Story out of the GulfNews:
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia is exploring the prospect of allowing senior government officials, diplomats and judges to get married to foreigners. The amendments, proposed by the Ministry of Interior and the Expert Authority under the Council of Ministers, in this respect have been okayed by higher authorities, according to a report carried by Al Riyadh Arabic daily. The amendments stipulate that any Saudi citizen, holding key posts such as ministers, members of the Shoura Council, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and judges will be allowed to get married to foreigners. The amendments will be applicable to all government officials in the grades of 15 and 14 and above. The officials also include those working with the Royal Court, Court of the Crown Prince, Court of the Council of Ministers, National Security Council, Ministry of Defence and Aviation, Ministry of Interior among others.
I'm really curious why this would be allowed for top officials and not for all others in Saudi society? Is there some religious reason this would be allowed for only a privileged few? Also, I had never heard in the first place that this was the policy... that Saudi citizens could only marry Saudis. True?
2 comments:
Saudi citizens can marry foreigners--I remember reading a couple years ago maybe that they had put laws in place saying that Saudi men could only bring their foreign wives into Saudi if they signed the forms giving the wives permission to leave again, with any children. And I read the blog of an American woman married to a Saudi, living in Saudi. I think it's likely that there was a restriction that applied only to high government officials that's being lifted.
I see. That makes sense if it's true. Hmm. Still, very interesting laws.
Hope you J are well there in Cairo Deborah! You'll have to both come over our way sometime. Though I see from your blog that you're "with child". What an exciting time!
B
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