RIYADH, 12 May — Saudi Arabia, which is revamping its system of Islamic justice, is considering opening the legal profession to women so that they can deal with cases related exclusively to women.
Justice Minister Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al-Sheikh told Arab News that he had been given the green light to look into "opening independent female legal offices or divisions for female lawyers" at what are presently all-male legal firms.
Al-Sheikh said this would enable Saudi women to explain their cases to specialist female legal advisers.
However, the minister cautioned that female lawyers would not be allowed to attend court, where only male judges are appointed. Women would instead be asked to write out their arguments, which would be presented on their behalf by men in the court itself.
The Ministry of Justice has already received applications from women to open legal firms.
Saudi Arabia last year issued new laws to regulate the legal profession, including allowing lawyers to appear in court in all cases and a criminal procedural bill regulating the rights of defendants.
The new criminal procedure came into effect on April 30, while the legal profession law is about to be implemented.
Informed sources told Arab News that the move will create new job opportunities for Saudi female graduates, especially from the Colleges of Shariah.
In a related development, Sheikh Suleiman Al-Falih, vice president of the Investigation and Public Prosecution Commission, said the question of appointing women as investigators was still premature.
Al-Falih was replying to a question raised by Okaz newspaper about whether it was time to appoint female investigators to probe cases involving women.
"This country’s concern is not limited to either men or women, but covers all its citizens. The commission started its activities as a new agency in 1995 and it depends on men for investigations and judicial activities. It is still too early to talk of appointing female investigators," he explained.
Al-Falih disclosed the plan to open the commission’s offices in Ahsa, Alkhobar, Gurayyat, Yanbu, Hafr Al-Baten and Dawadmi.
He said the commission would start investigating cases related to personal wealth.
"We investigate cases related to drugs and other narcotics, issues related to honor and morality, attack on person. And very soon we’ll start investigating cases related to attacks on wealth."
Al-Falih explained that the new laws for the legal profession, criminal procedures, presentation of cases and the commission will help simplify the handling of criminal and other cases.
The commission will also supervise and inspect prisons and detention centers in the country.
"We’ll hear the complaints of prisoners and detainees and investigate the legitimacy of keeping them in jails or in detention centers."
"We’ll also take measures for the release of those jailed or detained without any legitimate reason," he explained.
The commission appoints special panels to monitor prisons and detention centers in various parts of the Kingdom.
"We also present reports to the interior minister on the condition of prisoners and detainees," he added.
