Friday, March 4, 2011

King would grant women the vote to prevent street protests

ROME - The Saudi royal family is ready for new concessions to avert the spread of popular protests that are inflaming the Arab world and especially after the wake of popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, hundreds of Facebook users are organizing for the March 11 'Day of rage' in Saudi Arabia to seek an elected government and the release of political prisoners.

According to the newspaper Al Watan reported today, the authorities WOULD BE evaluating the possibility of granting voting rights to women, but did not provide for their eligibility. At the first election in 2005 women were excluded from voting. Last Sunday more than 100 Saudi intellectuals have launched an appeal on the Internet for political, economic and social, in particular requesting the creation of a "constitutional monarchy", "separation of powers" and the adoption of a constitution.

In their appeal, the intellectuals have stressed the need for "measures that recognize women's right to employment, education, property and participation in public life." He returned to Saudi Arabia after being three months abroad to undergo medical treatment, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia in recent days had already announced social interventions from 36 billion dollars, but branded as inadequate by those calling for greater political representation and freedom.

Abdullah's plan provides funding to compensate for inflation, to help young people find jobs and support families in their right to housing. But the king does not include measures of political reform in the absolute monarchy, thus ignoring the demand for municipal elections made by opposition groups.

Saudi Arabia does not have an elected parliament or political parties and the public does not tolerate dissent.

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