Editor, She Wrote

Somayya Jabarti became Saudi Arabia’s first female editor-in-chief at The Saudi Gazette this week. The trailblazer stated that her appointment to the role was merely? ?a crack [that has been made] in the glass ceiling. And I’m hoping it will be made into a door.” The election to a senior editorial role is a progressive move in a country with an appalling record when it comes to women’s rights. In fact although Jabarti will be editor-in-chief of one of the English language Jeddah-based newspapers as is the norm in Saudi, she will continue to not be able to drive. Jabarti was appointed to the role by her predecessor, Khaled Almaeena, who wrote in an article in The Saudi Gazette? – ?I’ve had the goal? of wanting to see a Saudi woman enter the male-dominated bastion of editors-in-chief.” It is a tentative sign of progress in Saudi Arabia, one can only hope they’ll get their driving licenses next?

Youtube videos of Saudi women driving in defiance of the law went viral a few months ago… here’s one

Roisin Agnew @Roxeenna