Saudi programme calls for gender-mixing, no prayer closure
A Saudi government programme to improve the quality of life in the kingdom called for the legalisation of gender mixing and an end to the mandatory prayer closures for businesses, significant steps to ease social restrictions in the conservative country.
The 236-page document sent to reporters Thursday night outlining the government's new 'Quality of Life' programme called for lobbying to amend the laws, saying the areas "require immediate regulatory changes."
Even a recommendation would represent a notable shift in the official rhetoric on two sticky religious issues that could spark a backlash from conservative Saudis. The items were buried on page 156 of the document and were not mentioned during a news conference to announce the programme Thursday. They were removed from versions posted online later. Government officials didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Easing social restrictions is a key part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's push to overhaul the oil-dependent economy and attract foreign investment. The prince's so-called Vision 2030 seeks to encourage more women to join the workforce and has identified entertainment as one industry with strong growth prospects.
The government has already lifted its longstanding ban on cinemas and women driving and sponsored gender-mixed music concerts. The changes have so far provoked minimal public dissent as the government clamps down on criticism.
Prince Mohammed, in an interview with CBS News programme '60 Minutes' broadcast in March, said the kingdom has "extremists who forbid mixing between the two sexes and are unable to differentiate between a man and a woman alone together and their being together in a work place."
The document sent to reporters called for allowing the "intermingling of both genders to enhance social cohesion" and legalising the opening of stores during prayer times, as well as the participation of women in sports in public places. It said that passing new regulations in these areas would improve citizen participation in lifestyle activities and boost investor confidence.
Shops, restaurants, cafes and even pharmacies in the kingdom are required to close several times a day in recognition of Islam's five daily prayers.
The rules on gender segregation are more varied, with authorities sometimes enforcing separate spaces and entrances for men and women and sometimes enforcing a looser separation between "single men" and "families" -- meaning any group involving a woman.
Recently, some state-sponsored events have had no gender segregation at all.
Related Topics
Trending News & Articles
ALMATY: Hour upon hour, day upon day, Omir Bekali and other detainees in far western China's new indoctrination camps had to disavow the...
Recently posted . 215K views . 1 min read
If you have payed attention to the belly buttons of people on the beach or the members of your family, you have probably noticed that they have different shapes and...
Recently posted . 10K views . 2 min read
The Langya henipavirus has a place with a similar group of infections, including Nipah, which is known to kill up to 3/4 of people in extreme cases.
Recently posted . 5K views . 1 min read
Queen's death: The eldest of her four children, Charles, Prince of Wales, who at 73 was the oldest heir apparent in British history, became king immediately...
Recently posted . 5K views . 1 min read
More in Global
HIGHLIGHTS
*A mission to defend Earth could involve hitting the asteroid or comet with big,...
Recently posted. 740 views . 2 min read
Lisbon: The Syrian clash "has turned into a growth on a worldwide scale", approaching UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said, while trusting Washi...
Recently posted. 842 views . 8 min read
Move over Singapore — the world's most expensive city has two new rivals.
Recently posted. 971 views . 0 min read
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 3K views . 67 min read
Recently posted . 3K views . 140 min read
The existence of the project, code-named Dragonfly, was confirmed by Google chief executive Sundar Pichai last month.
Recently posted. 855 views . 0 min read
Microsoft’s Japan offices recently tested out a four-day workweek and found that employees were both happier and more productive during the trial. They called...
Recently posted. 816 views . 2 min read