Consultants begin work at council

Riyadh: Heralding a new era in women's emancipation in Saudi Arabia, the Shura Council appointed six prominent women as part-time consultants.

The women who are well-known academicians, economists and experts in various fields started their works at the council yesterday.

The move is widely seen as the first step towards giving membership to women in the council.

The newly-appointed consultants are: Dr Wafa Tayyiba, Dr Omaima Al Jalahima, Dr Baheeja Ozai, Dr Noura Al Yousuf, Dr Noura Al Odwan and Dr Nihad Al Jashi.

Separate section

The female consultants are not allowed to sit with male members in the council hall. They will be sitting in a separate hall and watch proceedings on a closed-circuit TV.

Princess Adilah, daughter of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, recently said: "I think it is just a matter of time before women get a chance to take part in the proceedings of the Shura Council. They will also get permission to drive vehicles at the appropriate time."

Dr Noura Al Yousuf said in a statement that the new step would produce a positive impact.

"The women consultants will get the opportunity to air their views on major topics concerning women and family that come up for discussion at the council. The presence of six consultants will be supportive to the council in making its deliberations more fruitful and enabling it to take decisions in a more full-fledged manner."