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| S Arabia eases laws on solo women | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The authorities in Saudi Arabia have decided to end a ban on unaccompanied women staying in the country's hotels. | |
| A woman can now stay in a hotel alone as long as she carries identification. | A woman can now stay in a hotel alone as long as she carries identification. |
| Based on a royal decree, the move marks a break from religious codes requiring women to be accompanied by a male guardian at all times. | Based on a royal decree, the move marks a break from religious codes requiring women to be accompanied by a male guardian at all times. |
| The decree allowed the Ministry of Trade to outline new regulations simply requiring women to show photographic ID to hotel managers. | The decree allowed the Ministry of Trade to outline new regulations simply requiring women to show photographic ID to hotel managers. |
| This must then be registered with local police. | This must then be registered with local police. |
| The decision was reported by the local daily al-Watan newspaper, which is considered close to the Saudi government, on Monday. | The decision was reported by the local daily al-Watan newspaper, which is considered close to the Saudi government, on Monday. |
| Driving ban remains | Driving ban remains |
| The decree was formulated last month in coordination with Saudi's Ministry of the Interior and the religious police organisation, the paper reported. | The decree was formulated last month in coordination with Saudi's Ministry of the Interior and the religious police organisation, the paper reported. |
| Activists accuse both bodies of blocking improved women's rights in the country. | Activists accuse both bodies of blocking improved women's rights in the country. |
| Under Saudi Arabia's conservative Islamic code, women suffer severe restrictions on daily life. | Under Saudi Arabia's conservative Islamic code, women suffer severe restrictions on daily life. |
| They are not allowed to appear before a judge without a male representative, or travel abroad without a male guardian's position. | They are not allowed to appear before a judge without a male representative, or travel abroad without a male guardian's position. |
| Nor are they allowed to drive, although King Abdullah has said he would be in favour of lifting this ban if society accepts it. | Nor are they allowed to drive, although King Abdullah has said he would be in favour of lifting this ban if society accepts it. |