RIYADH: Saudi Arabia published new laws that loosen restrictions on women by allowing any citizen to apply for a passport and travel freely. This law help to end a long-standing guardianship policy that gave men control over women.
The legal system has long been criticized because it treated women as minors throughout their adult lives, requiring they have a man’s consent to obtain a passport or travel abroad.
The changes are a potential game-changer for Saudi women’s rights in the kingdom.
The changes were widely celebrated by Saudis on Twitter, including posting memes showing people dashing to the airport with luggage and others hailing the 33-year-old crown prince believed to be the force behind these moves.
But the changes also drew backlash from conservatives, who posted clips of senior Saudi clerics in past years arguing in favor of guardianship laws.
(Agencies)
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