"In an effort to prevent popular uprisings similar to those that took place elsewhere in the Middle East in 2011, Saudi authorities announced over $130 billion in new social spending. Nevertheless, small protests occurred during the year, including in predominantly Shiite villages in the country’s Eastern Province. Saudi women launched a highly visible campaign in May calling for greater freedoms, including the right to drive, and King Abdullah announced that women would be allowed to vote in municipal elections in 2015 and hold seats in the country’s Consultative Council, the Majlis al-Shura. Meanwhile, the King issued a royal decree in April amending the country’s press law to criminalize criticism of religious scholars." (Quoted from article)