聖地メッカとメディナの要職に女性１０人任命、サウジで異例の人事

【リヤドＡＦＰ＝時事】サウジアラビア当局は16日、イスラム教の二大聖地、メッカとメディナの宗教施設の要職に、女性10人を任命したと発表した。保守的なイスラム教王国サウジアラビアでは異例の人事だが、同国は今、女性の雇用を促進している。（写真は資料写真）
　二大聖地の管理当局の声明によると、女性たちは２つの聖モスクの管理部門や技術部門など、さまざまな部門にまたがる要職に任命された。「高学歴で能力の高いサウジアラビア女性の社会進出」を後押しするのがこの人事の目的だとしている。
　サウジアラビアのムハンマド・ビン・サルマン皇太子は、石油依存に終止符を打ち経済の多様化を目指す改革「ビジョン２０３０」を掲げ、幅広い分野で規制緩和を推進している。女性の雇用促進も、その一環だ。
　しかし、自動車の運転解禁などの改革が進む一方で、当局に異議を唱える女性らに対する弾圧も行われている。女性の運転する権利を長年訴えてきた女性活動家１０人余りが拘束・訴追されており、その中には尋問中に拷問や性的嫌がらせを受けたと訴えている人もいる。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/08/18-13:32）

Saudi Arabia has appointed 10 women in senior roles at Islam's two holiest sites, authorities said Sunday, as the conservative petro-state seeks to boost female employment.
The appointment of women in senior positions at religious institutions is rare in the Islamic kingdom, which is in the midst of a wide-ranging liberalisation drive spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The women were appointed in the two holy mosques in Mecca and Medina across various departments, including administrative and technical, according to statement released by the general presidency for the affairs of the two holy mosques.
The recruitment drive was aimed at empowering Saudi women with high qualifications and capabilities, the statement said.
The two holy mosques previously recruited 41 women in leadership positions in 2018, according to Saudi media.
Prince Mohammed has sought to boost employment for women as part of his Vision 2030 plan, which is aimed at diversifying the kingdom's economy and ending its addiction to oil.
The number of working women in Saudi Arabia reached 1.03 million in the third quarter of 2019, 35 percent of the total workforce, compared to 816,000 in 2015, according to official figures.
In other reforms, women in the kingdom are now allowed to drive cars, cinemas have reopened and genders are permitted to mix at events, including concerts, and in public places.
But the reforms have also been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent.
Saudi Arabia has detained and put on trial a dozen women activists who long campaigned for the right to drive, sparking widespread condemnation.
Some of the activists allege they were tortured and sexually harassed by interrogators.