A Saudi woman checks her mobile phone as she sits along the sea front in the coastal city of Jeddah, recently.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has suspended a programme that notifies the male guardians of female relatives, who may travel abroad only with their permission, once the women leave the country, it was reported yesterday.
Since November 2012, Saudi women’s male guardians have been sent a text message informing them when women under their custody leave, even if they are travelling together.
The programme, which was strongly criticised by women rights activists, “has been suspended due to some observations,” passports department spokesman Ahmad Al Laheedan was quoted by Arab News as saying.
“It will undergo amendment,” he said, indicating that the system that compounded constraints on women in the ultra-conservative kingdom, could return as optional. Men would only receive an SMS if they requested to be informed.
As it is, women must show immigration authorities a “yellow paper” signed by their father, brother, husband or even son in the case of divorce or widowhood confirming their permission to travel.
Activists welcomed the suspension of the SMS programme.
AFP
