Replying to comments made by Shoura Council members, the department’s spokesman Fahd Al-Bakran said the ministry would not ask women to show their faces during judicial procedures but would take their fingerprints, which has been found to be a better alternative.

“We have requested approval for a number of jobs for women in order to implement the Cabinet decision for opening women sections at all government departments,” Al-Bakran said.

He said the ministry would open women sections soon after receiving approval from the government, adding that women would be appointed in counseling and guidance sections.

“Like men, women can also use lawyers to defend their cases as they are considered a legal tool all over the world,” Al-Bakran said.

He said the issue of increasing the number of judges did not fall under the ministry’s jurisdiction. “We understand that the Supreme Judiciary Council wishes to increase the number of judges and in fact their number has increased considerably.”

With regard to notaries, Al-Bakran said their number has doubled during the past two years. “The ministry wants to train notaries for two years before they assume their duties,” he added.

Al-Bakran highlighted the remarkable progress achieved within the judicial system in the wake of reforms introduced by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, adding that the ministry has won international recognition and applause.

“We are first in the world in terms of quick transfer of real estate property ownership for two consecutive years,” the spokesman said citing a World Bank report.

While discussing the ministry’s annual report, Shoura members raised the issue of problems faced by women at courts.