Tag: Saudi women

  • Man reportedly divorces wife after finding out she used to smoke before marriage

    Man reportedly divorces wife after finding out she used to smoke before marriage

    A man in Saudi Arabia has reportedly divorced his wife after learning that she was a smoker before they got married. According to media reports, the husband who is a Saudi national, told his lawyer last week that he wanted to divorce his wife because he was afraid she might resume smoking.

    He that since there was “no guarantee” that the woman would not start smoking again, her habit might “hurt his social status”.  The man’s lawyer stated that the wife admitted to her husband that she used to smoke before they married.

    The husband also elaborated that he dislikes smoking ladies. As a result, he filed for divorce. The court ruled in favour of the man and ordered the lady to repay the dowry she received from her husband at the time of the wedding.

  • Saudi Arabia launches first-ever women’s football league

    Saudi Arabia launches first-ever women’s football league

    The Saudi football federation has announced the launching of the first edition of a women’s football league at the end of this month.

    The launch of the league is a part of a programme set up by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation in 2017 to support women’s football as women’s sport was long frowned upon in the country.

    Federation chairman Yasser Almisehal said the creation of a women’s league was “an important moment” for the federation.

    Sixteen teams will take part and the matches will take place in three cities — the capital Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.

    Those who qualify will be able to play in a knockout competition which will be held early next year in Jeddah.

  • Saudi woman develops game to help diagnose anxiety

    Rasha al Qahtani, an 18-year-old Saudi Arabian girl, has created a technique that can be used to detect generalised anxiety disorder in adolescents using video games.

    “I tried to heal myself, by myself, almost all of the time,” she says. “In Saudi Arabia, we are starting now to connect the dots and to raise awareness about mental health. Going to a psychologist does still have a negative effect on a person in society,” she said while talking to Smithsonian Magazine.

    Qahtani came in third place in the behavioural and social sciences category of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair for her prototype, which was inspired by her personal experience and as a means of helping her peers who are struggling with anxiety.

    Her prototype tries to address the issues of stigma and inaccessibility that, according to psychologists, are significant barriers to youth seeking mental health treatment.

  • Muslim women can now perform Hajj without a male guardian

    Muslim women can now perform Hajj without a male guardian

    In a landmark move, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj has allowed women to perform the annual holy pilgrimage, scheduled to be held in July this year, without a male guardian (mahram).

    “Those wishing to perform Hajj will have to register individually. Women can register without a mahram (male guardian) along with other women,” the ministry said in a tweet.

    “In light of what the whole world is witnessing with the coronavirus pandemic and the emergence of new variants, the relevant authorities have continued to monitor the global health situation,” the ministry said. This year’s Hajj will only be limited to Kingdom’s nationals and residents due to the ongoing pandemic. “Those wishing to perform the Hajj must be free of chronic diseases and be vaccinated.” The ministry added that pilgrims should be between the ages of 18 and 65, reports Aljazeera.

    This news comes a few days after Saudi Arabia allowed women to live independently without male consent after a legal amendment. Over the last few years, the Kingdom has seen numerous reforms on women’s social freedoms, in a campaign headed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 

    In April this year, Saudi authorities hired women to work in frontline positions at the Grand Mosque.

    In 2020, new penalties were announced against abusing women.

    In 2019, a new amendment allowed women aged 21 and above to apply for passport and travel without a male guardian’s approval.

    In 2018, Saudi women officially earned the right to obtain drivers licenses.