Saudi women can now obtain a copy of their
marriage contract, the justice ministry said. It is the latest
breakthrough for women's rights in the conservative kingdom where
previously this right was reserved only for men.
A statement issued by justice minister Walid
al-Samaani said the clerics who register a marriage will have to hand
over a copy to the bride as well "to ensure her awareness of her rights
and the terms of the contract", the Guardian reported.
The ministry in its statement added
that the decision will "protect the rights of the woman and facilitate
procedures for her". The ministry considered the fact that women would
need a copy of their marriage contracts in case of dispute with their
husbands and in court.
Saudi Arabia implements Sharia law, under
which women need the permission of a male guardian to get married, work
and travel. Women are also not allowed to drive and have to cover up
from head to toe in public places.
In December 2015, women were allowed for the
first time to stand for and vote in municipal elections. In the same
month, it was announced that widowed and divorced women will be allowed
to manage their own family affairs without the involvement of a male
guardian or a court.
Entering a cemetery,interacting with men they
are not related to, competing freely in sports, going for a swim are
just a few among a long list of activities women in Saudi Arabia are
barred from.
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