Women file petition to end male guardianship system

A petition signed by more than 14,000 Saudi women calling for an end to the country’s male guardianship system is being handed to the government. Women must have the consent of a male guardian to travel abroad, and often need permission to work or study. Support for the first large-scale campaign on the issue grew […]

A petition signed by more than 14,000 Saudi women calling for an end to the country’s male guardianship system is being handed to the government.
Women must have the consent of a male guardian to travel abroad, and often need permission to work or study.
Support for the first large-scale campaign on the issue grew online in response to a trending Twitter hashtag.
In the deeply conservative Islamic kingdom, a woman must have permission from her father, brother or other male relative – in the case of a widow, sometimes her son – to obtain a passport, marry or leave the country.
Many workplaces and universities also demand a guardian’s consent for female employees and students, although it is not legally required.