Issa, Minister of Justice, has said that “there is no Shariah or legal objection to women working as lawyers, as long it is within the framework of Shariah rules”. Speaking at the opening of the National Legal Meeting held by the Lawyers Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sunday, Al-Issa said that women had for years stood as legal representatives before courts. “Some women have represented themselves and some have represented others with Shariah powers of attorney issued by notaries public,” the minister said. “It's been going on for a long time. We were surprised at the large number of powers of attorney issued for women.” Al-Issa added that women not only practised law at the time of the Prophet (pbuh), but also argued their individual cases before him.“Women complained to the Prophet about their husbands and demanded alimony for themselves and their sons,” he said.
