Saudi female candidates warned not to meet voters

All 366 female candidates standing in forthcoming elections in Saudi Arabia have been warned against addressing voters directly, it's been reported.

The country's election commission says that despite women being allowed to stand in the poll on 12 December, the country's strict gender segregation rules will still apply, the Arab News reports. Instead, they will have to appoint male agents to campaign on their behalf, or face a fine of 10,000 riyals ($2,667; £1,737). They're also barred from publishing their photos in their election material, and must provide segregated areas in the election headquarters for men and women. The rules don't just apply to female candidates - election commission spokesman Judiea Al-Qahtani said that both male and female candidates should appoint representatives to present their election policies to male voters, and advertising campaigns need to obtain a special permit.

It's the first time that women have been allowed to vote and stand as candidates in elections in Saudi Arabia, and August saw the first women registering to vote in the kingdom. December's poll will elect new members for municipal councils which have limited powers in the absolute monarchy.

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