December 31, 2001	Monday	Shawwal 15, 1422

RIYADH, Dec 30: The Saudi Consultative Council has invited 50 women to debate the high cost of dowries which has become a major obstacle to marriage in the kingdom, secretary general Hmoud al-Bader said on Sunday.

The rare move to invite women to the all-men appointed advisory body or shura comes amid reports that the number of Saudi spinsters has soared to more than 1.5 million in a society of just 16 million people.

The women, however, will not be allowed to sit in the same meeting hall with men because of the strict segregation of the sexes law. They will be able to listen and take part in the debate through closed circuit television.

The debate will focus on the reasons why dowries have become so expensive with parents of girls demanding more than 200,000 riyals (53,000 dollars) from prospective husbands.

Men have also been invited to take part in the discussion along with the 120 members of the council, which was established by King Fahd in 1993 following the Gulf War.

The dowry problem is compounded by rising unemployment estimated at more than 15 percent, and which has forced young men to delay marriage plans.

The Consultative Council has no legislative powers but makes recommendations to the government after discussing draft bills and important issues.—AFP