Saudi Women Should Have Choice Whether to Wear Abaya Robe: Prince Mohammad bin Salman

Saudi Women Should Have Choice Whether to Wear Abaya Robe: Prince Mohammad bin Salman
Saudi Arabian women, seeking a job, talk with recruiters during a job fair in Riyadh Jan. 25, 2012. Reuters/Stringer
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RIYADH—Women in Saudi Arabia need not wear headcover or the black abaya - the loose-fitting, full-length robes symbolic of Islamic piety - as long as their attire is “decent and respectful”, the kingdom’s reform-minded crown prince said.

With the ascent to power of young Prince Mohammad bin Salman, the kingdom has seen an expansion in women’s rights including a decision to allow women to attend mixed public sporting events and the right to drive cars from this summer.