JEDDAH, 21 December 2005 — A judge in Jeddah yesterday threw out the case brought by some of the defeated candidates in April’s municipal elections.
The candidates had brought a case against Dr. Hussein Al-Bar, alleging that he had called them “unbelievers”. The judge, however, decided that the case should be dropped from the court docket.
After the elections in April, a group of defeated candidates complained that 12 other candidates who were on what was known as the “Golden List” won their seats because of support from certain religious scholars.
The defeated candidates then filed a lawsuit questioning the legality of the elections’ outcome.
A spokesman for the defeated candidates, Ehab Al-Solaimani, said the judge had not asked anyone from either side any questions. When the candidates protested to the judge, he told them his verdict was final and they could appeal.
The candidates also complained to Sheikh Abdullah Al-Othaim, the president of the precinct courts in Jeddah. He told them that there was nothing they could do except to wait and appeal.
