DOHA, 12 March 2003 — The municipal council in Qatar is soon to have its first elected woman member following the withdrawal of two male candidates — one of them her cousin — who were to oppose her in an election scheduled for April 7.
Official sources said Sheikha Youssef Al-Jiffri was now assured of winning a seat on the 29-member council, which serves as an advisory body to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture.
She will represent the airport district of the Qatari capital and has vowed to campaign for the post even though she is the only candidate and is the only woman seeking office in next month’s vote.
“I decided to accept the challenge ... and put forward my candidacy,” she said. “I was confident of victory even before my opponents withdrew. I don’t understand why more women are not running for seats on the council.”
Six women ran for the first council in elections in 1999 but none was successful.
In November 2002 another Qatari woman, Hossa bint Khalifa Al-Thani, became the first female to obtain the rank of minister when she was named vice president of Qatar’s higher council on family affairs by Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al-Thani.
