JEDDAH, 6 July 2006 — Rola Dashti was in town yesterday after running unsuccessfully in Kuwait’s parliamentary elections last week, which, for the first time, allowed women to run and vote.

While none of the 28 women who ran for office in Kuwait won, Dashti dismissed the idea that women were working against the cause.

“That’s not true at all,” she said yesterday at the first seminar organized by the nascent Saudi Business and Professional Women’s Association (SBAPWA).

The forum was organized and attended by Saudi and Gulf women to discuss their role in business, politics and society at large.

Reflecting on her recent campaign, Dashti said women candidates in Kuwait faced many difficulties but continued to run their campaigns despite all odds.

“Some of us received death threats,” she told the audience. “Campaign signs were removed. I personally was offered 700 votes if I covered my hair and wore hijab. I refused. I would not think of using religion in such a manner.”

The discussion in the session titled “Women — the Driving Force for Economic Growth: Real Life Success Stories from Middle East and North African Women” heated up on the topic of political participation.

Each speaker talked about her experience in her own field and how they overcame the obstacles with strong determination and will power.

Afnan Al-Zyayni, a Bahraini business executive who lost her campaign last year to become a member of the Bahraini Business Council, blamed her women colleagues for the loss.

“There wasn’t enough support from the women’s side,” she said. “Out of 1,600 registered businesswomen only a few showed up. We need to support each other to reach these decision-making positions.”

Dashti disagreed with the implication that women weren’t doing enough for the cause, but both executives agreed that political participation is not a matter of choice anymore, but rather a necessity for women in the region. Dashti referred to the relatively endemic rate of unemployment of women in the Gulf countries.

“We have to eliminate attitudes in the workplace and in the areas of economics and trade. Women have to enroll in common life and decision-making issues. This can only be done through political reform,” said Dashti.

Raja Al-Garg, a business executive from the United Arab Emirates, pointed out that women represent 20 percent of the work force but only hold about five percent of managerial positions.