Saudi women can now issue fatwas

Two days after the historic move to lift the ban on Saudi women drivers, the Shura Council has now voted to allow them to issue fatwas, Arab News reported on Friday.

The newspaper said the landmark move was approved by 107 votes and ends 45 years of only men being able to issue fatwas in the Kingdom.

The female muftis are to be chosen by a royal decree, the paper said.

"The Shura Council approved the recommendation, made by one of its members, during its 49th meeting, calling on the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta, the only governmental body authorised to issue fatwas in the Kingdom, to open independent sections for women," according to the report.

Women members of the Council last March had demanded that the issuing of fatwas should not be limited to men, through the involvement of female academies specialized in the study of jurisprudence in issuing fatwas.

The Council called on the General Presidency to appoint specialists for the issuance of fatwas, and provide the necessary human and material requirements, asking it to involve specialists in the Islamic Shariah sciences in some of its works.

Source: Khaleej Times