Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education announced Monday that female students across the kingdom will now be allowed to carry and use mobile phones on college campuses.
According to the ministry, at least 7 universities had mobile phone bans on female students and were confiscating devices on their premises.
In his statement on the matter Mubarak Al Osaimi, the ministry's official spokesperson told Okaz newspaper:
"The decision includes all higher education establishments across the country, both public and private."
Al Osaimi added that the order isn't limited to mobile phones, but also includes the use of all electronic gadgets.
The ministry's decision comes during a historic period for women in the country.
Last week, the kingdom lifted a long-standing ban on women driving. A law that criminalizes sexual harassment is also reportedly in the works.
Not a lot of people knew about this
Speaking to StepFeed, Lana, a Saudi university student explained that female students across the kingdom have been fighting for a lift on the mobile phone ban for months.
"Not a lot of people knew about this before the decision to lift the ban. Even though it wasn't happening in all educational institutions, it affected the lives of thousands of women. Some universities were searching female students and confiscating their devices. We all felt it was ridiculous, especially given the fact that we're talking about adult students here," she said.
"If a student misuses their phone during a lecture, punish them, not everyone else. Many use electronic gadgets for educational purposes, others need to have their phones on them in case of family emergencies or to communicate with drivers who pick them up at the end of the day," she explained.
Lana expressed her relief over the latest decision and said that it wouldn't have been possible had it not been for those who campaigned against it.
"In recent months, hundreds of women launched social media campaigns aimed at ending the mobile phone ban and we owe this success to them. While it might seem like a tiny step forward when compared to the lift on other bans, mainly the one on women driving, it's just as important because it shows us that our voices matter and can lead to change. This has been a wonderful month for us and we know that it's a start of a new era," she added.
Excitement over the news on social media
Soon after the latest news began to circulate online, thousands of Saudi women celebrated on Twitter.