In a first, Saudi Arabia allows women to join army but on conditions

Saudi Arabia has been bringing quite a few reforms that are enhancing the women's rights and in another latest reform, the country has now permitted its women to apply in the army for the rank of soldiers.

Saudi women have until two days, which is till March 1, to submit their names in the army. The women applying to join Saudi's armed forces will be deployed in Riyadh, Mecca, Medina Al-Qassim, Asir, Al-Baha and the Eastern Province, Saudi Gazette reported. However, the women appointed will not do combat but will be working in security.

According to an announcement made by the Saudi General Directorate of Public Security, there are some conditions under which the women will be allowed to apply in the armed forces. Some of these conditions includes that the candidate must be Saudi citizens, aged between 25 and 35 years old and living in the same province as the job's location with their male guardians - father, husband, brother or son. The women must also have a high-school diploma.

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Other than this, the applier must have an independent identity card. Former government employees or anyone who has previously worked in the military will not be considered for the roles. The recruitment of female soldiers comes under Vision 2030, a modernization program undertaken by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud.

For the past few months, Saudi Arabia has lifted some of the restrictions it had imposed on its women. The major break through was the country lifted the ban and allowed Saudi women to drive cars. Last year, Saudi Arabia also announced to lift a ban on commercial cinemas that has lasted more than three decades. This year in January, Saudi women got to watch their first football match in the stadium in the city of Jeddah.

Although some of the restrictions the Saudi women faced are now being lifted, Saudi Arabia’s male guardianship system remains in place.