Women in Saudi Arabia may not be able to drive or have surgery or leave the country without the permission of a male relative, but they can finally vote.  Having said that, they won’t be able to vote for four more years. While some women are asking why that is, the country’s king, King Abdullah is really considered a very progressive reformer.  Not only will women be allowed to vote for the first time, they will even be able to hold political office.   This is especially significant because Saudi Arabia only held elections for the first time in 2005.  The restrictions on women come from traditional Saudi law which is based on the Q’uran or Islamic law.  As King Abdullah said Sunday, “We refuse to marginalize women in society.”  It would be interesting to engage your kids in a conversation about women’s rights here in the United States and in Saudi Arabia. 

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/52638377-68/women-saudi-king-kingdom.html.csp