Election chief: We're not ready for women's suffrage

Election Commissioner Abdul Rahman Al-Dahmash, 2nd left, and other officials of the Saudi General Committee for Elections of the Municipal Councils, at a press conference on Monday. (SPA)

By ARAB NEWS

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia announced Monday that it was not yet ready for women participating in next month’s municipal elections as voters or candidates. “We are not ready for the participation of women in these municipal elections,” Election Commissioner Abdul Rahman Al-Dahmash said.

Speaking to reporters in Riyadh, Al-Dahmash, however, promised that women would be allowed to participate in the next elections.

He cited a number of procedural reasons for the ban on women voting. "Participation of women in elections took place in most advance countries gradually," he pointed out.

He said the municipal elections would take place on April 23 all over the Kingdom at the same time. A person is allowed to vote only once in favor of a candidate in his constituency, he said.

Al-Dahmash urged Saudis to elect qualified people to the councils in order to strengthen local bodies. “Municipal councils allow a large number of citizens to participate in the management of municipal services,” he said. The number of municipal councils in the country has been increased from 179 to 285 and polling stations from 631 to 855, he pointed out. The commission is now in the process of preparing a list of voters.

The Kingdom held its first men-only municipal elections in 2005, when Saudis elected half the members of 179 municipal councils across the country. In May 2009, the government extended the mandate of the councils by two years, postponing a second vote expected that year. One of the reasons given was that it needed more time to organize the logistics so women could vote.

“We have given wide powers to local election officials in various parts of the country,” the commissioner said. He urged the media to encourage citizens to participate in the elections. “We have a number of plans in store to further improve the role of municipal councils. Holding open meetings between the council and citizens is one of them,” he said. “Every week a day will be allocated to receive complaints from citizens.”

Al-Dahmash said the Kingdom’s municipal councils have taken important decisions in order to improve municipal services and performance of municipalities. They also follow implementation of municipal projects and review municipal reports on revenues and expenditures.

He said Municipal and Rural Affairs Minister Prince Mansour bin Miteb had solved many problems faced by these councils. “The ministry also conducted a number of workshops for council members to enhance their efficiency,” he said.

Municipal councils in the Kingdom have held an average of 2,471 meetings each year.

Comments

EUROPEAN WOMAN

Report abuse
Not ready for womens suffrage? Really? Not ready for half of the population to be equal, voting, participating citizens?
Oh, well! If the women put up with it, it is their own fault.

Al-Dahmash said: “Every week a day will be allocated to receive complaints from citizens.”

This reminds me of the American joke of the proverbial complaint-box. It is about and inch square, presented as the place where complaints, that were to be discounted and deep-sixed, should be made. Complainants were encouraged to write small and legibly.

At this rate the Arabs will forever stay in the dark ages.

To each his own.

MAR

Report abuse
What's the problem ? Ain't they humans ?

MAJID

Report abuse
Times will change, whether it takes another 100 years, or 500 years. The rest of the world came out of the dark ages 1000s of years ago. Saudi just got out of the dark age less than 200 years ago. Give it time, time only moves forward, not backward.

TIMIMI

Report abuse
ITS A GREAT MISFORTUNE THAT THE BIRTH PLACE OF ISLAM IS TURNING TO PRACTISE WESTERN KUFR SYSTEM OF ELECTION, THIS IS BUT ONLY THE START OF TROUBLE TO THE HOLY LANDS, DEMOCRACY PRACTISED AND PREACHED BY THESE WESTERN COUNTRIES IS KUFR COMPLETELY!!!! WOMEN SHOULD NOT VOTE AND SHOULD NEVER VOTE MIXING OF GENDERS IS THE WAY OF UNCIVILISED PEOPLE, WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE THE MOST UNCIVILISED PEOPLE, THE WRITER PLEASE ERASE THE WORD ADVANCED COUNTRIES ASCRIBING THEM WITH THEM!!!!

HIND

Report abuse
Promises, promises... Sure, we believe you again. No one is ever ready to give up their control. Men will NEVER be "ready." Such a shame that Saudi is choosing the path that will force women to fight to take their rights rather than moving forward peacefully and with cooperation. Men, you had your chances; once the women finally wake up and refuse to toe the line anymore, it will be your own fault. It could have been done properly and managed nicely, but you are forcing women to swing the pendulum themselves, and you know what happens once the pendulum moves from one extreme...
Post your comment

required

required (email will never be displayed)

Please enter the following characters in the box provided (case sensitive). This helps us prevent automated programs from creating accounts and sending spam.

All comments are subject to approval

Terms and conditions

Latest comments