In February of this year, a group of women marched into a voter registration office and attempted to register. In March, it was announced that women would not be voting in this year's election. Today, the prospect of change has arrived. While the new freedoms will not come until 2015, the king of Saudi Arabia has made an announcement: in the future, women will be allowed to vote. This is a huge step for women in a country where they are not even allowed to move freely without a male escort. Not only that, but they will now have a shot at representation in government:
Abdullah said the changes announced Sunday would also allow women to be appointed to the Shura Council, the advisory body selected by the king that is currently all-male.
The council, established in 1993, offers opinions on general policies in the kingdom and debates economic and social development plans and agreements signed between the kingdom and other nations.
Imagine that: a voice. The ability to speak and be listened to about the issues that affect your life. This is an opening salvo for women's rights, but I have no doubt that they will use it to the fullest extent.