Agence France Presse reported Sunday that Saudi women activists are petitioning the country's top consultative council to limit male guardians' "absolute authority" over women.
Activist Aziza Yousef told AFP that "rights activists have petitioned the Shura (consultative) Council on the occasion of the International Women's Day (on March 8) demanding an end to the absolute authority of men over women".
The activists' petition that demands "measures to protect women's rights" comes in response to KSA's practice of forbidding women to work or travel without a male guardians' authorization, as well as obtaining an identification cards without male consent. For example, women must receive permission to have certain medical treatments and surgeries as well as leave a university campus during study hours, according to the report. Such laws, according to Yousef and fellow activists, "are not based on religious teachings [as stipulated under the law."
Ten female activists signed and submitted the petition, which also demands the right for women to drive.
