Saudi women file petition to end male guardianship

In an unprecedented move, a petition calling for the end of the male guardianship system in Saudi Arabia has been handed to the kingdom’s government today after it gained thousands of signatures.

More than 14,500 people signed the petition to overturn a law which forces women to seek the permission of their male guardian for travel, marriage, renting a property and before undertaking medical procedures.

Leading women’s rights advocate Aziza Al-Yousef delivered the petition in person to the royal court today. She told the BBC that she was “very proud” of the campaign.

“In every aspect, the important issue is to treat a woman as a full citizen,” she said.

We never had a problem with campaigning, but the problem is there is no answer. But we always hope – without hope, you cannot work,” she said.

In July, an Arabic Twitter hashtag which translates as “Saudi women want to abolish the guardianship system” went viral after a Human Rights Watch report was published on the issue.

There has been no official response to the petition yet.