The role of women in the municipal elections and related political activities has been a topic of hot debates in Saudi Arabia over the past several months. The core of the issue is to determine whether Islam objects to or approves women taking up responsible political or social positions. Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowment and Propagation Saleh Al-Asheikh confirmed, while replying to a question on the issue during a recently concluded international conference in Riyadh, woman’s eligibility to participate in the elections both as a voter and a candidate. He further explained that as the municipal election was a novel idea in the Kingdom it necessitated certain regulations as an initial step and the scope would be widened to include women as well in the succeeding stages.
Anthropological studies show that the male domination is a major feature of the tribes and clans functioning on a patriarchal pattern such as the Saudi society. However, their travels to the Western countries for higher studies and other purposes following the oil boom in the seventies enabled the Saudi men to have a first hand knowledge of the modernization in those countries including the role of women in social and political life. The influence of the Western-educated people helped the country progress but without ignoring the tribal respect and regard for women’s status. Paradoxically, some other Saudis who also studied in Western universities were terrified of the consequences of loosening the restrictions on women.
Instead of making an effort to balance between the old and the new ways and putting the trust in the rulers, the conservatives in society decided to enforce stricter male domination as a means to escape the perils of giving more freedom to women.
One wonders if the policy of tight control on women has been a success. Until recently the policy worked in a uniform pattern. Saudi society was very keen to keep the country uninfluenced by the developments with regard to women’ status in the outside world. The policy has caused untold miseries to Saudi women. The efforts to liberate them from the iron grip of the unfair male domination without simultaneous drive to enlighten society in the matter have failed to produce the desired results. The diametrically opposite views held by the conservatives and others on the rights of women have only pulled the people in opposite directions affecting the welfare of all.
Therefore the right thing to do is to wait for the decision of the government. If the matter were left to the decision of the community, both the supporters and opponents of women’s rights would have struggled to gain upper hand and enforce their sectarian views with scant consideration for the national interests.
Wisdom and flexibility are the two factors that help a country achieve progress by soldering its citizens to a single unit, every citizen enjoying his or her rights and fulfilling his or her duties in full.
A nation may find several obstacles blocking the effective introduction of reforms. However, things become easy gradually and all difficulties disappear.
According to the third article of the municipal election regulations, every 21-year-old Saudi citizen has the right to participate in the elections. This means, in other words, the rules does not prohibit women’s participation in the elections because the word “muwatin” is used in the Arabic text. The word, which means citizen, refers to both man and woman citizen alike in the legal jargon. A new reform, obviously, will take some time to show its full impact.
Therefore women should wait until the next phase of the election when the authorities would clearly define the role of women. The right to vote is the most basic part of a person’s citizenship. How could the negligence in giving this basic right to women be justified? Out of a total population of 18 million in the Kingdom 50 percent are women and 60 percent of the total are under 21. In other words more than half of the population have no say in the elections. Only around three million men are eligible to vote. After the final analysis it can be assumed safely that only two million men would participate in the voting.
No one should forget that women’s skill in political activities has its roots in the Islamic history. It is unfortunate that women, the first teacher of children in society, are not included in important political and decision-making bodies. I wonder what factors are being considered when the merit and eligibility of men and women in our society are examined.
