Saudi allows women in stadium for first time

Saudi Arabia has broken a long-standing taboo and decided to allow local women into a sport stadium to watch celebrations marking Eid Al Fitr, the Saudi Arabic language daily 'Okaz' reported on Monday.

But authorities said they would construct a concrete barrier to separate women from men at the Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musaed Sports city in the central town of Hail ahead of the festival on Thursday, the paper said.

The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the most feared and influential Islamic authority in the conservative kingdom, said it would admit women into the stadium following an agreement with the organisers banning mobile phones and any “sound effects” during the festival.

The commission also assigned special entrances at the stadium for women and families, to be guarded only by females, 'Okaz' reported.

“The agreement by the commission to admit women into a stadium is the first event of its kind in the kingdom,” the paper said.