What “Optional” Means In Saudi Arabia

Agence France-Presse
reports:

Since November 2012, Saudi
women’s male guardians have been sent an SMS message informing them
when women under their custody leave, even if they are travelling
together.

The programme, which was strongly criticised by women rights
activists, “has been suspended due to some observations,” passports
department spokesman Ahmad al-Laheedan was quoted by Arab News as
saying.

That sure sounds like good news. Hopefully they’ll not just
suspend it but kill it altogeth—

“It will undergo amendment,” he said, indicating that
the system that compounded constraints on women in the
ultra-conservative kingdom, could return as optional.

Well, as long as women can opt out, I suppose that’s still an
improvemen—

Men would only receive an SMS if they requested to be
informed.

Oh. That sort of “optional.”