first female minister in saudi arabia

[Diyeeshaha_Tolka]

An expert on girls' education became Saudi Arabia's first woman minister on Saturday as part of a wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle by King Abdullah that swept aside several bastions of ultra-conservatism.

Nora bint Abdullah al-Fayez, a US-educated former teacher, was made deputy education minister in charge of a new department for female students, a significant breakthrough in a country where women are not allowed to drive.

"This is an honour not only for me but for all Saudi women. In the presence of a comprehensive operational team, I believe I'll be able to face challenges and create positive change," she told Arab News. Fayez said she would study the state of girls' education in Saudi Arabia before commenting on the task before her.

In his first reshuffle since assuming the throne in 2005, King Abdullah also replaced two powerful enemies of reform, the chief of the Saudi religious police, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Ghaith, and the country's most senior judge, Sheikh Salih Ibn al-Luhaydan. Ghaith, who runs the commission for the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice, known as the mutawa, which enforces bans on alcohol and drugs, has gained a reputation for brutality. Luhaydan ruled last year that it was permissible to kill owners of satellite television channels broadcasting "immoral" programmes. Several other hardline judges were sacked as part of a challenge against the kingdom's hardline religious establishment.

The grand Ulema commission, an influential grouping of religious scholars, will be reconfigured and opened to moderate clerics, breaking the grip of the ultra-conservatives.

King Abdullah also appointed a new head of a 150-seat consultative body, the Shura council, and replaced his ministers of education, health, justice and information.

Abdul Aziz al-Khoja, the new information minister, said: "The most important thing is that the kingdom's voice should reach the entire world, convey the message of peace and stability and portray the kingdom's stance of moderation, tolerance and flexibility."

He told the Saudi Gazette he was open to debate with the country's journalists and intellectuals, adding: "I welcome their opinions and suggestions because they constitute the pillar of the Saudi media and represent the shining face of the country within and outside the kingdom."

The reshuffle was broadly welcomed in the Saudi press, with the Saudi Gazette calling it a "boost for reform" and al-Hayat describing the changes as "bold reform".

Saudi schools have long been criticised as breeding grounds for extremism, and the monarchy's western allies are likely to claim the reshuffle as a sign that the kingdom has the capacity to reform itself.

"This is the true start of the promises of reform," said Jamal Khashoggi, editor of al-Watan newspaper. "They bring not only new blood, but also new ideas."

[ire]

[surrender]

one step at a time, eh? is like teaching a toddler how to walk.

[Buhodle-Gurl]

We're gettin' there ladies.

[Nabeela]

[Diyeeshaha_Tolka]

deputy education minister in charge of a new department for female students,

shaqadeedaba waa intaas

[Aerosmith]

Saw her picture yesterday. An old hag

[ModerateMuslim]

Nora bint Abdullah al-Fayez, a US-educated former teacher, was made deputy education minister..... a significant breakthrough....

a significant breakthrough = more to come.

and with that latest unislamic DECREE by the current king, the filth rulers of the kindom of shrik (aka saudia arabia) continue to make that which allah has made unlawful into lawful and that which allah has made lawful into unlawful while the salafis keep quiet and give their consent. and the filthy orientalists (i.e. the propaganda wing of the crusaders) dare tells us that this filthy kingdom is an islamic entity...?



but there's a sweet irony in this, too:

In his first reshuffle since assuming the throne in 2005, King Abdullah also replaced two powerful enemies of reform, the chief of the Saudi religious police, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Ghaith, and the country's most senior judge, Sheikh Salih Ibn al-Luhaydan. Ghaith, who runs the commission for the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice, known as the mutawa, which enforces bans on alcohol and drugs, has gained a reputation for brutality

those two clown shayks are saudi salafis, i.e. the sect that uses and twists islam to protect their beloved rulers.

[Babygirl-]

King Abdullah is making some progress.

[Icekristella]

Change is coming...........

[American-Suufi]

We're gettin' there ladies.

when did u become saudi?

[xoogSADE14]

1) There was never a reason to have a male as the minister of women's affairs.

2) Shes actually going to be Deputy Minister.

3) She still can't drive herself to work.

[ModerateMuslim]

In his first reshuffle since assuming the throne in 2005, King Abdullah also replaced ..... the chief of the Saudi religious police, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Ghaith, and the country's most senior judge, Sheikh Salih Ibn al-Luhaydan.

i'm still laughing at this
after all that ass kissing they get reward like this

[American-Suufi]

1) There was never a reason to have a male as the minister of women's affairs.

2) Shes actually going to be Deputy Minister.

3) She still can't drive herself to work.

sheikh bin baz the salafi saint using saudi hadiths established the fatwa that women cant drive and no salafi sheikh in saudi arabia can dare to change it.

[Basra-]

Whats the point of becoming a minister when u cant even drive?