RIYADH, 11 February 2005 — There was a mixed reaction among voters yesterday when Arab News asked them if they wanted to see women included in the next round of municipal elections as voters or candidates.
Views varied between supporters of the move, and others who said women do not need to vote as their husbands, fathers, or brothers are doing the job on their behalf.
Yet another group rejected the idea on the ground that Saudi Arabia has its own cultural and social aspects. A few did not specify their reasons, and said there was no need for their involvement. Asked about the absence of women from the election scene, Dr. Abdul Aziz ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Thunayan, a Shoura Council member and professor of pedagogy, replied: “I was asked the same question by a woman journalist from the West and I said, ‘First of all, there are six million women in Saudi Arabia. I, as a member of the Shoura Council, a husband and a father, represent a large number of women voters in the Kingdom. And as we know, democracy is about majority. And if we go and ask six million women what they want, they would answer that they do not want to vote. They either want their men to vote for them, or do not want to vote at all. Women in Saudi Arabia are comfortable being represented by men.
“For instance, in Saudi Arabia, it is the law itself, not the habit, which requires men to serve women and accommodate all their needs, i.e., housing, food, clothing, education, etc.
“She is a lady and we are the servants. Men are servants of women. So why should we drag women into issues normally handled by men?
“Do not get me wrong. I do not want to deprive women of their opinions, but what I want to say is that what is suitable to the West is not suitable to Saudi Arabia. We have our own customs and traditions.
“We are guided by our religion to respect women, and listen to their opinions and not to hurt their feelings. Women can be our mothers, wives, or sisters. So at this stage, the exclusion of women from the elections is not a flaw in our political experience.
“A majority of the women community does not want to participate in elections. We should also listen to the other half, and I believe that the other half (which does not want to vote) is the majority. The problem is that we listen to the demanding half and not listen to the other half.”
Answering a question about women’s interest being best voiced by women themselves, he replied: “Women would not trust their opinions with anyone better than their fathers, husbands, sons, or brothers.”
When Arab News quoted from Islamic history to show that women were involved in decision-making from the early days of Islam, the Shoura member said: “I am not against their involvement in voting. All I am saying is that each country and society has its own tradition. Let’s listen to the majority of what women want.”
“I disagree,” said Khaled Mushabab, a voter in the 63rd precinct. “Asked what his reasons were, he replied, “This is my opinion. And my reasons are personal. I simply do not see any use of them casting their votes.”
Mushabab’s views were not shared by another Saudi voter. Dr. Fahd Al-Tayyash, former editor in chief of Al-Majalla, said: “Women’s participation in the next round is coming. And it is inevitable. This is the law of evolution. I think that Saudi society has quite a good number of Saudi women of caliber who have valuable views on public life and progress as well as development.”
Asked about the justifications given by the Election Commission for the exclusion of women, he said: “I think the excuses are unreasonable. Nevertheless, in the next term it will be unavoidable.”
Muhammad Al-Yamani, another Saudi voter, said he does not see any reason why women cannot participate in the next round. “It’s a possibility. Why not? I wouldn’t think there would be any problem for women to participate. The electoral system for the council is not so old. And we can possibly see women voters in the next round.”
Abdullah Jabarti, another citizen who took part in yesterday’s historic elections, said citizens mean men and women.
“Women are citizens in the first place. And even if they are absent they influence opinion everywhere. Sooner or later they will participate. “Women are in every house. And women are half of our society. What is needed is the mechanism of having women participating in the elections and we can see that it is coming,” said Jabarti.
