BEIRUT – Belgium has become the first country in the world to appoint a woman ambassador to Saudi Arabia, in an apparent show of defiance to the oil-rich autocracy notorious for its abuses of women’s rights.
According to Belgian public broadcaster VRT reports, Dominique Mineur, who is performing her duties in United Arab Emirates (UAE) as envoy, would move to Riyadh in 2018 summer.
Saudi Arabia is known for being conservative in the world as women in the country must have a male guardian. And without this guardian, she is unable to look for a work or open a bank account. Currently, women, who are required to wear a long black full-length head covering, are banned from driving cars and going to stadiums for watching sports matches.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/lifestyle/saudi-arabia-lifts-cinema-ban-after-35-years/
However, the country has announced to major changes from next year including allowing women to drive motorbikes, cars and even trucks. It has reportedly allowed cinemas from 2018.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/world/saudi-arabian-women-will-also-be-allowed-to-drive-motorcycle-trucks/
Meanwhile, Belgium has also decided to sent a woman ambassador to Iran.
However, there is no official confirmation from the foreign ministry of Belgium regarding the appointment of female ambassadors to Islamic countries.
Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders in a speech on Monday said the decision to send woman ambassadors to countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia “should have been obvious”.
