Saudi Women Gear Up For Council Elections

Women in Saudi Arabia running for public office for the first time in the country's history are set to begin campaigning.

Around 900 women are standing in the municipal elections on 12 December.

In another first, women will also be able to vote in the contest.

"This is one of the first steps for women's rights, a big step for us," said Sahar Hassan Nasief, an activist in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

So far only 130,600 women have signed up to vote, compared with more than 1.35 million men, out of a voting population of 21 million.

Female candidates say this will make it very difficult for them to win seats on the 284 councils.

"It's very, very difficult for us to win and to target our voters," said Nassima al Sadah, a candidate in the Gulf coast city of Qatif.

The 42-year old is planning a social media onslaught supported by traditional banners and brochures.

None will be able to carry her picture, however - a restriction that also applies to male candidates.

It will be the third time men have been able to vote after previous ballots in 2005 and 2011.

Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy which applies a strict interpretation of Islam, has no female cabinet ministers.

It is also the only country in the world where women are not allowed to drive.

They must cover themselves in black from head-to-toe in public, and must get permission from a male family member to travel, work or marry.

Restrictions remain in place despite the slow growth of women's rights under the late king Abdullah, who introduced the elections in 2005 and said women would be allowed to participate this time around.

Abdullah died in January and was succeeded by King Salman, who has stuck to the election timetable.

In other Gulf states women have had voting rights for several years.