Women are telling the Kingdom ‘I am my own guardian’ (Picture: Ms Saffaa/Twitter)

Thousands of women in Saudi Arabia have taken their fight for basic freedoms directly to the King.

Around 2,500 protesters bombarded the King’s office over the weekend demanding an end to the highly restrictive male guardianship system, while at least 14,000 others signed a petition.

Activist Aziza Al-Yousef, who was arrested in 2013 for deliberately breaking the country’s ban on women driving, started the petition.

She and another activist tried to deliver it by hand to the Royal Court on Monday, but were told to send it by post instead.


Activist Aziz Al-Yousef was arrested for driving in 2013 (Picture: Getty Images)

The law currently requires women to seek permission from their father, brother or other male relative before travelling abroad, getting married or leaving prison.

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Many employers and universities also require a guardian’s consent for female students and employees, and women may even need permission to access healthcare.



After Human Rights Watch published a report on the issue in July, women started tweeting with the hashtag #IAmMyOwnGuardian and the movement grew.

And artists, such as Ms Saffaa, have been creating protest artwork for the campaign.

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Ms Saffaa has created protest artwork for the campaign (Picture: Ms Saffaa/Twitter)

Al-Yousef, who first raised this issue five years ago, said she feels ‘very proud’ of how far the campaign has come – but that they now need a response from officials.

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‘We never had a problem with campaigning, but the problem is there is no answer. But we always hope – without hope, you cannot work,’ she told the BBC.

One of the main demands is that the government designate an age between 18 and 21, and that after this age a woman should be ‘treated like an adult’.

‘I’m not worried, I’m not doing anything wrong,’ she added.

Campaigners are still waiting for an official response.