One of the women holding her certificate to practice.
Four Saudi lawyers have made history by becoming the first women to practise law in the kingdom’s courts.
Bayan Zahran, Jihan Qurban, Sarra Al Omari and Ameera Quqani were on Sunday given the licences that allow them to change their status from legal consultants to attorneys. The change means that the ban imposed on female law graduates to practise law in the courtroom and own and operate law firms will be lifted. It follows years of relentless requests and moves by several women to allow them to use their law degrees.
The impact of the ministry’s decision will be enormous on the local court system where women embroiled in divorce and custody cases have often complained of bias in favour of husbands.
They will now see the presence of practising women lawyers as a new opportunity for greater justice.Women have been steadily gaining new rights in Saudi Arabia, particularly after King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud assumed power in August 2005. In January 30 women were appointed to the Shura (Consultative) Council.
Gulf News.
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