RECOGNIZE WOMEN LAWYERS IN SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia is planning to bring in a new law to allow women lawyers to argue cases in court for the first time.

Justice Minister Mohammed al-Eissa said the law was part of King Abdullah's plan to develop the legal system.

The law - to be issued "in the coming days" - would allow women to appear in court on family-related cases, including divorce and child custody.

At the moment, they can only work behind the scenes in government and court offices.

The new legislation will also allow Saudi women to complete certain procedures without the presence of a witness.

"In accordance with the new law, women will be able to complete their preliminary procedures with notaries by just presenting their IDs," said Ministry of Justice official Osama al-Mirdas, according to Arab News.

Under a system of male guardianship, Saudi Arabian women are required to be kept separate from men they are not related to.

All are veiled to a greater or lesser degree in public, they are not allowed to drive, and women under 45 must receive permission from a male when they travel.

Opportunities for education and employment are also dependent on male guardianship.

But a number of steps have been taken to ease restrictions - for instance women are now allowed to stay in hotels unaccompanied.

Last year, a senior cleric was removed after criticising a new mixed-sex science and technology university.

The cleric, Sheikh Saad al-Shethry, had described the mixing of sexes in any university as evil and a great sin.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8526862.stm

WOMEN AT WAR

Yael Kidron is 21 years old and a combat soldier in the Israeli Defence Forces' mixed-sex Karakal Battalion, based in the Negev desert. She argues that it is only fair to allow women to take on physically challenging army roles.

"I decided to come and serve in a combat unit, because for one thing I grew up with five brothers and I needed to do something physical. It's not just sitting down and doing paperwork. I wanted to do something more challenging, and this is why I am here"

I came to serve in Karakal. It's a girls and guys unit. You basically do everything like the guys, you work hard.

Our base is in the middle of the desert, the middle of nowhere, kind of. We have very nice views here, sunset, sunrise. You've got a lot of wide open space here - and a lot of space where they can make you run when you get punished.

We live in tents. The tents are very sturdy, although honestly, to go from a nice cosy bed to a tent, living in these little beds... but it's awesome, I love it. I think it's a great experience.

Every day when I wake up in the morning, I don't say, 'Ooh what am I going to wear this morning?' It's the same thing every single morning. It's not a very nice colour of clothing - kind of olive-greenish pants and a shirt.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8518649.stm