1st batch of female soldiers graduate in Saudi Arabia

By Diana Shalhub

ISTANBUL (AA) - Saudi Arabia announced the graduation of the first batch of female soldiers from the Saudi armed forces.

The Saudi Defense Ministry posted a video of the graduation ceremony of the female soldiers after they completed a 14-week military training that started on May 30.

According to the state news agency SPA, the graduation ceremony was attended by Saudi Chief of Staff Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili along with other senior commanders.

“The center [for female military training] has an important mission, which focuses on providing excellent training programs and curricula and an ideal learning environment,” Adel Al-Balawi, the head of the Armed Forces Education and Training Authority, said during the ceremony.

The female military recruitment for the Saudi armed forces was opened in February.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has adopted several reforms to empower women, including allowing them to drive cars, enter playgroups and stadiums, and exercise professions that were only allowed for men.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara