Slowly but surely, Saudi women seem on the right track.

Additional Reporting By Basiouni Al-Wakil, IOL Staff

RIYADH , September 12, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – In a move seen by analysts as a bid to polish its image abroad, the Saudi government is mulling the appointment of a number of distinguished Saudi women for foreign ministry posts, including the status of ambassador, according to press reports Monday, September 12.

An expert in Saudi affairs believes the move by the strict Kingdom is meant to "change its image abroad" and to cope with reforms in other Arab Gulf states in the field of women rights.

A high-level Saudi committee is currently studying the nomination of women academicians to fill the posts of ambassadors, according to Al-Watan Saudi daily, adding appointments were expected to be declared soon.

Saudi female activist Salwa Haza'a told the paper that Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faissal – during a meeting with the committee tasked with improving the Saudi image abroad – stressed that Saudi female occupying top posts in the foreign ministry was around the corner.

Speaking in London on the sidelines of a meeting of a Saudi-British forum, the Saudi prince said this year would witness recruitment of women at the prestigious post of ambassador.

Director of the Diplomatic Center for Strategic Studies in Cairo Ashraf Kishk told IOL Monday that Saudi Arabia was trying to catch up with other Arab Gulf states in the domain of women political rights.

"Women have already been appointed ministers in Oman , Qatar , Kuwait and UAE. Kuwaiti women will have their vote in the coming polls," Kishk said.

He added the Saudi move came in reaction to a US State Department report issued in June 2005, claiming Riyadh was involved in human trafficking, a claim the Saudis have instantly dismissed.

Kishk further saw the Saudi move in tandem with King Abdullah's pro-woman stance, citing the King's meeting with a delegation of Saudi women when he was still crown prince.

The Saudi move followed an announcement by the foreign ministry during the last few months about 70 vacancies open for women, including 19 career opportunities for international affairs researchers.

Shari `ah Perspectives

Reformist King Abdullah.

The Saudi government change of attitude toward women holding public posts is still in conformity with Islamic Shari`ah.

Saudi Labor Ministry has issued a decision employing women in sales of "female stuff", and prohibiting males from such jobs, to separate between women and men.

As a result, lingerie stores were told to replace their male staff with women.

In June 2005, Al-Watan quoted Anti-Drugs Committee Secretary General Maj. Gen. Mohamad Abdel Aziz al-Ferih as saying the Saudi Interior Ministry was considering future employment of women to provide consultation on drugs addiction among women.

The Saudi Ministry of Education is also studying recruiting women on maintenance teams for all-female schools to replace male maintainers.