Saudi Arabian woman ‘has the right to choose where to live,’ concludes judgeSeptember 9, 2020 - 18:24 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Saudi Arabian woman who was on trial for living and traveling alone without her father’s permission did not commit any crimes, according to a final ruling issued by a judge and shared by the case lawyer who celebrated the “historic” ruling in a Twitter post. “Greetings of reverence and appreciation to the young judge who issued this historic ruling with brilliant reasoning. This ruling will be a milestone in the history of the Saudi judiciary,” case lawyer Abdulrahman Allahim said in a tweet, according to Al Arabiya. Public prosecutors had been pursuing the woman for being absent from her family’s home and traveling to Riyadh without permission, court documents published by Allahim in July showed. In August last year, the Kingdom published new laws allowing Saudi women nationals to apply for a passport and travel freely. The legal system previously required women to have an adult male’s consent to obtain a passport or travel. In his final ruling, the judge said, “the independence of the defendant in a separate house did not count as a punishable act … the defendant is a sane, adult woman who has the right to choose where to live.” He added to his statement saying, “What the defendant did by moving to Riyadh and living in a separate home is one of her natural rights and cannot be described as a punishable crime.” Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |