullah, in announcing the change. "Women will be able to run as candidates in the municipal election and will even have a right to vote."

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah announced that women will have the right to vote in the country's next elections, in 2015. (Getty Images)

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Saudi Women Get Right to Vote

But let's not rush into things: Wait til 2015, says King Abdullah

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