Saudi Appoints 10 Women to Senior Roles in Holy Mosques

Saudi Arabia has named 10 women to senior roles at Islam's two holiest sites, authorities said on Sunday, as the conservative petro-state tries to improve female employment, reports Bangkok Post.

The appointment of women to senior roles in religious bodies is unusual in the Islamic kingdom, which is in the middle of a wide-ranging liberalization campaign driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In the two holy mosques in Mecca and Medina, women were named through different departments, including administrative and technological offices, according to a statement released by the General Presidency on the affairs of the two holy mosques.

The recruitment drive was aimed at "empowering Saudi women with high qualifications and capabilities", the statement said.

According to Saudi media, the Two Holy Mosques had previously recruited 41 women in leadership positions in 2018.

Prince Mohammed sought to boost women's employment as part of his "Vision 2030" plan , which aims to diversify the economy of the Kingdom and put an end to its dependence on oil.

According to official estimates, the number of working women in Saudi Arabia exceeded 1.03 million in the third quarter of 2019, 35 percent of the overall population relative to 816,000 in 2015.

Among other changes, women in the kingdom are now permitted to drive vehicles, cinemas are re-opened, and genders are authorized to combine at activities, including festivals, and public areas.

But the reforms have also been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent.

Saudi Arabia has detained and put to court a dozen women campaigners who have advocated for the freedom to drive for a long time, causing international criticism.

Many of the protestors appear to have been abused and sexually assaulted by interrogators.