Saudi Arabia got pretty good press — for the Kingdom anyway — from
King ‘Abdullah's announcement that women would be allowed to vote (for the only thing any Saudi can vote for, municipal councils), and be appointed to the Majlis al-Shura, so from a PR point of view the fact that
two days later a woman is sentenced to ten lashes for driving a car, is certainly counterproductive. The King does not ask me for advice (well, not yet, anyway) and I doubt if he reads this blog, but this would be a real good time for a Royal Pardon, your majesty.
Oman is just about to have new Majlis Al Shura elections - lots of women candidates and lots of calls for change. It will be very interesting to see what happens and then the following 12 months or so.
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