RIYADH, 3 December — Authorities have already issued 1,300 Saudi women their own civil identity cards for the first time.
The London-based Al-Hayat newspaper quoted sources as saying that 250 women in Riyadh and 1,050 in Jeddah were the first Saudi women in the Kingdom ever to be given their own separate IDs.
The Okaz daily meanwhile reports that the first Saudi woman obtained a separate ID from the Civil Identification office in Riyadh on Nov. 14.
Riyadh decided in 1999 to grant women IDs following a lengthy debate between supporters and opponents of the decision. However, the implementation of the decision was delayed so that all the necessary arrangements could be made.
Civil identification offices in various cities have had to create separate sections to deal with women who apply for IDs.
“There was a big rush by women in Jeddah to collect the new IDs,” Al-Hayat reported. The Civil Identification offices handled as many as 38 applications in Jeddah every day, as against nine in Riyadh, according to the paper.
Opponents of the move say issuing ID cards to females would allow people to see pictures of women who are traditionally veiled in public.
However, Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmad said in a recent statement that women would not be required by law to obtain separate civil identity cards. Clarifying press reports in this regard, the prince said women would merely be given the option of applying, but it would not become compulsory to prove their civil status.
To qualify for IDs, women must be 22 years of age (as opposed to 16 for men), should have the written consent of a guardian (husband or father), and a letter from her employer (if she is a working woman).
The picture of female applicants must show their heads covered and their faces devoid of make-up or lipstick. Women’s photographs submitted to the office are kept in an envelope. The female section at the office completes the procedures, including the scanning of pictures by computer.
Saudi women are currently included on the IDs of their husbands or fathers. Although they need his approval to travel abroad, they can obtain separate passports. However, this is not considered an official document to prove their identity.
Although their job prospects are limited mainly to the health and education sectors, where they do not have to mix with men, new opportunities have emerged in recent years.
The Kingdom has also signed an international covenant that seeks to end discrimination against women.
