Saudi Arabia allowed women to register to stand in local elections on Sunday, in a historic first for the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom. In a country where women face a host of restrictions, including a driving ban, the move was welcomed as an important step forward. But it also faced criticism from hardline
conservatives and from rights groups who said it does not go far enough in providing women with equal rights. It came after another first earlier this month, when women started to register as voters for the December local elections at centres run by all-female staff, separate from registration facilities for Saudi males. Saudi blogger Eman al-Nafjan, who has registered as a voter in Riyadh, told AFP that taking part in the elections is "a positive step" but warned that "there are major obstacles that prevent women from participating, such as transportation".
