Newspapers have carried a statement by the chairman of the Shoura Council, Dr. Saleh Bin-Humaid. He was responding to earlier remarks by the speaker of the German Parliament, the Bundestag. Reading Bin-Humaid’s statement, it was not possible to determine exactly what the German Parliamentarian was talking about or exactly what he said that prompted the chairman to issue a clarification.
The statement contained no quotes but judging from the wording of the statement, it seemed that the matter related to the issue of admitting women to the Shoura Council and of electing Shoura Council members.
In his emotional response, Bin-Humaid categorically denied what the speaker of the Bundestag had said and stressed that the German’s remarks were far from correct. The chairman went on to assert very strongly that there would be no women admitted to the Council and no election of its members. He further implied that such issues were not under consideration or even being contemplated.
I fail to see any reason for the speaker of the Bundestag to deliberately make up a false statement about women joining the Shoura and about Council members being elected. Even if he did say what was claimed, that was not sufficient reason to justify the chairman’s statement which ruled out any possibility of these two issues becoming a reality.
Had the matter been left where it was without any need for reacting to the comments by the speaker of the Bundestag, the whole affair would quickly have died down and passed into oblivion as usually happens in such cases.
Now, as a result, we find ourselves in total confusion, not knowing whom to listen to. Indications from various sources, including members of the Shoura Council, are that nothing should be ruled out and that anything is possible in due course and when there is real need. At the same time, some officials keep issuing statements to the opposite effect, thus dismissing whatever conceptions the public may have.
We should not ask for the impossible. All we need is to appear rational and consistent in the eyes of others. We shouldn’t give others the impression that we are trying to stand still and make no progress.
