Saudi Arabian Library Opens its Doors to Women

On August 4th, 2008 women in the Saudi coastal city of Dammam were able to use its library for the first unaccompanied.Until then they had to be "escorted by a male relative," said the library's director, Saad al-Harithi."It is a safe place for everyone, and especially for women, who use a special area just for them," al-Harithi said.The next steps says al-Harithi is "to create sections for children, to introduce them to literature."Well, maybe the Olympics are next. Currently the Saudi government bans Saudi women from participating in any major sporting event!Saudi Activist Wajeha al-Huwaider created this video in protest of the banning of Saudi women from the Beijing Olympics.

Source: http://www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/writersunderthreat/saudiarabia/wajehaalhuwaider/