After a rush of statements about holding new liberalized elections, the Saudi royal family decided to quietly shut the door on the 21st century again: Saudi Women Won’t Vote in Elections. (Hat tip: zulubaby.)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Women may neither vote nor run in Saudi Arabia’s first nationwide elections, the government announced Monday, dashing hopes of progressive Saudis and easing fears among conservatives that the kingdom is moving too fast on reforms.

Some women considered the move yet another indignity in a country where they need their husbands’ permission to study, travel or work. But others said they wouldn’t trust themselves to judge whether a candidate is more than just a handsome face.

The religious establishment had been lobbying against women’s participation in the elections, diplomats said.

But an electoral official cited administrative and logistical reasons Monday for the decision to ban women from the municipal elections, scheduled to be held in three stages from Feb. 10 to April 21.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there are not enough women to run women’s-only registration centers and polling stations, and that only a fraction of the country’s women have the photo identity cards that would have been needed to vote.