Saudi Arabian girls will be allowed to play sports in private schools for the first time, according to a decision announced today (May 4, 2013), the latest in a series of incremental changes aimed at slowly increasing women's rights in the ultraconservative kingdom, according to the Yahoo News website.
Saudi Arabia's official press agency, SPA, reported that private girls' schools are now allowed to hold sports activities in accordance with the rules of Shariah, or Islamic law. Students must adhere to "decent dress" codes and Saudi women teachers will be given priority in supervising the activities, according to the Education Ministry's requirements.
The decision makes sports once again a stage for the push to improve women's rights -- nearly a year after two Saudi female athletes made an unprecedented appearance at the Olympics. Saudi women are bound by strict rules when it comes to their attire, so they cannot, for example, be seen by men while jogging in sweat pants and sweaters.
"It's about time," said Aziza Youssef, a professor at King Saud University. "Everything is being held back in Saudi Arabia as far as women's rights."
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