Okaz / Saudi Gazette

DAMMAM — The Shoura (consultative ) Council will vote on April 30 on a proposal to release women prisoners, who have served their prison terms, without the need for their male guardians to come and pick them up personally.

The proposal was tabled by female Council member Latifa Al-Shaalan who asked the Ministry of Labor and Social Development to allow the released women prisoners to leave the hospitality and social protection homes immediately after completing their prison sentences.

She said there is no need for the ministry to wait for the male guardians to come and pick them up.

Shaalan said the released women prisoners should be treated similar to men who are allowed to leave the prisons as soon as they have completed serving their prison terms.

"The concerned ministries and government departments should provide the released women prisoners with protection, accommodation and job opportunities," she said.

Shaalan recalled that a royal decree has asked the government departments not to ask women for the approval of their male guardians so as to provide them with services.

She also said the prison systems and regulations do not make it a condition on the male guardians to come and pick up their women prisoners after their release.

Shaalan said the administrative procedure of releasing the women prisoners who have completed their sentences should not be delayed for any reason.

A number of Council members said there should not be any disparity between men and women in applying human rights.

They said all forms of discrimination against women should be immediately erased.

Some members said a male prisoner, who is only 20 years old, would be released after serving his prison term but a 40-year-old woman will have to remain in her prison until a male guardian comes to take her home.