Saudi women use Facebook and Twitter to fight for equal rights

A group of women in Saudi Arabia banded together to form a movement seeking to end the country's discriminatory laws particularly male guardianship.

The Saudi Women Revolution, made up mostly of young university-educated women, was started as a Facebook page and a discussion topic on Twitter in February, by Nuha Al Sulaiman.

The Facebook page has now more than 3,000 "likes" and several of the women have met in person to discuss their campaign.

According to Al Sulaiman social media like Facebook and Twitter made possible for people who have common ideas to meet. 

According to Human Rights Watch, male guardianship means Saudi women need permission from their male kins - husband, father, brother or even son -  to work, travel, study, marry, or even access health care.

Saudi Women Revolution recently made their first public act by turning up at election centers to register for the municipal elections in September.  As expected the women were turned down.  Arab women were never allowed to vote. 

The women said it doesn't matter that they were rejected but their action was their way to get attention to their campaign. The women also wanted to be allowed to drive which is forbidden in the Kingdom.

"We will do whatever it takes. We will go to the king himself. We will never stop fighting for our rights because it's time for change," Al Sulaiman said.

The Saudi Women Revolution stressed that they are not fighting their government but just want to send the message to end women discrimination.

The campaign has already attracted support from human rights organizations outside the country.

Not all Saudi women want to end male guardianship, however. In 2009, a group of Saudi women launched a campaign called "My Guardian Knows What's Best for Me," which was participated by thousands of supporters.#30

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