Saudi Crown Prince's Wife Defends Veil

[Khephra]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The wife of Saudi Arabia's crown prince defended wearing the veil, compulsory for women in the kingdom, saying in a rare interview published Tuesday that women are happy with the traditional garb.

Princess Hasah al-Shalaan praised her husband, Crown Prince Abdullah, for supporting women and their rights in the conservative kingdom.

"He doesn't distinguish (between his sons and daughters), and always says that a woman has her rights, given to her by God and Islam, so why should we take them away from her," she said in the interview with the Arab daily al-Hayat.

She also defended the wearing of the veil, saying, "I ask God to maintain the blessing (of the veil). This modest, conservative dress makes people equal and is a symbol of our religion."

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-saudi-princess-women,0,6625370.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines